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.
Key InitiativesGlobal
India
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