Ecological Consequences of Nanotechnology in Agriculture: Researchers' Perspective

Authors
R. Sabzali Parikhani
H. Sadighi
M. Bijani
Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, College of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Abstract
Despite the broad applications of nanotechnologies in the present age, there are concerns about its ecological consequences. In this regard, the purpose of this study was to analyze ecological consequences of nanotechnology in the field of agriculture. The research method was descriptive, which was carried out by a survey technique for gathering data. The statistical population of the study included all researchers, experts, and faculty members of national agricultural research institutes and centers across Iran (N=190); out of them, 123 individuals were selected by using Krejcie and Morgan sample size Table along with stratified random sampling method with proportional assignment (n=123). The research instrument was a questionnaire whose face and content validity was confirmed by a number of faculty members of agricultural extension and education and experts in the field of nanotechnology. The reliability of ecological consequences of nanotechnology items was also obtained by a pilot study using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (α= 0.78). To identify the ecological consequences of nanotechnology by taking advantage of factor analysis, five factors entitled “social consequences”, “health-care consequences”, “economic consequences”, “cultural consequences”, and “biological consequences” were extracted. As a whole, these factors explained 58.40 percent of the total variance of ecological consequences of nanotechnology in the field of agriculture.

Keywords

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2. Bijani, M. and Hayati, D. 2015. Farmers’ Perceptions toward Agricultural Water Conflict: The Case of Doroodzan Dam Irrigation Network, Iran. J. Agr. Sci. Tech. (JAST), 17(3): 561-575.
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5. Council for Science and Technology. 2007. Nanosciences and Nanotechnology: A Review of Governments Progress on its Policy Commitments. Retrieved May 3, 2007, Available at: http://cst.Gor.uk
6. Dunmade, I. 2002. Indicators of Sustainability: Assessing the Suitability of a Foreign Technology for a Developing Economy, Technol. Soc., 24(4): 34-57.
7. Ebrahimi, R. and Chokhanizade-Moghadam, A. 2014. Take a Look at the Past and the Future Prospects for Safety Issues, Health and the Environment, Nanotechnology. Month. Nanotechnol., 1(13): 46-52. (in Persian)
8. Hayeripor, S. 2014. Guidelines Draft Environmental Impact Assessment Tourism Projects in Marginal Water Resources (Rivers and Reservoirs of Dams). Ministry of Power, Publication 426(2-A): 1-5. (in Persian)
9. Krejcei, R. V. and Morgan, D. W. 1970. Determining Sample Size for Research Activities. Edu. Psychol. Measur., 30: 607-610.
10. Maghabl, R., Chizari, M. and Khayam Nekouei, M. 2011. An Investigation of the Promoter Factors of Nanotechnology Development in Iranian Agricultural Sector. Iran. J. Agric. Econ. Dev. Res., 41-2(4): 531-539. (in Persian)
11. Majidi, F., Bijani, M. and Abbasi, E. 2017. Pathology of Scientific Articles Publishing in the Field of Agriculture as Perceived by Faculty Members and PhD. Students (The Case of Colleges of Agriculture at Public Universities, Iran). J. Agr. Sci. Tech. (JAST), 19(Suppl. Issue): 1469-1484.
12. Mansourfar, K. 2006. Advanced Statistical Methods: Using Applied Software. University of Tehran Press. (in Persian).
13. Maynard, A.D. 2007. Nanotechnology: The Next Big Thing, or Much Ado about Nothing?. Ann. Occup. Hyg, 51(1):1-12.
14. Mazaheri Asadi, M. and Gholami Qavamabad, A. 2010. Health and Environmental Hazards of Nanotechnology. Rahbord J., 19(55): 37-58. (in Persian)
15. Mirbakhsh, M., Mazaheri Asadi, M. and Gaaedniya, B. 2012. The Possible Effects of Nanoparticles on Human Health and the Environment. The First National Conference Standard and Safety in Nanotechnology. Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Introduction (IPPI), Tehran, Iran, 24th May 2012, (in Persian)
16. Monavari, M. 2009. Environmental Impacts of Development Projects. Islamic Azad University, Tehran. (in Persian)
17. Moradi, H., Bijani, M., Shabanali Fami., Fallah Haghighi, N., Tamadon, A. R. and Moradi, A. R. 2011. Analysis of Effective Components on Professional Development of Agricultural eExtension Agents in Kermanshah Province in Iran. Int. J. Food Agric. Environ. (JFAE), 3 and 4(9): 803-810.
18. Mosavi, S.H. and Esmaeili, A. 2012. Self-Sufficiency Versus Free Trade: The Case of Rice in Iran. Int Food Agribus Man, 24(1): 76-90.
19. Nad, R. 2005. Technology Development and Its Environmental Impacts. Quarter. J. Indust. Technol. Dev., 2(5): 36-44. (in Persian).
20. Naghdi, Y., Kaghazian, S., Mohsni fakhr, N. and Parhizi Gashti, H. 2015. Effects of Nano-Technology on Economic Growth in Selected Countries. Quarter. J. Econ. Model, 7(21): 85-99. (in Persian)
21. Najafi Alamdarlo, H. 2018. The economic impact of agricultural pollutions in Iran, spatial distance function approach. Sci Total Environ, 616-617: 1656-1663.
22. Norozi, N. 2014. Model Presentation for the Assessment of New Technologies. J. Future. Res., 11: 3-6. (in Persian).
23. Poursaeed, A. R., Eshragi Samani, R. and Sharifirad, M. 2012. Experts’ Attitude Regarding Usage of Nanotechnology. Health Syst. Res. 5(8): 896-902. (in Persian).
24. Pratima Nikalje, A. 2015. Nanotechnology and Its Applications in Medicine. Med. Chem., 5(1): 81-89.
25. Rezaei, R., Hosseini, H., Shabanali Fami, H. and Sarafrazi, A. M. 2012. An Identification and Analysis the Mechanisms of Nanotechnology development in Iranian Agricultural Sector. Iran. J. Agric. Econ. Dev. Res., 42-2(3): 379-388. (in Persian)
26. Rezvani, M., Ramezanzadeh Lasboyee, M. and Porgaberei, M. 2010. The analysis of Socio-Economic Effects of Industrial Areas on Developing Rural Areas (Case Study: Industrial Area of Soleiman Abad, Tonekabon). Geography Dev., 8(18): 5-26. (in Persian).
27. Sabzali Parikhani, R., Sadighi, H. and Bijani, M. 2016. An Environmental Analysis of Nanotechnology in the Field of Agriculture. 2nd International Conference on Sustainable Development, Strategies and Challenges. 23-25 February 2016, Tabriz, Iran. (in Persian)
28. Salehi, S., Chizari, M., Sadighi, H. and Bijani, M. 2017. Assessment of Agricultural Groundwater Users in Iran. A Cultural Environmental Bias. Hydrogeol. J., 26(1):285-295.
29. Shahhosseini, GH. R. 2015. The Role of Nuclear Technology in the Fields of Veterinary, Fisheries and Animal Sciences. Scientific and Economic Status Conference on Nuclear Technology in the Development of Agricultural Areas are Holding, Tarbiat Modares University (TMU), Tehran, Iran, February 2015, PP. 4-18. (in Persian)
30. Shatkin, J. A. 2012. Nanotechnology: Health and Environmental Risks. CRC Press.
31. Shiri, Sh., Bijani, M., Chaharsoughi Amin, H., Noori, H. and Soleymanifard, A. 2011. Effectiveness Evaluation of the Axial Plan of Wheat from Expert Supervisors' View in Ilam Province. World Appl. Sci. J., 14(11): 1724-1729.
32. Shoja Alsadati, A. and Hamedi, S. 2014. Risk Assessment of Engineered Nanoparticles (ENPs). J. Hazard. Sci., 1(1): 37-45. (In Persian).
33. Soleimani, F., Nabipour, I., Faraji Ghasemi, F. and Dobaradaran, S. 2015. Nanoparticles Impact on Human and Environment: A Review of Toxicity, Exposure, Control Strategies, and Future Prospects. Iran. South Med. J., 18(3): 630-663. (in Persian).
34. Taqipour, M., Abbasi, E., Naeimi, A., Ganguly, S., and Zamani Miandashti, N. 2016. An investigation of self-directed learning skills among the Iranian agricultural students (Case of Agricultural College, Tarbiat Modares University). J. Agr. Sci. Tech. (JAST), 18(1): 15-26.
35. Tavakol, M. and Nozari, H. 2013. Analysis of Social, Economic and Environmental Persian Gas Refinery Industry in Rural Areas (Case Study: Rural Areas of Mohr City of Fars Province). Quarter. Soc. Stud. Res. Iran, 1(4): 29-48. (in Persian).
36. Valizadeh, N., Bijani, M., and Abbasi, E. (2018). Farmers’ Active Participation in Water Conservation: Insights from a Survey among Farmers in Southern Regions of West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. J. Agr. Sci. Tech. (JAST), 20(5): in press.
37. Warad, C. and Dutta, J. 2006. Nanotechnology for Agriculture and Food Systems. J.of Nanoparticle Res., 5(3): 29-38.
38. Xiaojia, H. and Huey-Min, H. 2016. Nanotechnology in Food Science: Functionality, Applicability, and Safety Assessment. J. Food Drug Anal, (24): 671-681.

1.       Abbasian, A.R., Chizari, M. and Bijani, M. 2017. Farmers’ Views on the Factors Inhibiting the Implementation of Soil Conservation Practices (The Case of Koohdasht Township, Iran). J. Agr. Sci. Tech. (JAST), 19(4): 797-807.
2.       Bijani, M. and Hayati, D. 2015. Farmers’ Perceptions toward Agricultural Water Conflict: The Case of Doroodzan Dam Irrigation Network, Iran. J. Agr. Sci. Tech. (JAST), 17(3): 561-575.
3.       Bond, P. J. 2003. The effects of nanotechnology on economic growth. Former Undersecretary of Commerce for Technology. United States Department of Commerce, Delivered September 9, 2003, The World Nanoeconomic Congress, Washington DC.
4.       Cheraghi, A., Bahrani, N. and Malekfar, R. 2004. Examining the Impact of Nanotechnology on Medical and Environmental Sciences from the Nanometric Tools Perspective. Hayat, 10(3): 85-94. (in Persian)
5.       Council for Science and Technology. 2007. Nanosciences and Nanotechnology: A Review of Governments Progress on its Policy Commitments. Retrieved May 3, 2007, Available at: http://cst.Gor.uk
6.       Dunmade, I. 2002. Indicators of Sustainability: Assessing the Suitability of a Foreign Technology for a Developing Economy, Technol. Soc., 24(4): 34-57.
7.       Ebrahimi, R. and Chokhanizade-Moghadam, A. 2014. Take a Look at the Past and the Future Prospects for Safety Issues, Health and the Environment, Nanotechnology. Month. Nanotechnol., 1(13): 46-52. (in Persian)
8.       Hayeripor, S. 2014. Guidelines Draft Environmental Impact Assessment Tourism Projects in Marginal Water Resources (Rivers and Reservoirs of Dams). Ministry of Power, Publication 426(2-A): 1-5. (in Persian)
9.       Krejcei, R. V. and Morgan, D. W. 1970. Determining Sample Size for Research Activities. Edu. Psychol. Measur., 30: 607-610.
10.    Maghabl, R., Chizari, M. and Khayam Nekouei, M. 2011. An Investigation of the Promoter Factors of Nanotechnology Development in Iranian Agricultural Sector. Iran. J. Agric. Econ. Dev. Res., 41-2(4): 531-539. (in Persian)
11.    Majidi, F., Bijani, M. and Abbasi, E. 2017. Pathology of Scientific Articles Publishing in the Field of Agriculture as Perceived by Faculty Members and PhD. Students (The Case of Colleges of Agriculture at Public Universities, Iran). J. Agr. Sci. Tech. (JAST), 19(Suppl. Issue): 1469-1484.
12.    Mansourfar, K. 2006. Advanced Statistical Methods: Using Applied Software. University of Tehran Press. (in Persian).
13.    Maynard, A.D. 2007. Nanotechnology: The Next Big Thing, or Much Ado about Nothing?. Ann. Occup. Hyg, 51(1):1-12.
14.    Mazaheri Asadi, M. and Gholami Qavamabad, A. 2010. Health and Environmental Hazards of Nanotechnology. Rahbord J., 19(55): 37-58. (in Persian)
15.    Mirbakhsh, M., Mazaheri Asadi, M. and Gaaedniya, B. 2012. The Possible Effects of Nanoparticles on Human Health and the Environment. The First National Conference Standard and Safety in Nanotechnology.Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Introduction (IPPI), Tehran, Iran, 24th May 2012, (in Persian)
16.    Monavari, M. 2009.Environmental Impacts of Development Projects.Islamic Azad University, Tehran. (in Persian)
17.    Moradi, H., Bijani, M., Shabanali Fami., Fallah Haghighi, N., Tamadon, A. R. and Moradi, A. R. 2011. Analysis of Effective Components on Professional Development of Agricultural eExtension Agents in Kermanshah Province in Iran. Int. J. Food Agric. Environ. (JFAE), 3 and 4(9): 803-810.
18.    Mosavi, S.H. and Esmaeili, A. 2012. Self-Sufficiency Versus Free Trade: The Case of Rice in Iran. Int Food Agribus Man, 24(1): 76-90.
19.    Nad, R. 2005. Technology Development and Its Environmental Impacts. Quarter. J. Indust. Technol. Dev., 2(5): 36-44. (in Persian).
20.    Naghdi, Y., Kaghazian, S., Mohsni fakhr, N. and Parhizi Gashti, H. 2015. Effects of Nano-Technology on Economic Growth in Selected Countries. Quarter. J. Econ. Model, 7(21): 85-99. (in Persian)
21.    Najafi Alamdarlo, H. 2018. The economic impact of agricultural pollutions in Iran, spatial distance function approach. Sci Total Environ, 616-617: 1656-1663.
22.    Norozi, N. 2014. Model Presentation for the Assessment of New Technologies. J. Future. Res., 11: 3-6. (in Persian).
23.    Poursaeed, A. R., Eshragi Samani, R. and Sharifirad, M. 2012. Experts’ Attitude Regarding Usage of Nanotechnology. Health Syst. Res. 5(8): 896-902. (in Persian).
24.    Pratima Nikalje, A. 2015. Nanotechnology and Its Applications in Medicine. Med. Chem., 5(1): 81-89.
25.    Rezaei, R.,  Hosseini, H., Shabanali Fami, H. and Sarafrazi, A.M. 2012. An Identification and Analysis the Mechanisms of Nanotechnology development in Iranian Agricultural Sector. Iran. J. Agric. Econ. Dev. Res., 42-2(3): 379-388.(in Persian)
26.     Rezvani, M., Ramezanzadeh Lasboyee, M. and  Porgaberei, M. 2010. The analysis of Socio-Economic Effects of Industrial Areas on Developing Rural Areas (Case Study: Industrial Area of Soleiman Abad, Tonekabon). Geography Dev., 8(18): 5-26. (in Persian).
27.    Sabzali Parikhani, R., Sadighi, H. and Bijani, M. 2016. An Environmental Analysis of Nanotechnology in the Field of Agriculture. 2nd International Conference on Sustainable Development, Strategies and Challenges. 23-25 February 2016, Tabriz, Iran. (in Persian)
28.    Salehi, S., Chizari, M., Sadighi, H. and Bijani, M. 2017. Assessment of Agricultural Groundwater Users in Iran. A Cultural Environmental Bias. Hydrogeol. J., 26(1):285-295.
29.    Shahhosseini, GH. R. 2015. The Role of Nuclear Technology in the Fields of Veterinary, Fisheries and Animal Sciences. Scientific and Economic Status Conference on Nuclear Technology in the Development of Agricultural Areas are Holding, Tarbiat Modares University (TMU), Tehran, Iran, February 2015, PP. 4-18. (in Persian)
30.    Shatkin, J. A. 2012. Nanotechnology: Health and Environmental Risks. CRC Press.
31.    Shiri, Sh., Bijani, M., Chaharsoughi Amin, H., Noori, H. and Soleymanifard, A. 2011. Effectiveness Evaluation of the Axial Plan of Wheat from Expert Supervisors' View in Ilam Province. World Appl. Sci. J., 14(11): 1724-1729.
32.    Shoja Alsadati, A. and Hamedi, S. 2014. Risk Assessment of Engineered Nanoparticles (ENPs). J. Hazard. Sci., 1(1): 37-45. (In Persian).
33.    Soleimani, F., Nabipour, I., Faraji Ghasemi, F. and Dobaradaran, S. 2015. Nanoparticles Impact on Human and Environment: A Review of Toxicity, Exposure, Control Strategies, and Future Prospects. Iran. South Med. J., 18(3): 630-663. (in Persian).
34.    Taqipour, M., Abbasi, E., Naeimi, A., Ganguly, S., and Zamani Miandashti, N. 2016. An investigation of self-directed learning skills among the Iranian agricultural students (Case of Agricultural College, Tarbiat Modares University). J. Agr. Sci. Tech. (JAST), 18(1): 15-26.
35.    Tavakol, M. and Nozari, H. 2013. Analysis of Social, Economic and Environmental Persian Gas Refinery Industry in Rural Areas (Case Study: Rural Areas of Mohr City of Fars Province). Quarter. Soc. Stud. Res. Iran, 1(4): 29-48. (in Persian).
36.    Valizadeh, N., Bijani, M., and Abbasi, E. (2018). Farmers’ Active Participation in Water Conservation: Insights from a Survey among Farmers in Southern Regions of West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. J. Agr. Sci. Tech. (JAST), 20(5): in press.
37.    Warad, C. and Dutta, J. 2006. Nanotechnology for Agriculture and Food Systems. J.of Nanoparticle Res., 5(3): 29-38.
38.  Xiaojia, H. and Huey-Min, H. 2016. Nanotechnology in Food Science: Functionality, Applicability, and Safety Assessment. J. Food Drug Anal, (24): 671-681.
Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
Volume 20, Issue 2
March and April 2018
Pages 205-219