Functionalized Polymeric Materials in Agriculture and the Food Industry

Chapter 2 deals with the uses of the polymeric materials in the broad area of agriculture, especially in plantation and plant protection. There are a number of areas where the polymers have been employed in the growing of agricultural vegetables and crops and in plant protection. It is divided into four parts: uses of polymers in plantation, plant protection, farm construction materials, farm water handling and management. They are used as useful media for plantation such as soil conditioners, containers and pots plantations, gel planting and transplanting, seed coating germination, soil aeration, and soil sterilization. They are also used as structural materials for plants and crops protection for creation of climate, windbreaks, and crop preservation and storage. In addition, they are used as construction materials in farm building and in water handling and management for water conservation in agriculture.

Chapter 3 describes the uses of polymeric materials in agriculture for controlled release formulations of agrochemicals, which are released into the environment of interest at relatively constant rates over prolonged periods to avoid the risk of the active agents being washed away by rain or irrigation. There are a number of agrochemical areas where polymers have been employed either as encapsulation membranes or as convenient supports to chemically attach the active agrochemical groups. In general, all principal classes of polymers have been utilized in agricultural applications for the controlled release of agrochemicals. The polymeric agrochemicals and related biocides described in this chapter include polymeric herbicides, polymeric plant growth regulators, polymeric fertilizers, polymers in stored food protection, polymeric insecticides, polymeric molluscicides, polymeric antifouling paints, polymeric fungicides in wood preservation, and polymeric antimicrobials.

Chapter 4 provides the basic principles for the contribution of reactive polymers in solving problems associated with the procedures used in some areas of food production. Their broad range of applications to food industries include the various types of polymers that have interesting potential for continuous processes, in particular those used in dairy and sugar, fruit juices and beverages industries, beer and wine production. It covers also the potential uses of polymers in tomato sauce production and in potable water. Polymeric materials do not become substantial components of food and are used especially for the purification, recovery, and utilization of by-products. They serve as an aid in food processing and improve food characteristics make food more attractive. The food industry requires suitable polymers to meet the specific requirements for the food industry that simplify food production processes and reduce food production costs, do not deteriorate foods, and do not alter food characteristics. In general, the fundamental principles are based on health protection and preservation of foods quality. The reactive polymers in the form of ion exchange resins, immobilized enzymes, membranes, as well as polymeric smart and nanomaterials, have been utilized in the various areas of the food processing and fabrication industries.

Chapter 5 describes the uses of polymeric materials as food additives. Polymeric materials, which affect food characteristics and substantially become components of food, are considered as food additives. The general use of polymeric food additives is to enhance the food quality and to preserve or enhance food flavor, taste, and appearance without affecting food nutritional value. They are substances other than a basic foodstuff, which exhibit their functions prior to consumption of the food products, either acting as aids in the manufacture, preservation, coloration, and stabilization of food products or improving the biological value of certain foods. The polymeric materials used for supporting food additives include polymeric food colorants, polymeric food antioxidants, polymeric nonnutritive sweeteners, polymeric nonnutritive hydrocolloids, and polymeric animal feed additives. In addition, the polymeric materials are used for supporting indicators and biosensors to follow the undesirable effects of the environmental factors on the food products.

Chapter 6 focuses on the applications of polymers in food packaging and protection that include polymeric traditional packaging, polymeric coatings in metal-can food packaging, polymeric biodegradable and preservative food packaging, polymeric active packaging, and modified atmospheric and smart food packaging. Traditionally, food packages are used to provide protection for the food products and designed to retard or delay the undesirable effects of the physical, chemical, biological, and environmental factors that extend shelf life and food quality by keeping the food contents clean, fresh, and safe to aid consumers in using the nutritional contents of the food products. Their primary role in food safety is preservation and protection from external contamination, maintenance of food quality, and increase shelf life. They protect foods from the influences of environment effects such as light, heat, oxygen, moisture, enzymes, microorganisms, insects, dust, gaseous emission, and pressure, which lead to the deterioration of food products. Food packages are labeled to show required information on the nutrition of the food content and to communicate the consumer how to use, transport, recycle, or dispose the package, as well as the nature of the deterioration of the product and any subsequent health problems if food is consumed beyond expiry date due to the potential serious nature of consumption of pathogens