Oman commends IAEA's food technology initiative
Oman has praised the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) plans to use nuclear technology to ensure sustainable food production and expressed its desire to join the initiative.
In a statement at the 68th session of the Agency's General Conference in Vienna, Ambassador Yusuf bin Ahmed Al Jabri, Oman's Permanent Representative to the IAEA, said nuclear science and technology play an important role in addressing global challenges.
He said Oman had signed a Technical Cooperation Framework Agreement with the IAEA for the period 2024-2029 in recognition of the significance of utilising peaceful nuclear technologies to meet its sustainable development needs and overcome challenges.
This is the third such agreement for Oman covering cooperation in areas such as radiation safety, agriculture, food safety, human health, water resources, the environment and cultural heritage.
The Ambassador noted that the first technical cooperation cycle covering 2024-2025 has already begun with new projects in fields such as pest control, food safety, enhancing quality in radiological medical practices and continuing to strengthen the infrastructure for radiation safety.
He reaffirmed Oman’s commitment to continued collaboration with the IAEA and all member states to achieve the agency's goals and strengthen its pivotal role in promoting peace and development.
He also emphasised that food security and ensuring the sustainability of necessary funding to achieve it are urgent issues in the fight against hunger, food insecurity and all forms of malnutrition.
The IAEA's scientific forum this year, themed “Nuclear Technology for Food: Better Agriculture for a Better Life,” embodies the crucial role that nuclear science and technology play in addressing food security challenges such as the growing demand for food and an end to supply chain disruptions.
He pointed to the effectiveness of the Convention on Nuclear Safety to reach a global agreement which would boost confidence in the safety of nuclear facilities and plants.
The Ambassador thanked the Government of Japan for its cooperation with the IAEA in organising a scientific visit for five Omani experts and specialists from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and Sultan Qaboos University to learn about the experiences of Japanese institutions in establishing and implementing disease monitoring and control programmes and to understand their effective strategies in this area.
He also commended the efforts of the IAEA Secretariat led by its Director-General for its work in promoting the peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology, enhancing nuclear safety and security and implementing safeguards agreements and technical cooperation programmes.
Ambassador Yusuf bin Ahmed Al Jabri also welcomed the accession of the Federal Republic of Somalia and the Cook Islands to the IAEA’s membership.
This is an unofficial English version of an Arabic report. To view the official Arabic text, click here.