A farmer in Central Africa Republic transports cassava tubers after harvest. (Photo: IAEA)
Transboundary crop diseases are spreading faster than ever, threatening food security and the livelihoods of millions of farmers worldwide. Climate variability, expanding international trade and the movement of infected planting materials are accelerating the spread of pathogens across borders.
To help countries better anticipate and respond to these threats, the IAEA, through the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, has launched a five-year Coordinated Research Project (CRP) to strengthen plant health preparedness using nuclear and related technologies. The project, titled Developing Enabling Technologies for Improved Plant Health using Nuclear Techniques - Addressing Transboundary Diseases , will bring together scientists and research institutions from around the world to strengthen early detection, monitoring and sustainable management of transboundary diseases affecting wheat, potato and cassava - key crops for food security in many regions.
Rising Threats to Global Food Systems
Diseases such as wheat blast, potato late blight, potato bacterial wilt and cassava witches broom disease can spread rapidly sometimes across regions and affecting large areas. Once established, they can cause severe yield losses and overwhelm national plant protection systems.
Early detection remains a major challenge. Many infections remain latent, making them difficult to detect before they spread. As global temperatures shift and trade networks expand, the likelihood of diseases spreading rapidly is expected to increase.
Strengthening preparedness through improved monitoring and diagnostic capabilities is essential to reduce risks and protect food production systems.
Nuclear Techniques Support Plant Health
The new CRP will support countries in developing and validating technologies that improve surveillance, diagnostics and sustainable disease management. Nuclear and related biotechnologies offer tools to complement existing plant health strategies.
For example, nuclear techniques such as gamma, X-ray or electron beam irradiation can be used to induce beneficial changes in microorganisms that suppress plant pathogens, providing sustainable alternatives to chemical pesticides and supporting the production of clean planting material.
Advanced imaging and sensor-based technologies, including hyperspectral and near-infrared sensing enable high-throughput phenotyping of crops. Combined with molecular diagnostics and field-deployable detection tools, these technologies enable researchers to detect disease earlier and improve plant health surveillance systems.
Building Global Collaboration and Capacity
The core objective of the CRP is to strengthen collaboration among scientists, national research institutes and plant protection authorities worldwide. Through coordinated research, shared protocols and standardized methodologies, participating countries will develop adaptable tools suited to different agrifood systems.
The project will also support the development of harmonized monitoring systems and plant health networks, facilitating the exchange of reference materials, diagnostic data and best practices. Research coordination meetings will offer opportunities to share progress and build technical capacity in areas such as molecular diagnostics, digital phenotyping and biological control development.
Overall Objective
The CRP aims to strengthen plant health preparedness and resilience by integrating nuclear and related technologies with advanced diagnostics, high-throughput phenotyping and sustainable biological control strategies.
Specific Objectives
- Develop and validate low-cost diagnostic tools and standardized early-detection protocols for monitoring priority transboundary pathogens.
- Harmonize high-throughput phenotyping protocols, including image- and sensor-based methods, to support rapid and reliable disease-resistance screening.
- Optimize breeding acceleration packages that integrate mutation induction, rapid generation advancement and early-stage screening.
- Develop and validate nuclear-enabled biological control protocols that promote sustainable disease management and the production of clean planting material.
- Strengthen plant health networks through standardized methodologies, data-sharing platforms and coordinated capacity-building activities.
How to Join the CRP
The project will be open to up to 10 research contracts and up to five research agreement holders, offering Member States and other interested partners the opportunity to participate.
