Quantum-Enhanced Microbial Biotechnology for Smart Food Systems: Redefining Nutrition with Self-Regulating Foods

Abstract

Global food systems confront major challenges: approximately 733 million people face chronic hunger, around 1.3 billion tons of food are lost or wasted each year, and agriculture accounts for roughly 12–20% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. This editorial explores the conceptual and emerging potential of integrating quantum dot (QD)-based biosensors with CRISPR-engineered microbiomes to advance more adaptive, sustainable food production and safety monitoring. Recent developments highlight: sensitive detection of foodborne pathogens and contaminants (typically in the 10¹–10³ CFU/mL range for bacteria and sub-nanomolar to femtomolar levels for certain chemicals in optimized platforms); improved probiotic stability and reduced production costs through bio-based nanocomposites and multilayer encapsulation; promising biodegradability and low bioaccumulation profiles for biomass-derived carbon QDs; and enhanced nutrient yields in solar-powered microbial bioreactors compared to some conventional methods. Although fully integrated closed-loop self-regulating systems remain largely conceptual and in early exploration stages, such synergies could meaningfully support United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to zero hunger, responsible consumption, and climate action. A proposed long-term roadmap emphasizes phased development, open-source approaches, and collaborative efforts to assess feasibility, particularly in resource-constrained settings.