©J. Murickananickel/FAO-IAEA
Vienna – A high‑level delegation from the Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) last week visited the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food & Agriculture, with the shared goal of accelerating the transfer of nuclear-based agricultural innovations to country & regional levels.
For the first time, FAO Assistant Directors-General & Regional Representatives from all five regions, along with Directors of technical divisions from headquarters (HQ), met in Vienna to develop a joint action plan to scale up nuclear & related technologies through a unified “One FAO Approach.”
Their presence signalled a shared commitment to deepen the collaboration with the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre at a moment when countries confront rising food insecurity, climate‑driven shocks, & growing demands on agrifood systems, & urgently need more integrated, science‑driven solutions.
“For more than sixty years, the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre has shown what is possible when FAO & the IAEA combine their strengths in service of a shared mission,” said QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General. “Harnessing the full potential of our laboratory networks & technical tools allows us to better integrate nuclear techniques into FAO‑led programmes & projects, amplifying their reach & effectiveness”.
Nuclear & related technologies offer precision, speed, & reliability. From developing climate‑resilient crops, protecting animal health & controlling pests, to managing soils & water more sustainably & ensuring food safety, the Joint Centre’s laboratories in Seibersdorf, Austria, & global networks have delivered innovations that directly improve lives, livelihoods & the environment.
“These innovations are practical tools that deliver measurable impact, helping to solve real problems faced by farmers, communities, & governments. The joint FAO-IAEA Atoms4Food initiative embodies the ambition to scale up these innovations & make them an integral part of our operational footprint,” said Dongxin Feng, Director of the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre.
The FAO delegates toured the laboratories in Seibersdorf, observing their scientific expertise, innovation, & capacity‑building facilities.
“What we witnessed today is how nuclear science, when applied with purpose, can transform food systems, on land & in water, strengthening food security & helping countries protect agrifood systems today & build resilience for tomorrow,” said Manuel Barange, FAO Assistant Director-General & Director of Fisheries & Aquaculture Division.
Combined with capabilities, these innovations become even more powerful when fully connected to FAO’s ongoing regional & country‑level work.
“Our visit reaffirms the immense potential of science & innovation to accelerate agrifood systems transformation in Africa by aligning nuclear & associated techniques with FAO-led programmes,” said Abebe Haile-Gabriel, FAO Assistant Director-General & Regional Representative for Africa.
FAO delegates recognized that linking nuclear agricultural technologies with FAO’s regional & country operations could significantly increase their impact.
After an interactive brainstorming session, the Joint Centre & FAO delegates agreed to translate the insights & momentum generated in Vienna into concrete action.
Together with the Joint Centre, the delegation discussed the development of a joint action plan with clearly defined regional priorities, mechanisms for coordinated delivery & commitment to the next steps to ensure that nuclear science & innovation are fully embedded in FAO’s work – from headquarters to the field.
The Joint Centre is leading the development of this action plan with HQ technical divisions & regional offices. As “One FAO”, the goal is to provide innovative, accessible & effective solutions for those most in need.
Atoms4Food initiative
Atoms4Food is a joint FAO-IAEA initiative designed to help countries boost food security & tackle growing hunger by applying nuclear & other advanced technologies to their specific agricultural challenges. It offers ground-breaking solutions tailored to country specific needs to enhance agricultural & livestock productivity, natural resources management, reduce food losses, ensure food safety, improve nutrition & adapt to the challenges of climate change.
The initiative builds on more than 60 years of FAO–IAEA collaboration through the Joint Centre, which develops & promotes the safe & effective use of nuclear & related techniques to enhance global food security & sustainable agricultural development.
Source: FAO News