A nanoparticle is a tiny piece of matter with dimensions ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers. To put this in perspective, a nanometer is one billionth of a meter. Nanoparticles exhibit unique properties that differ significantly from those of the same materials at larger sizes, due to their high surface-to-volume ratio and quantum effects.
In agriculture and plant science, nanoparticles can improve the delivery of nutrients and pesticides, increase the efficiency of fertilizer use, and aid in the detection of pathogens.
Some universities, such as those in Córdoba, Madrid, and Valencia, are conducting studies and collaborating with specialized companies in the sector to analyze and implement this technology in current and future crops. In the Bajo/Baix Cinca region, the company AgroStock is developing formulations, such as Nanocrop , that combine nanotechnology and nutrition, taking a step toward the future of plant biostimulation.
In the laboratories of this Fraga-based company, nanometer-sized nutrients are stabilized with the ENC (Element NanoCarrier) molecule, an exclusive Agrostock technology. This molecule stimulates self-protection mechanisms and acts as a carrier for the nanoparticles, maximizing the absorption and transport of the metals. This results in greater product efficacy with a smaller quantity of material.
In the field of nanoparticle development for agricultural applications, both in Spain and around the world, there are several important institutions making progress in the research and application of this technology. Here are some of the most prominent: the Institute of Polymer Science and Technology (ICTP-CSIC) , the Institute of Agricultural Sciences (ICA-CSIC) , the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) , the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) , the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) – Argentina , the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) , Wageningen University – Netherlands , and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) – India.
These institutions and their researchers are at the forefront of the development and application of nanoparticles in agriculture, working to improve the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural practices globally and collaborating with specialized companies in the sector.
The range Nanocrop® AgroStock provides the following benefits:
• It stimulates the plant's natural defenses through its systemic action.
• Avoids toxicity from elements such as copper or sulfur, reducing the amount of metal needed in each application.
• To boost energy production and the growth and development of the crop.
• Increases the absorption and translocation of nutrients.
• Reduces environmental impact.
