New Reports Measure Impact of IAEA Technical Cooperation Activities on Air Quality and Food Safety in Asia and the Pacific

The IAEA’s technical cooperation programme helps countries around the world to improve food and air quality using radiation technology, X-ray fluorescence and isotopic techniques.

The IAEA assessed the impacts of these efforts in Asia and the Pacific through testimonies and data-driven analysis and compiled the findings into two publications launched during the 54th annual  RCA National Representatives meeting during the IAEA’s 69th General Conference.

“These publications, along with previous case studies on plant mutation breeding, non-destructive testing and radiotherapy, illustrate the significant contribution of the RCA in areas important to the well-being of people and the environment,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, who officially launched the publications during the annual event.

The two socio-economic  reports assess the impact of close to 70 technical cooperation projects on air quality management and the results of IAEA training and support in food safety and irradiation in a majority of RCA countries across a 24-year period.

“Through the RCA, we have witnessed impactful contributions in areas critical to human and environmental well-being, including healthcare, food and agriculture, water resource management, environmental protection and industrial development,” said Hua Liu, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation. “These new publications are a testament to that and mark another milestone in the RCA’s history. They demonstrate how nuclear technology is improving lives and highlights the critical nexus of science, collaboration and sustainable development.”

The air quality and food safety impact assessments use data from a survey of experts, together with administrative and cost data provided by the IAEA, spanning 1999 to 2021 (for air quality) and 1999 to 2023 (for food safety). The new publications complement previously released assessments of IAEA and RCA activities in crop production, non-destructive testing and radiotherapy.

As one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, Bangladesh has experienced rapid urbanization. This has had a negative effect on air quality, as can be seen in this early morning photo of Dhaka, its capital city and home to 20 million people. (Photo: Friemann/stock.adobe.com)

Understanding and Tracking Air Pollution

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), ambient air pollution contributes to an estimated eight million premature deaths globally each year.  Its transboundary nature makes air pollution a priority for regional action. With IAEA support, the RCA provides a framework for technical cooperation, enabling member countries to establish robust infrastructure, develop expertise and foster regional cooperation — all instrumental in the fight against air pollution.

At the heart of these achievements lies the development of robust human capital. With IAEA support, a new generation of scientists and specialists has been trained in the region, a critical factor for sustainable national air quality management programmes. Between 2000 and 2023, the IAEA trained 135 individuals in air sampling, 124 in analysis and 112 in source apportionment and trans-boundary calculations across participating countries.

IAEA interventions have also facilitated the establishment or upgrade of crucial technical infrastructure for air sampling and analysis in 17 RCA countries and for source apportionment and transboundary trajectory calculations in 14 countries, providing essential tools for accurate data collection and interpretation. These actions helped transform the regional scientific landscape: equipped with new laboratory infrastructure, experts in 14 countries have produced more than 460 research products and publications, paving the way for sustainable air quality analysis in the region.

Information exchange is another important outcome: 154 experts from 13 countries participated in over 230 international conferences and workshops on transboundary air pollution monitoring and assessment, including 52 events organized by RCA countries.

“Recognizing that air pollution respects no borders, the RCA has championed international cooperation and informed policymaking,” said Ge Deng, Director of the IAEA’s Division for Asia and the Pacific. “The assessment identified at least one national policy decision in each of the 12 countries resulting directly from IAEA support. That means our interventions helped to create the conditions for decision-making that are now making the air cleaner in a dozen Member States.”

Overall, the report found strong evidence that RCA activities contributed to changes in air quality policies, standards and enforcement. These changes likely improved air quality and reduced the costs of premature mortality and morbidity, compared to estimated outcomes without RCA support.

The RCA publication assessed the impact of laboratories that use nuclear techniques to authenticate different types of food. (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA)

Ensuring Safe and Market Competitive Food Products 

Experts from the IAEA and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) work closely with the technical cooperation programme through the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture to build capacity across Asia and the Pacific to assess food safety and to determine its provenance and authenticity using nuclear and isotopic techniques.

The IAEA and FAO also provide technical support and guidance to specialists on using irradiation to ensure food safety by controlling pests and pathogens, to extend the shelf life of food products, especially for export, and to facilitate trade.

Between 1999 and 2023, experts from the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre trained hundreds of national experts in RCA countries and supported the establishment of 128 facilities for food analysis, irradiation and authentication. Long-term IAEA training and capacity building produced almost 500 research publications and strengthened the ability of at least 12 countries to establish protocols for detecting food contaminants and participate in the development of harmonized standards.

“With the technical guidance and support of experts from the FAO and IAEA, countries are applying radiation technologies, isotopic methods and advanced nuclear tools to strengthen food safety systems, reduce food waste, facilitate international trade and protect public health — showing how nuclear science delivers real impact from farm to fork,” said Dongxin Feng, Director of the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture.

The impact assessment confirmed the effective application of irradiation technologies in 12 countries and food origin authentication technologies in 11 countries. It also demonstrated that participation in the technical cooperation programme strengthened national research and development capabilities and delivered broad economic benefits across the region by reducing foodborne illnesses, food waste and chemical use and by enhancing supply chain transparency.