Five ways nuclear technology is improving agriculture and food security globally

The article highlights the innovative uses of nuclear technology in improving agricultural practices, with a focus on the partnership between the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to enhance knowledge and capacity in this area. The article covers five examples of how this partnership is improving agriculture and food security, including:

1. Animal health: The use of molecular nuclear techniques, such as real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests, for rapidly detecting and diagnosing animal diseases.
2. Soil and water management: The use of radioactive nuclides to measure and assess soil erosion, and the introduction of nuclear isotope fertilizers to monitor soil health and improve crop production.
3. Insect pest management: The use of the sterile insect technique (SIT) as an environmentally-friendly method of managing insect pests.
4. Food safety and control: The use of nuclear techniques to detect or eliminate harmful residues and contaminants in food products.
5. Plant breeding and genetics: The use of nuclear technology in crop breeding to develop improved varieties that better adapt to climate change.

The article provides specific examples of how these techniques have been successfully implemented, such as in Belize with animal health molecular diagnostics, in Benin with soil and water management, in Ecuador with insect pest management, in Viet Nam with food safety control, and in Sudan with plant breeding and genetics.