Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) and their role at the nexus of Food, Energy, and Water

Abstract

The use of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) to improve food production, energy generation, and/or the removal of pollutants from water have changed several paradigms related with the way that the scientific community conceives the future of the respective fields. Nevertheless, the use of ENMs and their eventual release into the environment also generate concerns related with some undesirable effects that have been observed for ENMs once they enter the air, soil, or water. A significant amount of controversial results related with the role of ENMs and their potential side effects have been published, with the consequent lack of clarity and increased misinformation. This study is devoted to reviewing the role of ENMs at the nexus of food, energy, and water (FEW)—including some examples of their current applications and challenges specifically related with food production—as well as discussing their potential effects on the FEW nexus.