On 27 March 2025, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), through the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, hosted the Vienna Group of Friends of Food Security at the Joint FAO/IAEA Agriculture and Biotechnology laboratories in Seibersdorf, Austria.
Since the launch of the Group in October 2024 – which currently consists of 44 Members (43 IAEA Member States and the European Union) – the laboratory visit is the first initiative in the Group’s endeavor to become an effective platform for the IAEA Member States and Vienna-based international organisations to support food security and contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2: Zero Hunger.
The tour of the laboratories, which represent a unique example of inter-agency cooperation within the UN system, provided about 30 participants (including at least twelve Ambassadors and Deputies) with a better understanding of the use of nuclear science and technology to improve food security and safety, by making agrifood systems more productive, resilient and sustainable.
The Director of the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre, Ms Dongxin Feng, welcomed this important visit on behalf of Ms Najat Mokhtar, Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, who was unable to participate, and extended her appreciation to the participants for their interests in the work of the labs.
After a brief introduction to the overall work of the Joint Centre, Ms Feng stated her desire to cooperate with the Group and using this as a good opportunity to strengthen the role of the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre in assisting Member States in combating food insecurity and malnutrition, while promoting sustainable agricultural development.
The Permanent Representative of Italy and Co-Chair of the Group, Ambassador Debora Lepre, highlighted the opportunities for cooperation with the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre to raise awareness of nuclear applications in food and agriculture within the UN hub in Vienna and beyond, and to develop joint projects.
The Ambassador of Sudan and Co-Chair of the GoFFS, Mr Magdi Mofadal, emphasized the vital need to support laboratories in strengthening their valuable contributions to the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030.
As a strategic advocate for intensified collective support to help feed the world and ensure that these efforts are sustainable, this platform plays an important role in helping Vienna-based agencies mobilize more support of Member States and other stakeholders that can lead to enhanced international cooperation in scaling up innovative and sustainable solutions in the field of agriculture and food security.
