From Farm to Fork: How Nuclear Science Helps Put Food on Our Tables

[Marlin]

From Farm to Fork: How Nuclear Science Helps Put Food on Our Tables

https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/from-farm-to-fork-how-nuclear-science-helps-put-food-on-our-tables

[Core Content]

The International Atomic Energy Agency and the Food and Agriculture Organization are highlighting five applications of nuclear technology in agriculture. These methods include mutation breeding for climate-resilient crops, the sterile insect technique for pest control, and food irradiation for safety.

These non-power applications demonstrate the broader industrial and scientific value of nuclear techniques outside of electricity generation. For the nuclear sector, promoting these peaceful uses helps maintain public engagement and regulatory support by addressing global challenges in food security and environmental protection.

On World Food Day, discover five ways nuclear science helps improve crop production, protect livestock and keep our food safe and nutritious.

Using nuclear techniques, the IAEA, through the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, builds national capacities in plant breeding to develop crops that are more resistant to diseases, pests and environmental stressors. By inducing mutations with radiation, scientists create new plant varieties that improve product quality, have higher yields and yield stability, and more tolerance to environmental stressors, contributing to a more robust and sustainable food...

Read the full article at iaea.org:
https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/from-farm-to-fork-how-nuclear-science-helps-put-food-on-our-tables