In July, the IAEA, together with the FAO and WHO, held a meeting with the experts from 14 countries to address two issues that together constitute a global public health crisis: unsafe food and poor nutrition. They have long been viewed as separate problems. However, contaminants such as mycotoxins, heavy metals, pesticide residues and microplastics pose more than just food safety risks – they also disrupt growth, gut health, hormonal regulation and nutrient absorption. The consequences of these threats include stunted growth, chronic diseases and widespread malnutrition.
Najat Mokhtar, IAEA Deputy Director General, emphasized the interrelated effects of these issues: “Food safety hazards are implicated in malnutrition by reducing nutrient absorption and increasing nutrient losses; conversely, malnutrition makes humans more vulnerable to toxicity associated with food contaminants. Given this intricate interaction, food safety and nutrition must be considered as two sides of the same coin. They demand a joint response.”
The meeting discussed the need to adopt a comprehensive “One Health” approach that would integrate human, animal and environmental health.
Over the course of three days, experts highlighted scientific advances, nuclear and isotopic techniques that can detect food contamination, assess biological and physiological impacts and inform policy. Presentations included country-specific reviews (Austria, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya, Tanzania, USA and Zambia) and a discussion of the role of nuclear techniques in nutrition research. This scientific evidence will enable decision makers to develop effective policies to strengthen food safety systems worldwide.
The IAEA, through the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre, will continue to support food security and build partnerships through the Atoms4Food initiative, which aims to use innovative nuclear technologies to increase agricultural productivity, reduce food loss and waste, ensure food safety and improve nutrition.
In addition to nuclear research methods, methods for processing food products using ionizing radiation are being actively introduced. New radiation technology is being deployed to disinfect food stock using accelerated electrons, helping to make the staples safer and easier to trade worldwide.
Within the framework of its Atoms-for-Food Equipment programme, Beamcomplex manufactures container-type complexes with electron accelerators to place them in existing food long-term storage warehouses and process products with ionizing radiation. Besides, it might be extremely timely to construct food long-term storage warehouses with container-type complexes within them, and centers with complexes to treat food products with X-Ray through the walls of refrigerators.
The complexes are ready-made products designed for quick installation and commissioning directly at the warehouses of food reserve funds. By placing the complex in the warehouse, the country’s authorities manage to have all types of food commodities disinfected, thus increasing the shelf life of food reserves; for example, processed rice can be stored for 10 years. It can now be possible to accumulate and provide stable food reserves (with an extended shelf life) for the purpose of deliveries to the domestic market. Constant food supply prevents social upheavals. Having formed a significant food stock with an extended shelf life, the state becomes independent in terms of strengthening food security in the event of emergencies, natural disasters and military conflicts. Therefore, Beamcomplex ionizing radiation treatment complexes have the mission to eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition and enhance nutrition outcomes globally when being installed at the warehouses of food reserve funds of each country.