Atoms for Food and Agriculture: Meeting the ChallengeAtoms for Food and Agriculture: Meeting the Challenge
Application of Nuclear Application of Nuclear TechniquesTechniques
in Food and Agriculturein Food and AgricultureJoint FAO/IAEA Programme ofJoint FAO/IAEA Programme of
Nuclear Techniques in Food and AgricultureNuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture
Corporate MissionCorporate Mission
Atomic energy forAtomic energy for peace, health and peace, health and
prosperityprosperity
Sustainable agricultural dSustainable agricultural development, improved nutevelopment, improved nutrition and food securityrition and food security
to contribute to sustainable to contribute to sustainable food security and safety by food security and safety by use of nuclear techniques use of nuclear techniques and biotechnologyand biotechnology
Our GoalsOur Goals::
• Food SecurityFood Security• Food SafetyFood Safety
• Sustainable AgricultureSustainable Agriculture
Application in Food and AgricultureApplication in Food and Agriculture
Nuclear Nuclear TechniquesTechniques
Insect Pest ControlInsect Pest Controlby Sterile Insect Techniques
Plant Breeding & GeneticsPlant Breeding & Genetics by Mutation Techniques
Animal Production & HealthAnimal Production & Health by RIA, ELISA, PCR, etc.
Soil & Water ManagementSoil & Water Management& Crop Nutrition& Crop Nutritionby Isotopic and Nuclear Techniques
Food & Environmental Food & Environmental ProtectionProtection by Food Irradiation and Radio- analytical Techniques
1. 1. Crop improvement by mutation techniquesCrop improvement by mutation techniques
• Variation is the source of evolutionVariation is the source of evolution
• Spontaneous mutation rate is 1Spontaneous mutation rate is 1××1010-8-8 ~ 1 ~ 1××1010-5-5
• Radiation can cause genetic changes in living organisms Radiation can cause genetic changes in living organisms and increase mutation rate up to 1and increase mutation rate up to 1××1010-5-5 ~ 1 ~ 1××1010-2-2
• Induced mutation is useful for crop improvementInduced mutation is useful for crop improvement
• Induced mutants are not GMOs, as there is no introduction Induced mutants are not GMOs, as there is no introduction of foreign hereditary material into of foreign hereditary material into induced induced mutants mutants
Technical basisTechnical basis
- Higher yieldingHigher yielding- Disease-resistanceDisease-resistance- Well-adaptedWell-adapted- Better nutritionBetter nutrition
Mutant cultivarsMutant cultivars
Crop improvement by mutation techniquesCrop improvement by mutation techniques
no mutation
negative mutation
- Improving crop cultivars - Improving crop cultivars
- Enhancing biodiversity - Enhancing biodiversity
- Increasing farmer’s income - Increasing farmer’s income
Mutation techniquesMutation techniques
MUTANT VARIETIESMUTANT VARIETIES
Cereals 1206Cereals 1206Flowers 454Flowers 454
Legumes 203Legumes 203
Oil crops 198Oil crops 198
Others 611Others 611
Total Number : 2672Total Number : 2672Plant Species : 170Plant Species : 170
(2006)(2006)
Sources: FAO/IAEA Mutant Varieties DatabaseSources: FAO/IAEA Mutant Varieties Database
Crop improvement by mutation techniquesCrop improvement by mutation techniques
The impact of mutation induction in crop improvement is The impact of mutation induction in crop improvement is measured in millions of ha and billions of $measured in millions of ha and billions of $
Zhefu 802 (rice)10.6 million haChina
Baden-Wurttemberg & Bavaria
VND95-20 (rice)280,000 haVietnam
Saarland
Diamant (barley)2.86 million haEurope
Brandenburg
TAG24 (groundnut)3 million haIndia
Thuringia
Schleswig-Holstein
VND99-3High quality for export
Short duration (100 days)3 rice harvests per year in
the Mekong Delta
8 new high quality rice mutant varieties have been developed and adopted by farmers in Vietnam, where rice export is one of their
main revenues.
VND95-20High quality
Tolerance to salinity Key rice variety for export
“National Prize of Science and Technology of Viet
Nam 2005” for its “significant socio-
economic contribution”
2. Soil-Water-Crop Nutrition Management2. Soil-Water-Crop Nutrition Management
WaterSoil
Crop Nutrition
Isotopic and nuclearIsotopic and nucleartechniquestechniques
• Both stable and radioactive isotopes can be used as Both stable and radioactive isotopes can be used as tracers in soil and water management & crop nutrition.tracers in soil and water management & crop nutrition.
• Isotopes are atoms with: Isotopes are atoms with: – tthe same chemical properties, but different atomic he same chemical properties, but different atomic
weight (mass number).weight (mass number).– tthe same number of protons but different neutrons.he same number of protons but different neutrons.– ddifferent mass number (atomic weight).ifferent mass number (atomic weight).
• Isotopes can be either stable or radioactiveIsotopes can be either stable or radioactive– sstable isotopes: different masses (table isotopes: different masses (1818O and O and 1616O).O).– rradioactive isotopes: radioactive decay (adioactive isotopes: radioactive decay (3232P).P).
Technical basisTechnical basis
2. Soil-Water-Crop Nutrition Management2. Soil-Water-Crop Nutrition Management
31P
14N
32P
15N31P
14N
13CO2
12CO2
13C12C
18O 16O
31P
32P
13CO2
12CO2
16O
18O
2. Soil-Water-Crop Nutrition Management2. Soil-Water-Crop Nutrition Management
• Enhance the efficient and sustainable use of soil-water-Enhance the efficient and sustainable use of soil-water-nutrient resources.nutrient resources.
• Quantify Biological Nitrogen Fixation.Quantify Biological Nitrogen Fixation.• Minimize effects of soil erosion and degradation.Minimize effects of soil erosion and degradation.• Enhance water use efficiency by crops. Enhance water use efficiency by crops. • Select drought and salt-tolerant crops.Select drought and salt-tolerant crops.• Evaluate effects of crop residue incorporation on soil Evaluate effects of crop residue incorporation on soil
stabilization and fertility enhancement.stabilization and fertility enhancement.• Track and quantify off-site water (nutrients) losses beyond Track and quantify off-site water (nutrients) losses beyond
the plant rooting zone.the plant rooting zone.
2. Soil-Water-Crop Nutrition Management2. Soil-Water-Crop Nutrition Management
12CO2 (99%)
13CO2 (1%)
Plants can be grouped according to 13C discrimination
C3 plants: 13C = -26
(rice, wheat, forest, vegetation) (maize, sorghum, sugarcane, some tropical herbs)
C4 plants: 13C = -12
2. Soil-Water-Crop Nutrition Management2. Soil-Water-Crop Nutrition Management
FRN with precipitation (P)
Original soil level
Resulting soil level
Deposition site 137Cs > P
Erosion site137Cs < P
2. Soil-Water-Crop Nutrition Management2. Soil-Water-Crop Nutrition Management
2. Soil-Water-Crop Nutrition Management2. Soil-Water-Crop Nutrition Management
Soil conservation measures improved land productivity Soil conservation measures improved land productivity and reduced soil erosion rates by 55-90% in Chile, China, and reduced soil erosion rates by 55-90% in Chile, China, Morocco, Romania and Vietnam.Morocco, Romania and Vietnam.
Improved yield and revenue by 25-50% while reduced Improved yield and revenue by 25-50% while reduced water use by the same extent in Chile, Jordan, Syria and water use by the same extent in Chile, Jordan, Syria and Uzbekistan.Uzbekistan.
10-15 % increase in P utilization efficiency in Mexico and 10-15 % increase in P utilization efficiency in Mexico and Burkina Faso.Burkina Faso.
30% increase in BNF through improved soil and crop 30% increase in BNF through improved soil and crop management practices and genotype selection in Asia management practices and genotype selection in Asia and Africa.and Africa.
Using isotopic and nuclear techniques, Agency supported Using isotopic and nuclear techniques, Agency supported studies show that:studies show that:
• Radiation Radiation is used to induce lethal mutations in is used to induce lethal mutations in chromosomes of chromosomes of insect pests toinsect pests to caus causee sterilitysterility..
• Sterile mSterile males are released into the wild where they ales are released into the wild where they compete with wild males for matings with wild femalescompete with wild males for matings with wild females..
• SITSIT relies on: relies on:– mass production of the target pestmass production of the target pest– sterilization and shipmentsterilization and shipment– inundative releases mostly by airinundative releases mostly by air– matings result in no offspringmatings result in no offspring
• SITSIT integrated with other pest control methods is applied integrated with other pest control methods is applied for suppression, containment, or even eradication.for suppression, containment, or even eradication.
3. 3. Insect Pest Control by SITInsect Pest Control by SIT
Technical basisTechnical basis
Gamma Radiation
NoOffspring
(BIRTH CONTROL)
3. 3. Insect Pest Control by SITInsect Pest Control by SIT
SterileSterile
SterileSterileWildWild
Inse
ct P
est P
opul
atio
n D
ensi
tyIn
sect
Pes
t Pop
ulat
ion
Den
sity
aerial release of sterile flies
ERADICATION
months
deployment of insecticide-treated targets or trapstreatment of cattle with trypanocidestreatment of cattle with insecticides
Integrated Pest Management With SIT ComponentIntegrated Pest Management With SIT Component
Major AchievementsMajor Achievements
• In Chile, fruit and vegetable exports have climbed to US In Chile, fruit and vegetable exports have climbed to US $1.6 billion in 2005 as a result of fruit fly-free status.$1.6 billion in 2005 as a result of fruit fly-free status.
• Medfly-free status in Mexico translates to annual savings Medfly-free status in Mexico translates to annual savings of US $2 billion in reduced crop losses and pesticide costs, of US $2 billion in reduced crop losses and pesticide costs, and access to export markets. and access to export markets.
• In Zanzibar, eradication of tsetse and trypanosomiasis In Zanzibar, eradication of tsetse and trypanosomiasis resulted in very significant increases of meat and milk resulted in very significant increases of meat and milk production, as well as crop productivityproduction, as well as crop productivity
SIT developed and transferred to over 30 Member States with SIT developed and transferred to over 30 Member States with substantial socio-economic impact: substantial socio-economic impact:
Exports of bell peppers and tomatoes Exports of bell peppers and tomatoes from Central America to the USA (2004-2006)from Central America to the USA (2004-2006)
Fruit fly free areas Fruit fly free areas (FFFA) (FFFA)
FFFA in progressFFFA in progress
Overcoming phytosanitary trade barriers to facilitate access of Overcoming phytosanitary trade barriers to facilitate access of high-value crops to lucrative export marketshigh-value crops to lucrative export markets
TSETSE ERADICATION PROJECT ETHIOPIA TSETSE ERADICATION PROJECT ETHIOPIA (2000 – 2006)(2000 – 2006)
0
10
20
30
%
Soddo Dilla Arbaminch
Disease prevalence
Preintervention Intervention
60% reduction in 60% reduction in disease prevalencedisease prevalence
Block-1
4. 4. Animal Production & HealthAnimal Production & Health
• RIA is used to measure the presence of the reproductive RIA is used to measure the presence of the reproductive hormone hormone progesteroneprogesterone through immunological definition through immunological definition
• Isotope Isotope I-I-125125 is used as a label to enable the immunological is used as a label to enable the immunological reaction to be assayedreaction to be assayed
• Disease diagnosis using molecular tools (PCR-ELISA)Disease diagnosis using molecular tools (PCR-ELISA)
• DNA assisted selection for productivity and disease resistanceDNA assisted selection for productivity and disease resistance
• Production of safe standard reagents by irradiationProduction of safe standard reagents by irradiation
• Evaluation of locally available feeds to overcome nutritional Evaluation of locally available feeds to overcome nutritional deficienciesdeficiencies
Technical basisTechnical basis
DNA-Assisted SelectionDNA-Assisted Selection
80 cm
Measure productivityMeasure productivity Sample DNASample DNA (blood, hair, milk)(blood, hair, milk)
Identify superiorIdentify superiorgenesgenes
Develop nuclear-related Develop nuclear-related test for selection and breedingtest for selection and breeding
4. Animal Production & Health4. Animal Production & Health
4.4. Animal Production & Health Animal Production & Health
Label with isotopeLabel with isotopee.g. e.g. 1515NN,, 1313C18C18
Feed to Feed to livestocklivestock
Nutrients dispersedNutrients dispersedthroughout bodythroughout body
Tissue sampling to Tissue sampling to assay isotopeassay isotope
distributiondistribution
LocalLocalplant materialsplant materials
Efficient Utilization of Locally Grown FeedsEfficient Utilization of Locally Grown Feeds
Take bloodTake blood
Analyze the result
Run ELISARun ELISA
ProtectedProtected
VaccinateVaccinate
Is this cow Is this cow vaccinated?vaccinated?
Use of isotope related techniques Use of isotope related techniques in disease managementin disease management
Combat Bird FluCombat Bird FluReducing Health Reducing Health
RisksRisksthrough the early, through the early, rapid and sensitive rapid and sensitive serological and serological and molecular detection molecular detection (such as ELISA and (such as ELISA and PCR)PCR)
• Diagnostic technologies developed and transferred to Diagnostic technologies developed and transferred to more then 70 Member Statesmore then 70 Member States– Rinderpest, Brucellosis, FMD, CBPP, Newcastle Disease, Rinderpest, Brucellosis, FMD, CBPP, Newcastle Disease,
TrypanosomiasisTrypanosomiasis• Network for DNA analysis established in AsiaNetwork for DNA analysis established in Asia• Diagnostic Standards available for FMD, with other Diagnostic Standards available for FMD, with other
diseases in pipelinediseases in pipeline• Specific feeding regimes developed in more than 30 Specific feeding regimes developed in more than 30
Member StatesMember States
MajorMajor AchievementsAchievements
4. 4. Animal Production & HealthAnimal Production & Health
Pan African Rinderpest CampaignPan African Rinderpest Campaign• IAEA was involved in the development and validation of IAEA was involved in the development and validation of
ELISA tests, the training of veterinarians and equipping ELISA tests, the training of veterinarians and equipping Member State laboratoriesMember State laboratories– Established diagnostic capacityEstablished diagnostic capacity– Introduced epidemiologyIntroduced epidemiology– Sero-monitoring to verify vaccination coverageSero-monitoring to verify vaccination coverage– Surveillance to monitor outbreaksSurveillance to monitor outbreaks– Epidemiological surveys to declare freedom of diseaseEpidemiological surveys to declare freedom of disease
• Rinderpest is today nearly eradicated worldwide!Rinderpest is today nearly eradicated worldwide!
4. 4. Animal Production & HealthAnimal Production & Health
5. 5. Food and Environmental ProtectionFood and Environmental Protection
• 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 by radioisotopes– detecting contaminant by electron capture detector
Technical basisTechnical basis
Several Several eenergy nergy ssources ources ccan an bbe e uused to sed to iirradiate rradiate ffoodood
• Gamma RaysGamma Rays
• Electron BeamsElectron Beams
• X-raysX-rays
Food Irradiation
Codex General Standard for Irradiated Foods
ENSURE FOOD HYGIENE
OVERCOME QUARANTINE
BARRIERS
FOOD SAFETY TRADE
MEAT SHRIMP
CHICKEN
GRAPES
MANGOS
ORANGES CUT FLOWERSSPICES
ApplicationApplication of Food Irradiation of Food Irradiation
• More thanMore than 660 countries permit the application of 0 countries permit the application of irradiation in over 50 different foodsirradiation in over 50 different foods
• AAn estimated 500,000 tons of food are irradiated n estimated 500,000 tons of food are irradiated annuallyannually
• About 180 Cobalt-60 irradiation facilities and a About 180 Cobalt-60 irradiation facilities and a dozen electron beam (EB) machines are used to dozen electron beam (EB) machines are used to treat foods worldwide treat foods worldwide
• More and more countries accept More and more countries accept the the uuse of se of iirradiation as a rradiation as a pphytosanitary hytosanitary mmeasureeasure
Atoms for Food and Agriculture:Atoms for Food and Agriculture:
Meeting the ChallengeMeeting the Challenge