INNOVATION-CHAIN+ APPROACH FOR THE NANO-ENABLED AGRIFOOD SECTOR

Douglas K. R. RobinsonteQnode SARL, 75005 Paris, France

&

Centre de Gestion Scientifique (C.G.S.), Ecole des Mines, Paris

The 4th International Seville Conference onFuture-Oriented Technology Analysis (FTA)

12 & 13 May 2011

Tilo ProppIndependent researcher, Gouda, the Netherlands

INNOVATION-CHAIN+ APPROACH FOR THE NANO-ENABLED AGRIFOOD SECTOR

teQnode

A TRAILERSee FTA website for feature length edition

Aims of presentation•To give a glimpse (without too many SPOILERS) of the paper

•Entice you to read the paper (popcorn is not provided)

•To provoke first round comments

The paper

• FTA approaches need to be tailored, not only to project technology trajectories, but to speculate (in a controlled way) how the socio-technical landscape (the various environments and framing conditions that will shape future innovation journeys) will evolve

• In this theme, Orienting innovation systems towards global challenges, the emphasis is shifted from promising technologies stemming from hype & hope in technoscience, a technocentric view where projections stem from a key enabling technology, towards a system, challenge or societal need (a multi-actor view) in which many technology options (and non-technological options) may provide solutions and can (in theory) be selected as the most suitable option.

• This places a real challenge on the FTA practitioner. On the one hand, trustworthy future-oriented technology analysis is our trade, projecting futures from the present, like trajectories that can be mapped and followed or avoided. On the other, we are now faced with understanding current and potential socio-technical landscapes where the technology options are part of entanglements in a multi-actor and multi-level arrangement.

STARTING POINT

NEED TO COUPLE PROMISING TECHNOLOGY WITH SOCIETAL NEEDS

A CHALLENGE FOR FTA

The first of two slides I shall read lots of text

The paper (2)

• Our interest was in near to mid-term grand challenges and thus look at the (co) evolution of the present socio-technical landscape with promising technologies into future socio-technical landscapes.

• We wanted an approach that could be modified for all those wishing to shape technology to meet societal challenges (policy makers, civil society orgs, citizen/consumers, entrepreneurs, large firms, proactive researchers etc.)

• Would allow the tracing of both de/re alignments of current socio-technical configurations

• Would include the different assessment worlds of the various actors/stakeholders.

The second of two slides I shall read lots of text

The paper (3)  Methodologies Objects Outcomes Nature

A Techno-organizational mapping Actors, activities ‘Innovation chain’: actual horizontal and vertical links and emerging chains being linked, as supply chains, into the X, Y, Z chain

Descriptive

B Rationales/

expectations mapping

Endogenous futures (techno-centric; governance-centric) and enabling conditions

‘+’: Ongoing interactions in ‘arenas of concern’

Descriptive

C Social

science

analysis

Functions of expectations; relationships between emerging and incumbent technologies

‘+’: Connections between technologies and grand challenges are mediated: they emerge from interactions between technically and socially enabling factors per future path

Prospective

We reviewed literature on approaches that could help us capture actors and activities, the connections between the present and the future and ways of assessment.

•Networks and systems (Innovation Systems, st-systems, value chains, etc.)•Expectations, agendas and activities leading to entanglements and alignment•Novelty creation and selection (evolutionary economics, enactor/selectors)

The paper (4)• We see that these elements can be combined if you

move away from a system of actors and activities

• To a system of arenas of technology production, novelty creation and selection mechanisms.

• Placing emphasis on:

• Organisational processes and entanglements (including sunk investments)

• Expectations of how the present will evolve into the future• Assessment processes (innovation and selection regimes)

Innovation-Chain+

Each bubble represents an arena of activities, novelty creation and selection

Depending on focus of analysis and FTA objective, can explore

(1)Assessment processes (2) Innovation/design regime (3) expectations and agendas (4) alignments/lock-ins (5) actor mix (6) processes of interaction within and across arenas

  Methodologies Objects Outcomes Nature

A Techno-organizational mapping

Actors, activities ‘Innovation chain’: actual horizontal and vertical links and emerging chains being linked, as supply chains, into the X, Y, Z chain

Descriptive

B Rationales/

expectations mapping

Endogenous futures (techno-centric; governance-centric) and enabling conditions

‘+’: Ongoing interactions in ‘arenas of concern’

Descriptive

C Social

science

analysis

Functions of expectations; relationships between emerging and incumbent technologies

‘+’: Connections between technologies and grand challenges are mediated: they emerge from interactions between technically and socially enabling factors per future path

Prospective

GLOBAL AGRIFOOD CHALLENGES

9

SUSTAINABILITY

HUMAN HEALTH

VULNERABILITY

THE AGRIFOOD SECTOR?What do we mean by

10

Food Packaging

Here is just one small segment of the food chain tracking the elements influencing food value chain from farm to fork.

Food Value Chain Perspective

Food Packaging

Production Processing

Packaging

Distribution

Roughly this breaks down it down into four overlapping areas

Food Value Chain Perspective

Agricultural production Food Processing Food Packaging Food Distribution

Nano forms of agro chemicals

Nano carriers enabling genetic manipulation of crops and livestock

Controlled release Nano-

emulsionsNanofibers

Nano-diagnostics Nano clays

Packaging environment sensors

Edible nano-coatings

Bio-degradable packaging

Nano RFID Nano bar codes

Lots of nanoscale options

Precision Agriculture

Sustainable farmingWater and nutrient

controlFunctional foods Neutraceuticals

Improved quality control Active

packagingFlavour scalping reduction Tracking Authentication

Potentially enabling many macroscale technology applications

Consumer mistrust of Agrotech (e.g. Aftermath of BSE and GMO in UK)

Trend in disposal and convenience packaging reinforces end-of-life concerns

Tracking and Privacy issues arising from track and trace technologies

Concerns over labelling of ingredients in food, what system for nano? Specific like E-numbering system?

Concern about food contact materials (i.e. Antibacterial agents) and migration

Little clarity on what is novel food, and thus concern that lack of transparency when nano is in a product

Enhanced absorption and bio-availability leads to questions on exposure in the gut (issue of mucosal and cellular translocation)

Definition of novel food unclear. This inhibits labelling standards and thus product transparency

Contamination of food through migration of nanoparticles from food packaging or activesurfaces used in food processing.

Risk and Hazards of environmental exposure

Nan

o op

tions

and

in

fluen

ce o

n fo

od c

hain

Qua

lity

and

Safe

ty Is

sues

Soci

etal

and

G

over

nanc

e is

sues

Limited knowledge on toxicity of nano-formulations ofexisting agrochemicals which are designed to bebe more reactive and more bioactive

Consumer group concerns on dominance of fortified foods versus natural

Longevity of nano-based pesticides in question by many environmental NGOs

Nano fulfils many technical requirements, but other criteria must be met for the nano-enabled macroscale technology to be taken up and well embedded in society.

Food Value Chain Perspective and NANO +

FOOD PACKAGING

14

The Driver for Green PackagingPackaging waste costs money and costs the environment

Using figures just for the UK:

Approximately 10.5 million tons of packaging enters the UK waste system every year (DEFRA report)

More than half of this is related to food and drink

The cost of the raw materials for this is about 4.5 billion Euros per year

And this cost does not include disposal and recovery costs or wider social and environmental costs such as the accumulation of platicizers in underground water, or the production of dioxins by, for example, PVC and paper based packaging materials

SO LETS GO GREEN?

Bio-based plastics with desirable properties

Raw material from renewable sources

What is the holy grail in green packaging?

SUSTAINABLE, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY & COMPETETIVE OPTIONS

What is the holy grail in green packaging?

SUSTAINABLE, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY & COMPETETIVE OPTIONS

Environmentally friendly during retail, consumption and waste management

Promising Technologies

Where does NANOTECHNOLOGY add value?

Adapted diagram from: Ecobionanocomposites: A New Class of Green Materials, John R. Dorgan, Colorado School of Mines,

Renewable Sources Processing

NANO modificationBiopolymer

Traditionally biopolymers have suffered because of:• Poor barrier properties• Poor mechanical properties

Processing many of these biopolymers into nanofibres and nanowhiskers or incorporating nanoadditives can augment barrier and mechanical properties of biopolymers.

Biodegradable and edible packagingBionanocomposites

When biopolymers (such as cellulose) are mixed with nanoclay particles, the resultant nanocomposites exhibit improved barrier properties compared with the pure polymer, and after their useful life can be composted and returned to the soil . Other nanomaterials can be used including nanoparticles, nanofibres and nanowhiskers.

Bio-based nanofibres

Many biopolymers such as chitosan, cellulose, collagen and zein (derived from corn) have been synthesised as nanofibres using high electrostatic potentials from various biopolymers via the electrospinning technique.

Edible nano films

Edible films are layers of digestible material used to coat food (edible coatings) or as a barrier between food and other materials or environments (edible films). Bionanocomposites created from vegetable and fruit puree and cellulose nanowhiskers have recently been developed . Proteins that can be used include casein, whey, collagen, egg white and fish derived protein. Soya bean, corn and wheat protein also are candidates for edible films producing proteins.

A reasonably well defined societal challenge

&Lots of promising technologies

We wanted to look at the landscapes innovation

journeys would cross and co-evolve with to achieve this

societal challenge

teQnode

teQnode

teQnode

teQnode

teQnode

Wrapping Up

  Methodologies Objects Outcomes Nature

A Techno-organizational mapping

Actors, activities ‘Innovation chain’: actual horizontal and vertical links and emerging chains being linked, as supply chains, into the X, Y, Z chain

Descriptive

B Rationales/

expectations mapping

Endogenous futures (techno-centric; governance-centric) and enabling conditions

‘+’: Ongoing interactions in ‘arenas of concern’

Descriptive

C Social

science

analysis

Functions of expectations; relationships between emerging and incumbent technologies

‘+’: Connections between technologies and grand challenges are mediated: they emerge from interactions between technically and socially enabling factors per future path

Prospective

teQnode

teQnode

Robinson D. K. R., Huang L., Guo Y. & Porter A. L. (In review 2011) Forecasting Innovation Pathways (FIP)

NANOBIOSENSORS

Van Merkerk & Robinson 2006Technology Analysis and Strategic Management

LAB-ON-A-CHIP

Robinson & Propp 2006 2nd FTA conf.

2008 TF&SC on multipath mapping

LAB-ON-A-CHIP

Robinson 2010 PhD ThesisSIRNA DELIVERY

Te Kulve 2011 PhD Thesis FOOD AND PHARMA

Robinson D. K. R., Huang L., Guo Y. & Porter A. L. (In review 2011) Forecasting Innovation Pathways (FIP)

DEEP BRAIN IMPLANTS

ParandianPhD Thesis forthcoming 2011

LARGE AREA ELECTRONICS

BODY AREA NETWORKS

Robinson 20083rd FTA Seminar

2009 TF&SC

CO-EVOLUTIONARY SCENARIOS FOR NANO GOVERNANCE

Elwyn et al 2011Journal of Evaluation in Clinical PracticeMEDICAL INFORMATICS FOR HEART DISEASE

Extra Slides

Locating worldwide nanobiosensor research over a base map of science (Database: SCI)

Cognitive Sci

Computer Sci

GeosciencesAgri Sci

Ecol Sci

Chemistry

Physics

Engr SciMtls Sci

Infectious Diseases

Clinical Med

Health Sci

Env Sci & Tech

Biomed Sci.

175 Science map label overlay

See Lu Huang et al.After Lunch on Text

Mining for Forecasting Innovation Pathways

THE NANOSCALEPutting into perspective

33

Putting the Nanoscale into perspective

34Artificial structures Natural structures

Putting the Nanoscale into perspective

35Artificial structures Cheese to the nanoscale

Cheese

Cheese mites

Fat Globules

Casein micelles

Milk Protein

Bouwmeester et al. (2009) Reg. Tox. & Pharma