Saturday, February 17th 2024

Nanotechnology

New Nanotechnology Products Enhance Input Application Effectiveness

Nanotechnology may influence multiple industries such as energy, water treatment, health and medicine. In agriculture, nanotechnology may involve using tiny particles developed at an atomic or molecular level to more effectively deliver crop inputs, such as yield-enhancers and crop protection products, and improve productivity.

Otherwise known as nanoparticles, these small particles in BigYield’s case measure 50 nanometers to 100 nanometers. For context, one nanometer represents one billionth of a meter. Nanoparticles are selected and designed for a specific product such as a liquid cold-processed sweetener like BigSweetYield LB or herbicide like glyphosate. Nanoparticles are inert, so they don’t influence a product’s formulation or mode of action.

Instead, nanoparticles reformat a crop input to enhance its delivery and effectiveness. Take cold-processed sweeteners as an example. In 2016, BigYield.us introduced a cold-processed sweetener enhanced by nanotechnology. Making the product involves passing specially selected nanoparticles through the sweetener’s sugar molecules. Through this process, sugar atoms attach themselves to the nanoparticles. Leaf stomata, or pores, can more easily absorb sugar atoms through cell walls when those sugars are delivered on the small scale provided by nanoparticles. This improved permeation and absorption makes sweetener applications even more effective.

The video below shares more information about nanotechnology applications in agriculture.

Why use Nanotechnology in Agriculture?

Boost Herbicide Efficacy with Nanoparticles

Recently, BigYield.us also announced a new product that delivers herbicides on a nano scale. In this application, nanoparticles that measure 50 nanometers to 100 nanometers were selected and designed to work with herbicides like glyphosate. Because the nanoparticles are inert, they don’t influence the herbicide’s formulation or mode of action.

To make the product, nanoparticles pass through the herbicide and attach to herbicide atoms. Weeds can more easily absorb herbicide when it’s delivered on a nano scale. When applied, the herbicide can better manage weeds.

Effective early weed control can reduce herbicide resistance potential. Resistance arises as weeds have repeated contact with a herbicide but that herbicide fails to eradicate the weeds. Over time, weeds can form antibodies toward the herbicide and essentially become immune to it. Because the nanoparticles can improve herbicide penetration, using them can help to eliminate weeds before resistance develops.

For more information about blended nanoparticles and herbicides, see the video below.

How does Nanotechnology Help Herbicides

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