The rise of nanotechnology.
What if I told you that there currently exists a technology so powerful it could potentially make humans immortal. Folks, I present to you, nanotechnology. Nanotechnology involves the understanding and control of matter at the nanometer-scale. The so-called nanoscale deals with dimensions between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers. A nanometer is an extremely small unit of length, ten million times smaller than a centimeter. A single human hair is about 80,000 to 100,000 nm wide! Scientists are harnessing this technology to make significant strides in fields such as electronics, energy and of interest to us, the agricultural sector.
Fruit-fly damage costs farmers an estimated 50 billion Kenyan shillings ($472 million) every year, according to the government’s Horticultural Crops Directorate. Nanotechnology through nanoparticle pesticides can be used to soften the blow with several advantages over traditional pesticides Targeted delivery: Nanopesticides can be designed to target specific pests, without harming beneficial insects or other organisms consequently reducing the negative impact on the environment and makes them more effective at controlling pests. Increased efficacy: Because of their small size, nanopesticides can penetrate plant tissues more easily and are more effective at killing pests than traditional pesticides. Reduced environmental impact: Nanopesticides can be formulated to break down more quickly and are less likely to accumulate in the environment, reducing their impact on ecosystems.
Nanotechnology could just be the thing that breathes life into Kenya’s dying soils. In Kenya, 50% of all examined soils showed low levels of soil pH and other essential elements such organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and copper, according to the national soil fertility assessment conducted in 2014. Severe to very severe soil degradation caused by humans is present across 30% of the nation. Nanotechnology is utilized to create nanoclays, which are used to improve soil structure and water retention. This strategy can enhance soil quality, lessen erosion, and increase agricultural yields.
In order to create new fertilizer kinds that can enhance plant growth and nutrient uptake,
nanotechnology is also being utilized. Plants can be provided with a constant supply of nutrients throughout their growth cycle by using nanoparticles that are designed to release nutrients gradually over time. This strategy can lessen the impact of farming on the environment by reducing runoff of fertilizer. Moreover, nutrients can be made more soluble by using nanoparticles, which makes it easier for plants to absorb them and increases crop yields.
Evidently, by increasing agricultural yields, promoting nutrient uptake, and lowering the usage of pesticides and herbicides, nanotechnology has the potential to radically transform agriculture. However, there are also some possible drawbacks and difficulties linked to the application of nanotechnology in agriculture. Nanoparticles are thought to have the potential to be hazardous and affect human health, especially if they build up in the body over time. Cost:
Nanotechnology-based goods can be expensive to design and produce, which may limit their availability to small-scale farmers. When disease and aging are defeated by nanotechnology in 30 or 40 years, the nanobots will identify damaged organs and cells and immediately heal them. Wounds could heal almost instantly if nanobots swim in or even replace biological blood. Limbs could regenerate. After a head trauma, backed up memories and personalities could be accessible. This is the promise of immortality. A new era is coming, one that humans transcend Biology as we know it and it’s closer than you think.
Evans Muchiri
Geospatial engineering