AUSTRIA INAUGURATION OF THE ReNuAL2 FACILITIES Remarks

My dear friend Director-General Grossi,

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Dear Colleagues,

Let me start by thanking the IAEA - we are a part of the UN big family and we have had a real concrete partnership for more than 60 years - for the inauguration of these new facilities to upgrade the capacity of the FAO-IAEA Joint Center.

I am happy to be here today to reaffirm and celebrate the longstanding and fruitful inter-agency cooperation, embodied in the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre and its laboratories, which were strategically strengthened by Director-General Grossi and I five years ago.

Indeed, it is a model of how science and innovation across sectors can be harnessed to support our member countries in addressing global challenges in the transformation of agrifood systems to be more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable.

For over six decades, the Joint Centre has combined the expertise of FAO in agrifood systems with the IAEA in nuclear technology to deliver impactful solutions.

This partnership and our joint work in research and technology transfer has enabled us to provide support in countering transboundary pests, improve soil and water management, enhance food safety, deal with environmental issues and build resilient agrifood systems to tackle the impacts of the climate crisis.

These new facilities are not only a hub for cutting-edge research and development, but also a vital resource for capacity building, training, and technology transfer for global challenges, and to support Members.

The IAEA’s ReNuAL initiative has played a pivotal role in modernizing the nuclear applications laboratories. The upgrades to both equipment and infrastructure have ensured that these facilities remain fit-for-purpose and can meet the growing demands for training, technical services, and applied research in food and agriculture.

We have many examples that highlight the impact of our work together:

·      In the Dominican Republic, the Sterile Insect Technique enabled the rapid eradication of the Mediterranean fruit fly;

·      Across Africa and Asia, the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Network strengthens veterinary laboratories to rapidly detect transboundary animal diseases;

·      In Bolivia, the Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensor technology helps scientists track snow accumulation and glacier retreat; and

·      In Burkina Faso, these laboratories helped the country to develop new sorghum varieties with resistance to Striga.

These examples showcase how our partnership translates into real global solutions that improve lives, protect ecosystems, and strengthen agrifood systems.

As we face growing challenges, the need for science-based, collaborative solutions has never been greater.

The Atoms4Food initiative launched in 2023 provides a new era to upscale for greater impact, better serving our members countries with tailored and country specific solutions in an integrated and holistic manner.  

Dear Friends,

FAO remains deeply committed to our longstanding partnership and to the continued success of the FAO-IAEA Joint Centre.

This is a critical partnership in ensuring the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life – leaving no one behind.

Let us continue to do Better Together!

Let us be leading example for deliverables, within the UN family and beyond.

Thank you.