How Nuclear Science Protecting Food Supply Amid Rising Global Crop Threats

As climate change, invasive pests and plant diseases increasingly threaten global food production, scientists are turning to nuclear technology to help protect crops, strengthen food security and reduce hunger worldwide.

According to the United Nations, plants provide approximately 80 per cent of the food humans consume and generate 98 per cent of the oxygen we breathe, yet up to 40 per cent of global crops are lost annually to pests and diseases.

In response, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are expanding the use of nuclear science in agriculture through their Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture.

From sterilising insect pests to developing climate-resilient crops and improving food safety systems, nuclear technologies are increasingly becoming part of the global strategy to safeguard food systems under mounting environmental pressure.

Nuclear Science Emerging as Key Tool in Food Security Fight

The growing use of nuclear techniques in agriculture comes at a time when global food systems face intensifying pressures from:

• Climate change

• Water scarcity

• Crop diseases

• Soil degradation

• Invasive pests

• Supply chain disruptions

The IAEA and FAO say advanced nuclear and isotopic technologies offer countries faster, safer and more sustainable tools to improve agricultural productivity and resilience.

To accelerate deployment of these technologies, the agencies launched the Atoms4Food initiative in 2023, aimed at expanding innovative nuclear applications across global agriculture.

1. Sterile Insect Technique Reducing Crop Destruction Without Pesticides

One of the best-known nuclear agricultural technologies is the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), a pest control method that reduces insect populations without relying heavily on chemical pesticides.

Under the process:

• Insects are sterilised using radiation

• Sterile males are released into affected areas

• Wild insects mate with them but produce no offspring

• Pest populations decline over time

The technique has been successfully used worldwide against destructive agricultural pests including:

• Fruit flies

• Tsetse flies

• Mosquitoes

Scientists say SIT offers major environmental advantages because it:

• Reduces pesticide use

• Limits chemical contamination

• Protects beneficial insect species

• Supports safer food production

A notable success involved the Dominican Republic, which successfully eradicated an outbreak of the Mediterranean fruit fly with support from the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre.

The pest posed a major threat to agricultural exports and domestic crop production.

2. Radiation Helping Develop Climate-Resilient Crops

Nuclear science is also being used to accelerate development of stronger crop varieties capable of surviving harsher growing conditions.

Through a process known as mutation breeding, scientists use controlled radiation to speed up natural genetic variation in plants.

Researchers can then identify beneficial traits more quickly, including:

• Drought resistance

• Disease resistance

• Heat tolerance

• Improved productivity

Unlike genetic modification, mutation breeding does not introduce foreign DNA but accelerates natural mutation processes already occurring in nature.

The technique has already helped countries develop improved crop varieties adapted to changing climates.

In Liberia, nuclear-assisted breeding techniques contributed to the development of climate-resilient rice varieties aimed at improving food security and agricultural productivity.

Scientists say such innovations are becoming increasingly important as unpredictable weather patterns threaten traditional farming systems worldwide.

3. Nuclear-Based Diagnostics Speeding Up Disease Detection

Rapid detection of plant diseases is becoming critical as transboundary pests and pathogens spread more quickly across globalised agricultural systems.

The IAEA and FAO are increasingly integrating nuclear-enabled diagnostic tools with:

• High-throughput screening

• Sensor-based phenotyping

• Portable field diagnostics

These technologies allow:

• Faster disease detection

• Earlier containment

• Improved outbreak response

• Better targeting of biological controls

One major focus has been combating Fusarium wilt Tropical Race 4 (TR4), a devastating banana disease threatening global banana production.

The Joint FAO/IAEA Centre developed multiplex diagnostic assays capable of simultaneously detecting multiple pathogen races in a single test.

The system has already been validated across multiple countries using field samples and reference testing.

Experts say portable, low-cost diagnostics are particularly important for:

• Border inspections

• Rural farming regions

• Early outbreak containment

4. Nuclear Techniques Improving Water and Soil Management

As water scarcity intensifies globally, nuclear science is also helping farmers improve irrigation efficiency and soil management.

Using isotopic techniques, scientists can trace how plants absorb:

• Water

• Nitrogen

• Nutrients

This helps farmers:

• Optimise fertiliser use

• Improve irrigation timing

• Increase crop productivity

• Reduce environmental damage

The techniques are part of broader “climate-smart agriculture” strategies promoted by the IAEA and FAO.

In parts of Asia, farmers applying nuclear-supported climate-smart agricultural practices have reportedly achieved higher rice yields while reducing waste and environmental impacts.

In Namibia, nuclear-based irrigation methods are helping improve water-use efficiency and crop production under increasingly dry conditions.

Researchers say these technologies can help reduce:

• Greenhouse gas emissions

• Fertiliser overuse

• Water pollution

• Resource waste

5. Nuclear Science Strengthening Food Safety and Trade

Nuclear and isotopic technologies are also increasingly used to improve food safety systems and verify product authenticity in international trade.

Countries must often meet strict export standards related to:

• Contaminants

• Chemical residues

• Food origin verification

• Pest-free certification

Nuclear analytical techniques help authorities:

• Detect contaminants

• Trace food origins

• Verify authenticity

• Strengthen export certification systems

One example comes from Costa Rica, where the IAEA and FAO supported researchers at the University of Costa Rica in building a stable isotope database for Tarrazu coffee.

The technology allows scientists to verify the geographic origin and authenticity of coffee beans using nuclear and related analytical methods.

Officials say improved food testing systems can:

• Reduce export rejections

• Increase consumer trust

• Improve market access

• Boost farmer incomes

Nuclear Agriculture Becoming Increasingly Strategic

The growing role of nuclear science in agriculture reflects broader concerns about the future resilience of global food systems.

Climate change, biodiversity loss and population growth are expected to place increasing pressure on agricultural production over coming decades.

The FAO estimates global food production may need to increase significantly by mid-century to meet rising demand.

International agencies argue that nuclear technologies can help countries:

• Improve food security

• Increase climate resilience

• Reduce environmental impacts

• Protect crop systems

• Enhance agricultural trade

While nuclear technology is often associated primarily with energy or medicine, the IAEA says agricultural applications are becoming one of its most important tools for supporting sustainable development worldwide.

As food insecurity rises in many regions, scientists believe nuclear-assisted agriculture could play an increasingly important role in protecting global food supplies against the interconnected threats of climate change, pests and disease.