Climate Change Adaptation thru Nuclear Science and Technology

Applying nuclear science and technology can help farmers, especially water-scarce and climate-vulnerable regions, continue growing and producing food.

During the United National High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development virtual meeting, experts from Malaysia, Peru, Nigeria and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) discussed how nuclear science supports the development of drought and salinity-resistant crops.

Applying a climate-smart approach to soil and water management can increase food production and build resilience against the changing climate.

According to the article from the IAEA, various groups, including the mountain communities, small scale farmers, and vulnerable populations, have increased their food security and improved their use of water through the practice of climate-smart agriculture aided by nuclear science.

Two thousand vulnerable farmers living in a camp for internally displaced people near Abuja were trained in drip irrigation; a method of saving water without a decrease in yield made is made possible by applying isotopic techniques.

Using this technique can determine the amount of water required by the plants and the optimal times for irrigation. Displaced men and women can continue producing food, conserve water, and generate income from their families.

Farming in the highland Andean regions of Peru has been very challenging due to poor soil quality and climate change. With the development of new varieties of barley that are tolerant of drought, low temperature, and diseases, small-scale farmers were able to generate close to US$18 million for their produce.

In Malaysia, nuclear science has produced two new mutant rice varieties, which allowed rice production to continue amid water scarcity and soil degradation. Through this new rice variety, 50 thousand Malaysian farmers increased their crop yields and income.

Through nuclear and isotopic techniques, scientists and researchers can study how climate change affects the quality of soils, groundwater recharge rate and measure air contaminants. Isotope hydrology allows researchers to study water, its molecules, components, where it came from, how long it travelled, how old and a lot more.

A greater understanding of resources can help decision-makers create better policies that will support and prioritise sustainability. This information can also help farmers to manage resources better and adapt to climate change.

Food security and political stability play an essential role in human survival. According to ANS, around 821 million people worldwide goes to bed hungry at night, and 3.1 million child dies of malnutrition. Increases in population, insects, and bacteria all contribute to loss in food production that can lead to poverty. Extreme events due to climate change is another threat to food security and food production.

For more than 50 years Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the IAEA has been working together to improve agricultural practices. Recently both institutions created a joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture.

These are some of the things that the Centre does to enhance agriculture and food security:  Detection, control and prevention of transboundary animal and zoonotic diseases, using nuclear isotopes to track and monitor soil quality will determine what type of fertiliser and how much to use, using sterile insect technique (SIT) to suppress or eradicate established insect pests, food irradiation to eliminate harmful residues and contaminants in food products, and crop breeding to develop varieties that can adapt to climate change.

Innovative technologies can provide better food production, environment and nutrition, especially in countries and regions vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters. Nuclear technologies can provide many opportunities to help these countries’ climate adaptation programs.