Contact
Klaus-Peter Wilbois
(Dr. agr.)
Senior Research Associate
FiBL
Kasseler Straße 1a
D-60486 Frankfurt
Phone +49 (0)69 7137699-76
Mobile +49 (0)177 5079411
Fax +49 (0)69 7137699-9
klaus-peter.wilbois(at)fibl.org
Contact
Bernadette Oehen
(Dipl. Botanist, MAS ETH)
Socio-Economics
FiBL
Ackerstrasse 113
CH-5070 Frick
Phone +41 (0)62 865-7212
Fax +41 (0)62 865-7273 bernadette.oehen(at)fibl.org
Contact
Bernhard Speiser
(Dr. phil.)
Plant protection and biodiversity
FiBL
Ackerstrasse 113
CH-5070 Frick
Phone +41 (0)62 865-7243
Fax +41 (0)62 865-7273 bernhard.speiser(at)fibl.org
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology in organic production?
Nanotechnology refers to an uprising field of technology dealing with matter on the atomic and molecular scale. Nano-particles are particles with a size range of 1 to 100 nm (1 nm = 1 nanometer = 1 billionth of a meter). Nanoparticles have several applications related to organic farming: packaging of food, coating of surfaces, processing aids, pesticides, veterinary medicine, treatment of textiles, ingredients for cosmetics (sunscreens). Nanotechnology is poorly defined and even more poorly regulated at the moment. It offers new prospects in several areas, but it also carries risks.
The organic sector has not yet decided whether nanoparticles should be allowed or prohibited, and if allowed, under what conditions. This page summarizes some of the discussions on nanotechnology in organic production.
Task force nanotechnology
At the IFOAM Organic World Congress 2008, the participants of the workshop «nanotechnology» decided that a task force nanotechnology should be established.
Events
Discussion meeting at BioFach Congress 2011
Addressing nanotechnologies in organic standards and regulations
Nanotechnology and the Swiss organic food industry (316 KB)
Discussion meeting at BioFach Congress 2009
Nanotechnology in organic food production with a focus on packaging
Discussion meeting at BioFach 2008
- Bernhard Speiser, FiBL: Introduction (205 KB)
- Keith Ball, Soil Association: Presentation (25 KB)
- Franz-Theo Gottwald, Schweisfurth Foundation: Rechtsrahmen und ethische Forderungen für den Einsatz von Nanotechnologie (28 KB) (german)
- Klaus-Peter Wilbois: FiBL’s position to nanotechnology (30 KB)
IFOAM World Congress 2008
Presentations held at the IFOAM Organic World Congress June 2008 in Modena
- Bernhard Speiser, FiBL: Nano-particles in organic production? Issues and opinions (205 KB)
article - Bernhard Speiser, FiBL: What is nano-techology? Definition and examples of potential applications (254 KB)
- Alexandra Hozzank, infoXgen: Nanotechnology - (non) existing regulations (145 KB)
- John Paull: Nano-in-food - Threat or Opportunity for Organic Food? (38 KB) (article)
- Anamarija Slabe, Institute for Sustinable Development (EEB): Elaborating EEB’s position on nanotechnologies (45 KB)
- Francis Blake, Soil Associoation: Nanotechnology – no place in organic food and farming? (25 KB) (presentation)
article (25 KB) - Results of the worksho (31 KB)
BÖLW Fachtag: Nanotechnologie in der Lebensmittelwirtschaft: Risiken und potenzielle Nutzen
June 2008, Berlin
- Sven Sängerlaub, Fraunhofer Institut für Verfahrenstechnik und Verpackung: Perspektiven der Nanotechnologie für verpackte Lebensmittel (1.4 MB)
- Sibylle Schroer, Julius Kühn-Institut: Perspektiven der Nanotechnologie für die Landwirtschaft (1.0 MB)
- BUND: Nanotechnologie im Lebensmittelbereich (1.6 MB)
Links and documents relating to this topic
- FiBL: Diskussionspapier zum Einsatz von Nanotechnologien in der Bioproduktion (49 KB) (german)
- OECD: Safety of Manufactured Nanomaterials
- European Commission: Nano Safety for Success Dialogue (October 2007)
- Nanotechnology Homepage of the European Commission
- European Nanotechnology Gateway: http://nanoforum.org/
- United States Environmental Protection Agency: Nanotechnology
- Swiss Federal Office for Public Health: Nanotechnologie (german)