Vienna – The enhanced capacity and expanded applications of nuclear technologies are helping scientists worldwide increase production and ensure sufficient, nutritious food for all, said Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), today.
Speaking at the opening of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications, Qu emphasized FAO’s six-decade collaboration with the IAEA.
“Over the past 60 years, FAO and the IAEA have established a strong partnership that has led to many successes,” he said. ‘’We have collectively made significant efforts and put forward resources to advance global food security and nutrition, and sustainable agricultural development, through the safe and appropriate application of nuclear science and technologies.’’
The FAO Director-General highlighted key achievements of the FAO-IAEA partnership, including nuclear-based plant mutation breeding, which has developed crop varieties with higher yields and greater climate resilience. Similarly, nuclear techniques have been applied to combat transboundary animal diseases, enhance soil fertility, and support food safety through irradiation technologies that reduce spoilage and prevent food-borne illnesses.
As global hunger persists with around 733 million people experiencing hunger worldwide—Qu urged stakeholders to accelerate their efforts in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and other SDGs. In this context, he underscored the importance of nuclear science to “produce more with less”, in a world that is reaching a population of 10 billion.
“There are no easy answers, but our joint strength is that we know what works: climate-adaptive and smart technologies, improved resilience, and widely accessible and affordable science-based solutions are proven ways to build efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems”, he underscored, calling the conference a strategic opportunity to strengthen partnerships and accelerate progress.
Qu also highlighted the recently launched and FAO-hosted G20 Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty and called for collective and urgent action “from Lab to Land, from Paper to Production” to implement evidence-based policy and champion innovative solutions.
At the Ministerial Conference that takes place until 28 November, FAO will also highlight the Atoms4Food Initiative, launched in 2023 jointly with IAEA, which leverages nuclear technology to provide tailored solutions for food security and sustainable agriculture.
Global south for agrifood innovation
At a side-event organized by the Embassy of China “Atoms for a better home and global south”, Qu underscored the importance of global cooperation and knowledge sharing to address the complex challenges facing agrifood systems worldwide.
The FAO Director-General explained the multifaceted nature of food security. He highlighted the importance of not only ensuring food availability but also its accessibility, affordability, and nutritional value. He also stressed the need for a diverse food system, moving beyond basic staples to include nutritious and functional foods.
Qu also commended the potential of countries in the Global South such as China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and Argentina to share their expertise and technology with other nations to enhance global food production and security.
FAO plays a crucial role in South-South and Triangular Cooperation by facilitating knowledge and technology exchange between countries. This includes sharing successful agricultural practices, promoting innovation, and building capacity to enhance food security and sustainable development.
At the event, country representatives and International Organizations shared initiatives and experiences on peaceful uses of atomic energy for development, including medical isotopes production, radiopharmaceuticals, nuclear medicine, irradiation processing, and mutation breeding.
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