IAEA Supports Nicaragua in Enhancing Agricultural Health and Food Security through Nuclear Technology

The Nicaraguan Institute for Agricultural Protection and Health (IPSA) recently hosted an official visit from Raúl Ramírez García, Director of the Technical Cooperation Division for Latin America and the Caribbean at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The meeting, chaired by IPSA Executive Director Ricardo Somarriba Reyes, focused on agricultural health, food safety, and the application of nuclear science and technology in agriculture. During the working session, both parties reaffirmed Nicaragua's continued participation in national and regional cooperation projects as a member of the Agreement for the Promotion of Nuclear Science and Technology Cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean (ARCAL). The core objective of such projects is to strengthen agricultural and livestock health systems, enhance quality control of agricultural products, and provide the public with a safer and more stable food supply through technical support and capacity building.

The IAEA representative acknowledged the Nicaraguan government's commitment to implementing food security-related programs and national strategies, and fully recognized the tangible results of advanced nuclear technology applications in Nicaragua's agricultural sector—including increased crop yields, pest control, and improved soil and water management through isotope tracing, irradiation breeding, and the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), thereby strengthening technical and scientific infrastructure capacity at all levels.

Advanced nuclear technologies are being integrated into Nicaragua's agricultural development system, directly serving agricultural production and health prevention and control. In agriculture, nuclear technologies are commonly applied to pest and disease monitoring, animal disease diagnosis, soil and water resource analysis, and food contamination detection, contributing to the enhancement of research infrastructure and technical personnel capabilities, thereby increasing the resilience of the entire agricultural system.

This visit represents not only a technical cooperation engagement but also reflects the IAEA's continued efforts to promote the peaceful use of nuclear technology in Latin America and the Caribbean. For Nicaragua, leveraging regional cooperation mechanisms and international professional support, the agricultural sector is expected to further upgrade in scientific testing, health prevention and control, and safe production, providing technical support for safeguarding national food security and promoting sustainable agricultural development.