The Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture showcased the impact of nuclear techniques on agricultural innovation at the FAO Global Agrifood Biotechnologies Conference, held in Rome at the Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) Headquarters from 16 to 18 June 2025.
The conference brought together scientists, policymakers, industry leaders and development partners to discuss how biotechnology can advance food security, sustainable agriculture and environmental resilience.
FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu opened the conference by emphasizing the need for a systems-level approach to biotechnology across agrifood systems. He stressed the need to foster enabling environments where biotechnological innovation is inclusive, locally adapted and accessible to improve the lives of the most vulnerable.
Innovation in Nuclear Technology
The Joint FAO/IAEA Centre made a strong and visible contribution throughout the three-day event through a series of technical presentations, expert interventions and exhibitions that underscored the cross-disciplinary nature of nuclear technologies in agriculture and food systems.
Pooja Bhatnagar-Mathur, Head of the IAEA Plant Breeding and Genetics Laboratory (PBGL), presented on "Mutation Breeding 2.0: From Chance to Precision Breeding" during a session on Genetic Improvement for Sustainable Crop Production Systems. She highlighted how scientists are using radiation to cause changes in plant genes, combining this with modern biotechnological tools that study how genes work. This helps them discover key traits in plants for improved, resilient crop varieties. This approach is shaping a new generation of sustainable, demand-driven crop solutions.
Farai Muchadeyi, Head of the IAEA Animal Production and Health Section, served as a panellist in the session on Biotechnological Innovations in Livestock Management. She showcased the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre's work in developing vaccines using radiation for disease control, genetic tools and robust methods of testing for diseases. She also highlighted the importance of helping countries improve their laboratories through projects like the IAEA VETLAB Network, which supports better disease detection, surveillance and control, particularly for diseases that spread across borders or from animals to people.
The Food Safety and Control Laboratory exhibited recent developments in biological detection methods for mycotoxins, rapid screening tools for food monitoring and technologies for detecting residues, contaminants and food fraud. These advances support fast, reliable food safety responses and contribute to global efforts in enhancing consumer protection and supply chain integrity.
The Joint FAO/IAEA Centre also presented scientific posters highlighting ongoing innovations and field applications. Poster topics included coffee mutation breeding to improve crop performance, the development of novel nuclear-aided detection tools for fungal disease in bananas, irradiated animal vaccines targeting major transboundary and zoonotic diseases and the deployment of rapid food safety screening technologies designed to support early responses in agrifood emergencies.
A key highlight was a dedicated side event on the third day of the conference, during which researchers shared emerging work on mutation breeding and plant health. Sharath Chandran, a researcher at PBGL, presented pioneering research on nuclear-augmented microbial consortia to promote crop productivity and soil resilience through sustainable soil health management practices.
The FAO Global Agrifood Biotechnologies Conference provided a platform to share knowledge, engage in regulatory dialogue and explore the integration of nuclear science with biotechnological solutions that meet the unique needs of countries. Through its active presence, the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre reaffirmed the IAEA's commitment to advancing peaceful nuclear technologies and innovative biotechnological solutions that promote sustainable, climate-resilient and inclusive agricultural systems globally.
