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Texas A&M University Leads Development of Novel Wound Treatment for New World Screwworm

On August 10, 2026, the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station is leading the development of fast-acting, low-residue wound treatments for livestock infected with New World screwworm. The project, funded at $1.86 million, is led by Dr. Mustafa E. S. Akbulut, Associate Professor in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University, with the goal of providing ranchers and veterinarians with immediately deployable field treatment tools after infection occurs in animals. New World screwworm is a parasite that feeds on living tissue. According to available data, the pest is currently spreading in Central America and Mexico, with over 150,000 animal infection cases reported. Recently, cases have also emerged in Texas and New Mexico. Federal models predict that a large-scale outbreak in Texas could result in livestock losses exceeding $1.8 billion. If left untreated, these pests can cause severe harm to livestock, companion animals, and wildlife.

2026-08-11

60th Anniversary of the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre: Nuclear Techniques Continue to Serve Global Agriculture and Food Safety

In 2024, the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture marks its 60th anniversary. Established in 1964 through a partnership between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Centre primarily promotes the application of nuclear science and related technologies in food security, agricultural production, and sustainable environmental development. Over the past 60 years, the Joint Centre has carried out work in areas including pest control, plant breeding and genetics, soil and water management, animal production and health, and food safety and quality control. Its Agriculture and Biotechnology Laboratories have long undertaken tasks in technology development, capacity building, and technology transfer,...

2024-12-27

Nuclear science helps reduce global food spoilage and waste

On April 10, 2026, the International Atomic Energy Agency introduced several applications of nuclear science in reducing food spoilage and food waste. According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, approximately 1 billion tonnes of edible food are wasted globally each year, accounting for about one-fifth of the total food available to consumers. Of this, 13.2% of food is lost before reaching the retail stage, valued at approximately $400 billion; another 19% is wasted at the retail and consumption stages due to spoilage and other reasons. Food loss not only means wasted resource consumption but also exacerbates greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, and biodiversity loss. The International Atomic Energy Agency, through the Food and Agriculture Organization...

2026-04-10

FAO and IAEA: Nuclear Technologies Are Enhancing Agricultural Production and Food Security

On March 30, 2021, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency presented multiple applications of nuclear technologies in agriculture and food security. The two organizations have collaborated for over 50 years in knowledge sharing and capacity building, further strengthening their partnership through the establishment of the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture. In the field of animal health, nuclear technologies are used for the detection, control, and prevention of transboundary animal diseases and zoonoses. Belize previously had to send animal disease testing samples to overseas laboratories; with support from the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre, the Belize Agricultural Health Authority established a molecular diagnostic laboratory for animal health and adopted real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing technology. This method can detect animal diseases within 24 hours, helping frontline personnel take rapid prevention and control measures. Recently, the laboratory has also been used to assist in human COVID-19 testing, reflecting the "One Health" concept that animal, human, plant, and environmental health are interconnected.

2021-03-30

USDA Plans $25 Million Investment in Sterile Fly Release Facility in Arizona

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will invest $25 million to build a new sterile fly release facility in Arizona, strengthening efforts to control New World screwworm and reduce the risk of it invading American livestock herds. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the plan during a visit to the Douglas Port of Entry in Arizona. According to the department, releasing sterile flies is a key method for suppressing and ultimately eradicating New World screwworm populations. The proposed Arizona facility will enhance USDA's sterile fly release capacity and complement existing facilities and operations in Texas, Mexico, and Panama, further strengthening emergency response capabilities along the U.S. southwest border. The U.S...

2026-08-04

Montpellier, France, tests control of tiger mosquitoes by releasing 200,000 X-ray-sterilized males weekly

Montpellier, France, is testing a mosquito control strategy that does not rely on chemical insecticides by releasing X-ray-sterilized sterile male tiger mosquitoes, in response to the spread of tiger mosquitoes and the associated disease transmission risks. The trial has been underway since 2025 in the Malbosc residential area of Montpellier. This area is suitable for tiger mosquito breeding, and the trial team releases sterile male tiger mosquitoes at approximately 30 release points twice a week, about 100,000 per release, equivalent to roughly 200,000 per week across an area of about 50 hectares. The method is based on the sterile insect technique. Since only female mosquitoes bite and suck blood and may transmit viruses, and females typically mate only once in their lifetime, researchers release male mosquitoes that have lost their reproductive capacity after X-ray treatment into the wild to mate with wild females. The eggs subsequently laid by females fail to fertilize normally, thereby reducing the next generation of mosquito populations.

2026-08-03