Vienna - A high‑level delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) last week visited the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, with the shared goal of accelerating the transfer of nuclear-based agricultural innovations to country and regional levels.
For the first time, FAO Assistant Directors-General and 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 and 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, and growing demands on agrifood systems, and urgently need more integrated, science‑driven solutions.
"For more than sixty years, the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre has shown what is possible when FAO and 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 and technical tools allows us to better integrate nuclear techniques into FAO‑led programmes and projects, amplifying their reach and effectiveness".
Nuclear and related technologies offer precision, speed, and reliability. From developing climate‑resilient crops, protecting animal health and controlling pests, to managing soils and water more sustainably and ensuring food safety, the Joint Centre's laboratories in Seibersdorf, Austria, and global networks have delivered innovations that directly improve lives, livelihoods and the environment.
"These innovations are practical tools that deliver measurable impact, helping to solve real problems faced by farmers, communities, and governments. The joint FAO-IAEA Atoms4Food initiative embodies the ambition to scale up these innovations and 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, and capacity‑building facilities.
"What we witnessed today is how nuclear science, when applied with purpose, can transform food systems, on land and in water, strengthening food security and helping countries protect agrifood systems today and build resilience for tomorrow," said Manuel Barange, FAO Assistant Director-General and Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture Division.
Combined with capabilities, these innovations become even more powerful when fully connected to FAO's ongoing regional and country‑level work.
"Our visit reaffirms the immense potential of science and innovation to accelerate agrifood systems transformation in Africa by aligning nuclear and associated techniques with FAO-led programmes," said Abebe Haile-Gabriel, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa.
FAO delegates recognized that linking nuclear agricultural technologies with FAO's regional and country operations could significantly increase their impact.
After an interactive brainstorming session, the Joint Centre and FAO delegates agreed to translate the insights and 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 and commitment to the next steps to ensure that nuclear science and 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 and regional offices. As "One FAO", the goal is to provide innovative, accessible and effective solutions for those most in need.
Atoms4Food initiative
Atoms4Food is a joint FAO-IAEA initiative designed to help countries boost food security and tackle growing hunger by applying nuclear and other advanced technologies to their specific agricultural challenges. It offers ground-breaking solutions tailored to country specific needs to enhance agricultural and livestock productivity, natural resources management, reduce food losses, ensure food safety, improve nutrition and 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 and promotes the safe and effective use of nuclear and related techniques to enhance global food security and sustainable agricultural development.
