JOHOR BAHRU, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Nuclear Agency today held a seminar addressing the impacts of extreme weather, rising global temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns on agriculture and food production.
Its director-general Dr Rosli Darmawan said these challenges threaten not only food availability but also national security in terms of production, distribution and storage.
Rosli added that the 11th Food Security Seminar, themed "Achieving Food Sustainability in the Era of Climate Change," explored a range of pertinent topics.
Key discussions included food security, quality management, halal standards, legislation, processing technologies and the future of the food industry. The aim was to enhance understanding and bolster the resilience of the national food sector in the face of these challenges.
“Integrating nuclear technology, strong policies and agricultural innovation is essential for achieving food sustainability, even amidst escalating climate change challenges," he said in a statement today.
Rosli highlighted that the Atoms4Food initiative, backed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), offers significant opportunities to enhance food security in Malaysia and globally.
He said agricultural production is expected to increase by about 70 per cent by 2050, requiring Malaysia to strengthen its infrastructure through innovative nuclear techniques.
"This includes plant mutation breeding for better crop varieties and molecular markers for food traceability, as well as monitoring soil and environmental conditions affected by climate change.
“The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) also helps control pests like fruit flies, while isotopes aid in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Together, these technologies enhance the agricultural sector’s resilience to climate change," he added.
The seminar was orgnised in collaboration with various ministries and institutions, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), along with industry representatives from Farm Fresh Milk Sdn. Bhd.
-- BERNAMA
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