Role of Nuclear technologies has been highlighted at the International Symposium on Food Safety and Control, held in Vienna, Austria.

• Event was organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Nuclear technologies offer solutions to combat hunger, reduce malnutrition, enhance environmental sustainability etc. 

• Also, technologies are complimentary to the One Health approach.
  • One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems.

Role of Nuclear Technologies in Food system 

• Animal health: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests, a molecular nuclear technique, will rapidly detect diseases. 
• Soil and water management: Radioactive nuclides left behind after nuclear events can help scientists determine the health of soil and rate of erosion.
• Insect pest management: Nuclear based Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) to manage pest.
  • Technique involves mass-rearing the insects then sterilizing them through ionizing radiation before releasing them.
• Food safety and control: Food irradiation (the application of ionizing radiation to food) improves the safety and extends the shelf life of foods by reducing or eliminating microorganisms and insects.
• Plant Breeding and Genetics: Desired Genetic changes can be done by irradiation.