NANOTECH_KE.
Nano solutions to Food. SDGs
Agenda
DEPARTMENTS
By, Bilshan Tamaha.
Soil, Inoculants and Fertilizers
By, Kevin Makere
13:00
Lunch
14:00
Networking
16:00
Q & A Session
Members
FEATURED INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Bilshan Tamaha.
Chief Nutritionist Researcher .
Research scientist in food nutrition. Well known for his adverse research skills in both food science and dietetics. Great experience in global food program in combatting food insecurity.
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Felix Odhiambo
Chief Researcher in Food and Waste Technology
Determined research scientist in waste and packaging technology towards food security. Has adverse knowledge in researching better, simple and sustainable ways in combatting food insecurity through, improving waste and packaging methods.
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Lynnete Nyandia
Chief Research Scientist in Water Systems
Well diverse research scientist in water system management and drainage.
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Kevin Makere
Chief Research Scientist in Soil, Innoculants and Fertilizers.
Well known for his adverse and stornch, research and innovative skills in soil analysis, inoculant, development and fertilizer utilization in Range Lands for a better, green and healthy environment
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Agenda
Food and Nutrition
By, Bilshan Tamaha.
The food system in the world is facing many challenges including; demographic growth, urbanization, sustainability & change. These challenges raise important issues and questions that need to be solved. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that every year around the globe 1.3 billion turns of food is wasted representing 1/3 of all food produced for human consumption (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2009).
​Problems are like surface areas, the “smaller” the problem the larger the impact it has. Think of the “smallest” of problems that affect the food industry, let's say taste preference, the color of food, water, germination duration, packaging design, packaging container, or shelf life. All this may seem like small individual problems but they are the most significant factors that drive the food industry. For generations, technologies have been developed and enhanced to help solve these problems, much has been done but more still needs to be done in food technology research, Advocacy & application in order to meet future demand for food with the increasing population. In order to solve these “small” problems, we bring you a technology that deals with the smallest of particles ( Nanoparticles). This technology appreciates how small can be big, literally. Our nano solutions company aims at enhancing research, developing skills, creating employment, transforming the food industry, changing minds, boosting economies & enhancing livelihoods through training, partnerships, mentorship & funding.
SOIL, INNOCULANTS AND FERTILIZER
By, Kevin Makere
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Soil is a material that is composed of five ingredients- water, soil organic matter, living organisms, gas & minerals
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Soils supply the essential nutrients, water, oxygen and root support that our food-producing plants need to grow and flourish
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Our Nanotec_ke soil solution department plays a significant role in well being and sustainable management of soils in order to ensure sustainable food production
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Our current solutions include:
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Use of Liquid Nano clay (LNC) to help convert arid and sandy soils into organic agricultural soils.
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Fortification of seed inoculants with nanotech to help enhance seed germination.
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Fortification of fertilizers in the market with nanomaterial to enhance intake and slow leaching, saving farmers money and increase productivity hence fighting poverty.
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The departments objectives include:
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To improve soil productivity in rangelands (83% of Kenya's lands) through combination of nanotech
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To ensure sustainable soil productivity through application of Nanotech that is environmentally friendly
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To eradicate poverty by encourage regenerative farming practices to help maintain soil health and improve food productivity
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To help reduce climate change impact through Nano solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation
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WATER SYSTEM
BY, Lynnete Nyandia
The benefits of nanotechnology in water treatment and water systems have significantly impacted the global water ecosystem. Unfortunately, the technology is yet to be embraced and utilized in Africa, the continent which stands to benefit the most taking into consideration the current water situation. Water purification using nanotechnology exploits nanoscopic materials including carbon nanotubes and alumina fibers for nanofiltration. Water treatment using nanotechnology involves the use of a unique solution that can be developed by 100% organically. Without water, there is no agriculture. Components such as soil and oxygen can be artificially simulated but water cannot be compromised. Agriculture is by far the single most important economic activity in Africa. It provides employment for about two-thirds of the continent's working population and contributes to up to 60 percent of Africa’s GDP. It is therefore crucial that we support, protect, and improve agriculture in all the ways we can.
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Cleaning water from boreholes through nanofilters and a nano-solution made up of combining a coagulant, flocculant, and chlorine. The P&G Purifier of Water, developed by the Procter & Gamble Company. This water can be used in cooking, drinking, watering animals, etc. Advantageously, sachets/packets of this solution can cost as low as $8 for one child for a whole year.
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Cleaning water from rivers and lakes which is mostly used for irrigation. Additionally, the nanoparticles may be significant in improving precision farming in agriculture. The use of the unique organic solution already developed attracts dirt in water bodies and makes them float as solid substances that can easily be removed and disposed of appropriately.
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Nanofiltration made possible by carbon nanotube membranes can remove all kinds of water contaminants including viruses, bacteria, oil, and other organic contaminants. Contaminated water, used for agricultural purposes, causes more harm than good. These contaminants can be passed on to humans and animals, causing fatal effects.
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Nanotechnology can provide solutions to the problem of water shortage. Cross-linked cyclodextrins, dendrimers, mineral clay nanoparticles, and hyperbranched polymers are an alternative approach to remove pollutants from aqueous matrices (unsustainable as it requires very high costs of productions). This would offer an efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally acceptable solutions for improving water quality and for increasing quantities of potable water.
Nanowater machines can be installed in farms all over Africa. These machines can ensure that cows can drink nanowater and plants can be fed nanowater, increasing the production and quality of food. Benefits of nanowater in agriculture would include: improving the conditions of farm animals through better health and better quality of produce. It limits the use of antibiotics in the animals
STORAGE AND WASTE PACKAGING
By, Felix Odhiambo
The nanostructured food ingredients are being developed with the claims that they offer improved taste, texture, and consistency. Nanotechnology increasing the shelf-life of different kinds of food materials and also helps bring down the extent of wastage of food due to microbial infestation Nowadays nanocarriers are being utilized as delivery systems to carry food additives in food products without disturbing their basic morphology. Particle size may directly affect the delivery of any bioactive compound to various sites within the body as it was noticed that in some cell lines, only submicron nanoparticles can be absorbed efficiently but not the larger size micro-particles. An ideal delivery system is supposed to have the following properties:
(i) able to deliver the active compound precisely at the target place
(ii) ensure availability at a target time and specific rate, and
(iii) efficient to maintain active compounds at suitable levels for long periods of time (in storage condition). Nanotechnology being applied in the formation of encapsulation, emulsions, biopolymer matrices, simple solutions, and association colloids offers efficient delivery systems with all the above-mentioned qualities. Nano polymers are trying to replace conventional materials in food packaging. Nanosensors can be used to prove the presence of contaminants, mycotoxins, and microorganisms in food.
Nanoparticles have better properties for encapsulation and release efficiency than traditional encapsulation systems. Nanoencapsulation mask odors or tastes, control interactions of active ingredients with the food matrix, control the release of the active agents, ensure availability at a target time and specific rate, and protect them from moisture, heat, chemical, or biological degradation during processing, storage, and utilization, and also exhibit compatibility with other compounds in the system. Moreover, these delivery systems possess the ability to penetrate deeply into tissues due to their smaller size and thus allow efficient delivery of active compounds to target sites in the body Various synthetic and natural polymer-based encapsulating delivery systems have been elaborated for the improved bioavailability and preservation of the active food components, the importance of nanotechnology in food processing can be evaluated by considering its role in the improvement of food products in terms of
(i) food texture,
(ii) food appearance,
(iii) food taste,
(iv) nutritional value of the food, and
(v) food shelf-life. It is a matter of fact that surprisingly nanotechnology not only touches all the above-mentioned aspects but has also brought about significant alterations in food products providing them novel qualities.
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