INCT will operate across 8 multidisciplinary topics:
Systems will be developed based on functional nanoparticles (organic and inorganic) or the encapsulation of active ingredients with applications in disease and pest control, nutrition, protection against abiotic stresses, and growth promotion.
The axis will focus on the preparation and characterization of nanomaterials through different techniques and methodologies to obtain solutions with technological potential that may be based, mostly on biodiversity, following bioeconomy principles.
The design of nanomaterials will also focus on systems that can be responsive to biotic and abiotic factors, contributing to crop resistance and resilience.
Still in this axis, solutions are expected to be based on the safer-by-design strategy in conjunction with life cycle analysis (LCA). Therefore, this axis will strongly interact with all other research topics.
Flexible, low-cost, carbon-based, and metallic nanoparticle-based electrochemical sensors and biosensors will be developed and produced from 3D printing to determine analytes of agricultural interest (pathogens, phytohormones, agrochemicals, etc.).
This axis will also seek interaction and partnerships to associate nanosensors with data collection systems embedded in the field. This will contribute to decision-making and carry out more efficient management of pests and diseases or improvement of plant nutrition, thus being integrated with research topics 1, 3, 4, and 7.
The interaction mechanisms of nanomaterials with various biosystems and relevant environmental matrices for agricultural applications will be evaluated.
The mechanisms of plant absorption, transport, and metabolism of nanomaterials will be investigated using advanced microscopy and synchrotron light techniques under different forms of exposure (seed, soil, or foliar).
The mechanisms of plant absorption, transport, and metabolism of nanomaterials will be investigated using advanced microscopy and synchrotron light techniques under different forms of exposure (seed, soil, or foliar).
This research topic will be associated with others (such as 1, 2, 4 and 5).
The agronomic effectiveness of the developed nanoformulations and nanosensors will be evaluated (axes 1 and 2). Field, semi-field, greenhouse, and laboratory trials will be conducted in the areas of nutrition, pest and disease control, biostimulants and monitoring. In these trials, the agronomic gains of nanotechnologies in different areas will be quantified, along with the generation of new alternatives that may become commercially viable in the coming years.
Agronomic gains will be quantified based on crop productivity assessment, associated with specific evaluations for each type of nanoformulation, including germination and seed vigor tests (nanobiostimulants), weed control selectivity over crops (nanoherbicides), pest control, especially bugs and caterpillars (nanoinsecticides, nanoformulated semiochemicals and pest sensors), and pest and pathogen control (nanocarriers for double-stranded RNA delivery). The effects of nanomaterials on agriculturally relevant plants will also be assessed through physiological, nutritional, seed vigor, and yield-related measurements
Finally, evaluations will be carried out focusing on application technology, including laboratory tests to assess the stability and quality of nanoformulations across different crops, promoting advances in technological maturity and connecting with research topic 7.
The environmental risks associated with the use of nanomaterials will be investigated, considering the growing interest in their large-scale utilization. Various strategies will be employed, ranging from toxicity assays in cellular models to mesocosms and effects on the trophic chain.
These assays will evaluate toxicity under conditions close to field reality. As study models, human cells, terrestrial organisms (earthworms and nematodes), and aquatic organisms (bivalves, fish, and tadpoles) will be considered. The assessment will involve integrated analysis of multiple biomarkers, including genotoxic, biochemical, physiological, histological, behavioral, and molecular markers.
This research axis will contribute to the safer-by-design development strategy (axis 1) and be a foundation for directing nanomaterial studies in axes 3, 4, and 6.
Public policies, especially regarding workers’ exposure to nanomaterials, are still necessary in relation to human health.
Therefore, the methodologies to be developed for assessing the risk of the products must be validated and disseminated for widespread use. This axis will provide input for the regulatory process (MAPA) by evaluating the potential risks of adopting this technology in this country, including the health and safety of workers.
As such, this axis will map the entire regulatory framework regarding the use of nanoformulations in Brazil and seek parallels in legislation from neighboring countries, the USA, Europe, and the BRICS.
This axis will directly associate with research topics 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
This proposal is interested in more than developing new products and increasing the understanding of phenomena that occur at the nanoscale. It is also interested in disseminating knowledge in society through products and the creation of technology-based companies. Thus, this axis focuses on scaling up the production processes of nanostructures (axes 1 and 2), quality control, and management of these systems, in addition to efficacy testing under field conditions (axes 3 and 4).
This axis will enhance processes' technological maturity levels by identifying challenges and proposing strategies for overcoming them.
Additionally, it will strengthen interactions with companies and foster the creation of spin-offs and startups, aiming to achieve scalable products, processes, and services that can be transferred to businesses and society through intellectual and industrial property licensing agreements.
Nanoinformatics and computational approaches to predicting and modeling the bioactivity of nanomaterials are extremely relevant to the development of new materials for sustainable agriculture.
However, most existing data are currently diffuse in the literature and available in unstructured databases.
In this context, creating knowledge bases associated with data registration on digital platforms can significantly reduce research costs, accelerate innovation, and facilitate regulatory processes by eliminating the need for a high volume of laboratory tests.
One key goal is to advance the concept of FAIR data (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) in agro-environmental nanotechnology. This strategy aims to establish a knowledge base within the INCT that can connect with other ongoing initiatives in Europe and the USA.
This approach will be integrated with all other axes of the proposal and developed in collaboration with renowned experts from abroad.
