FAO drives innovation by bringing solutions through nuclear science into regions worldwide

Latin America and the Caribbean is already seeing concrete results from the application of nuclear science and related technologies to strengthen agrifood systems, improve food safety, and support climate resilience.

From reducing parasite burdens in sheep and goats in Argentina, to verifying the origin of Costa Rican coffee through stable isotope analysis, controlling Mediterranean fruit fly outbreaks in Chile, and supporting regional efforts to combat banana Fusarium wilt in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, FAO through the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre  is supporting countries with science-based solutions, delivering measurable impact on the ground.

Building on this progress, senior representatives from FAO technical divisions and regional offices conducted an official visit to the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre in Vienna and its laboratories in Seibersdorf, Austria, to strengthen institutional cooperation and explore how these technologies can be further integrated into FAO programmes at country level.

The Joint FAO/IAEA Centre operates five specialized laboratories in Seibersdorf, Austria, which serve as a global hub for applied research and innovation in food and agriculture. These include the Plant Breeding and Genetics Laboratory, the Insect Pest Control Laboratory, the Animal Production and Health Laboratory, the Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Laboratory, and the Food Safety and Control Laboratory, providing countries with cutting-edge technologies, technical expertise and capacity development support.

During the technical visit, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, Rene Orellana Halkyer, held high-level meetings with  senior leadership and scientific teams at the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre, as well as technical sessions aimed at identifying regional priorities and strengthening joint programming.

This cooperation comes at a key moment, as seven countries in the region —Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, Honduras, Panama, Peru and Uruguay— have officially requested to join the global Atoms4Food initiative, launched in 2023 and led jointly by FAO and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The initiative seeks to harness the safe and appropriate use of nuclear and related technologies to improve agricultural production, strengthen animal and plant health, optimize sustainable soil and water management, and ensure food safety and authenticity.

The mission concluded with a commitment to develop a joint action plan to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the transfer of nuclear science innovations supporting countries in addressing persistent challenges such as climate variability, emerging pests and diseases, and the sustainable management of natural resources.