Nanotechnology, Applications Addressed to the Food Industry

Jakarta, Kompas - The development of nanotechnology for the manufacturing industry in the country is still stagnant. Nanotechnology Society Indonesia nanotechnology applications are now transferred to the field of food or agriculture.

"It is defined approximately 10 fields of nanotechnology development for food or agricultural industry," said Chairman of the Indonesian Society Nanotechnology (MNI) Nurul Taufiqu Rochman, Tuesday (13 / 4) in Jakarta.

According to Nurul, the field of developmentfor the food industry includes the processing of food enriched with vitamins and nutritional content of nanotechnology. Development of nanotechnology, among others, to sensors and sensor food preservation packaging food materials from the content of other undesirable materials.

In the field of agricultural production, Nurul said the application could nanotechnology to improve the efficiency of fertilizers. Other applications for precision agriculture production sensors, for example, to detect the contents of agricultural soil acidity levels.

"Many of our foods lack nutritional content. Role of nanotechnology in the field of food has a higher chance than in the manufacturing industry or material, "said Nurul.

Currently there are an estimated 200 doctorates in the field of nanotechnology. However, said Nurul, mostly going out for the material and still rare to pursue the development of nanotechnology for food.

"It was not too difficult to shift the expertise from the fields of nanotechnology materials to the field of food," said Nurul.

Head of Innovation Center for Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said Bambang Subiyanto, LIPI-makers already have the technology nano size, which is one tenth rank nine yards. Application can be for various fields, such as for the field or the field of food material.

"The results of research from LIPI bionanomaterial are using bamboo fibers for interior car," said Bambang.

According to him, bionanomaterial was essentially the process of making a lightweight and strong materials. Bionanomaterial from bamboo fiber for automobile interior materials was undertaken through encouraging the application of the Japanese automotive industry. "Application of nano size maker of technology is also able to support the food industry," said Bambang.

Nurul said, nanotechnology applications to the manufacturing industry need huge capital. In fact, the manufacturing industry in the country is much to rely on labor intensive industries.

"The transfer of nanotechnology to the food industry or own farm just starting now. If it can be executed, would have a big impact, "said Nurul. (Cetak.kompas.com / humasristek)