Application of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture Joint FAO/IAEA Programme of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture

Atomic energy for peace, health and prosperity Corporate Mission Atomic energy for peace, health and prosperity Sustainable agricultural development, improved nutrition and food security to contribute to sustainable food security and safety by use of nuclear techniques and biotechnology

Our Goals: Food Security Food Safety Sustainable Agriculture

Our Mandates Supporting research Providing technical services to Member States: Supporting research Providing technical services Conducting training Promoting information exchange

Organizational Chart

Application in Food and Agriculture Nuclear Techniques Insect Pest Control by Sterile Insect Techniques Animal Production & Health by serological and molecular techniques Plant Breeding & Genetics by Mutation Techniques Soil & Water Management & Crop Nutrition by Isotopic and Nuclear Techniques Food & Environmental Protection by Food Irradiation and Radio- analytical Techniques

1. Plant Breeding and Genetics Technical basis - Crop improvement by mutation techniques Variation is the source of evolution Spontaneous mutation rate is 1×10-8 ~ 1×10-5 Radiation can cause genetic changes in living organisms and increase mutation rate up to 1×10-5 ~ 1×10-2 Induced mutation is useful for crop improvement Induced mutants are not GMOs, as there is no introduction of foreign hereditary material into induced mutants

Crop improvement by mutation techniques negative mutation Mutant cultivars Higher yielding Disease-resistance Well-adapted Better nutrition no mutation

Mutation techniques - Improving crop cultivars - Enhancing biodiversity - Increasing farmer’s income

Crop improvement by mutation techniques MUTANT VARIETIES (2006) Total Number : 2672 Plant Species : 170 Cereals 1206 Flowers 454 Legumes 203 Oil crops 198 Others 611 Sources: FAO/IAEA Mutant Varieties Database

2. Soil-Water-Crop Nutrition Management Isotopic and nuclear techniques Crop Nutrition

2. Soil-Water-Crop Nutrition Management Technical basis Both stable and radioactive isotopes can be used as tracers in soil and water management & crop nutrition. Isotopes are atoms with: the same chemical properties the same number of protons and electrons. different number of neutrons and mass number (atomic weight). Isotopes can be either stable or radioactive stable isotopes: different masses (18O and 16O). radioactive isotopes: radioactive decay (32P).

2. Soil-Water-Crop Nutrition Management 31Posphate 13CO2 15N 12CO2 15N 14Nitrogen 32P 18O 13CO2 16O 12CO2 18O 16O 13C 12C

2. Soil-Water-Crop Nutrition Management Major Achievements Enhance the efficient and sustainable use of soil-water-nutrient resources. Quantify biological nitrogen fixation. Minimize effects of soil erosion and degradation. Enhance water use efficiency by crops. Select drought and salt-tolerant crops. Evaluate effects of crop residue incorporation on soil stabilization and fertility enhancement. Track and quantify off-site water (nutrients) losses beyond the plant rooting zone.

3. Insect Pest Control by SIT Technical basis Radiation is used to induce lethal mutations in chromosomes of insect pests to cause sterility. Sterile males are released into the wild where they compete with wild males for matings with wild females. SIT relies on: mass production of the target pest sterilization and shipment inundative releases mostly by air matings result in no offspring SIT integrated with other pest control methods is applied for suppression, containment, or even eradication.

Insect Pest Control by SIT Gamma Radiation No Offspring (BIRTH CONTROL) Sterile Sterile males Wild

Major Achievements SIT developed and transferred to over 30 Member States with substantial socio-economic impact: In Chile, fruit and vegetable exports have climbed to US $1.6 billion in 2005 as a result of fruit fly-free status. Medfly-free status in Mexico translates to annual savings of US $2 billion in reduced crop losses and pesticide costs, and access to export markets. In Zanzibar, eradication of tsetse and trypanosomiasis resulted in very significant increases of meat and milk production, as well as crop productivity

Sustainable control of major insect pests New Challenges: Develop and improve methodologies for insect mass rearing, sterilization and release Assess modern biotechnological methods to improve the effectiveness of SIT Increase capacity of Member States to implement area-wide integrated management of key pests Support development and application of IPPC standards to facilitate agricultural trade

4. Animal Production & Health Technical basis I-125 based RIA is used to measure the presence of the reproductive hormone progesterone through immunological definition to optimize birth frequencies DNA assisted characterization and selection of superior animals for productivity and disease resistance traits Evaluation of locally available feed to overcome nutritional deficiencies Gamma irradiated viruses as antigen in serological tests Stable isotopes to trace flight paths of birds Disease diagnosis and characterization of pathogens using molecular tools (PCR, PCR-ELISA, PCR-sequencing) Production of safe standard reagents by irradiation

Efficient Utilization of Locally Grown Feeds Animal Production & Health Efficient Utilization of Locally Grown Feeds Local plant materials Feed to livestock Tissue sampling to assay isotope distribution Label with isotope e.g. 15N, 14C Nutrients dispersed throughout body

DNA-Assisted Selection Animal Production & Health DNA-Assisted Selection 80 cm Sample DNA (blood, hair, milk) Identify superior genes by isotopic 32P, 35S methods Measure productivity Develop nuclear-related test for selection and breeding

Use of nuclear and nuclear related techniques in disease management What is the disease status of this cow? Take blood Run a serological (ELISA) or molecular (PCR) diagnostic test Vaccinated Infected Native Analyze the result

Combat Bird Flu Reducing Health Risks Through the early, rapid and sensitive serological and molecular detection of AI viruses and their characterization (ELISA and PCR)

4. Animal Production & Health Major Achievements Diagnostic technologies developed and transferred to enable diagnostic laboratories in more than 70 Member States Rinderpest, Brucellosis, FMD, CBPP, Newcastle Disease, Trypanosomiasis and Avian Influenza Rinderpest eradication saves Africa about 1bn US$ per year Network for DNA analysis of local animal breeds established in 10 Asian countries Diagnostic Standards available for PPR, FMD with other diseases to follow Specific feeding regimes developed in more than 30 Member States

Sustainable intensification of livestock production systems New Challenges: Early and rapid diagnosis of emerging and re-emerging transboundary animal diseases (TADs) and those of zoonotic nature Sustainable and effective surveillance and control of TADs Optimize use of locally available natural feed resources whilst protecting the environment Optimizing reproduction and breeding strategies Assuring the safety and quality of animal products

5. Food and Environmental Protection Technical basis Food irradiation is the treatment of food by ionizing radiation Radiation at appropriate doses can kill harmful pests, bacteria, or parasites, and extend shelf-life of foods. Isotopic techniques are employed to monitor foods for contamination with agrochemicals optimizing sample preparation by radioisotopes detecting contaminant by electron capture detector

Several energy sources can be used to irradiate food Gamma Rays Electron Beams X-rays

OVERCOME QUARANTINE BARRIERS Food Irradiation OVERCOME QUARANTINE BARRIERS ENSURE FOOD HYGIENE MANGOS GRAPES SHRIMP MEAT FOOD SAFETY TRADE ORANGES CHICKEN SPICES CUT FLOWERS

Application of Food Irradiation More than 60 countries permit the application of irradiation in over 50 different foods An estimated 500,000 tons of food are irradiated annually About 180 Cobalt-60 irradiation facilities and a dozen electron beam (EB) machines are used to treat foods worldwide More and more countries accept the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary measure

Improving Food and Environmental Safety New Challenges: Enhance application of irradiation for quarantine, sanitary and phytosanitary purposes Develop and improve of analytical techniques for food safety hazards and facilitation of exports Emergency planning and response to nuclear emergencies and radiological events, including the application of agricultural countermeasures Over 60 countries have approved the use of food irradiation – a 15% increase over the biennium. Over 20 countries have approved the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment. Seven food safety or environmental monitoring laboratories have been established or enhanced over the biennium, three of which achieved accreditation under ISO 17025. Cooperative arrangements between FAO and IAEA for the exchange of information in the event of a nuclear or radiological emergency in place and are currently being revised (May/June 2006). First actions and agricultural countermeasures to respond to such events on web.

Proposal for strengthening partnership with RCA Increase technical inputs through TC projects Support research activities through CRPs Promote joint activities through RCARO Provide more technical advice and service Help to get more supports from FAO Improve the communication with RCARO and RCA MSs

Atoms for Food and Agriculture: Meeting the Challenge