ABSTRACT
Horticulture is defined as the art and science of cultivating and handling fruits, vegetables, ornamental flowers, and plants. Every year, one-third of food products are spoiled due to crop harvesting practices, transportation methods, the time from field to storage places, and the storage processes used. As the world’s human population is increasing rapidly, there is an increasing need for healthy and quality food. The advances in nanotechnology and biotechnology offer ways to increase production efficiency and reduce the wastage of food during the postharvest stage. Compared with traditional food storage methods, nanotechnological advances create new-generation packaging systems. They help in controlling the growth, development, and spread of harmful, spoilage, and disease-causing microorganisms, protecting food from gases and harmful rays. It also increases the quality, strength, and packaging beauty of the horticulture crops. Multifunctional nanoformulations can also act as edible coatings for fruits and vegetables that extend the shelf life of food and function as efficient carriers for pharmaceuticals and phytochemicals. Nanocoatings and nanocomposites have an auspicious and golden future in the agri-food industry, especially in life span extension and food preservation from spoilage.
