Sustainable agricultural practices developed with the help of nuclear and related techniques help farmers conserve soil, water and crop resources, protect plants from damaging insect pests and grow more food using new plant varieties that are diseases resistant, thrive under changing climate conditions such as drought and increased soil salinity. Other methods help farmers protect the health of their livestock and improve animal reproduction and breeding practices while conserving natural resources.
With a ‘farm-to-fork’ approach, the IAEA and FAO help countries use nuclear and related techniques throughout the food production chain. As food products are prepared for consumption, nuclear techniques, such as irradiation, can help protect food quality, increase shelf lives and ensure food safety. These techniques can also be used to check food for contaminants and to ensure its authenticity to prevent food fraud. Such techniques also facilitate export, thus contribute to increase income for framers and national economy at large.
