World Cotton Day: IAEA Highlights Role of Nuclear Science in Boosting Global Cotton Production

Addressing over 400 attendees through a recorded message, Grossi highlighted how the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has contributed to cotton's development through innovative scientific techniques.

In honor of World Cotton Day, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi emphasized the critical role nuclear science plays in optimizing cotton growth, during a celebration in Benin today. Addressing over 400 attendees through a recorded message, Grossi highlighted how the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has contributed to cotton's development through innovative scientific techniques.

"Cotton is truly a crop worth celebrating. It produces natural fibers that are vital to industries, alleviates poverty in some of the world’s least developed nations, supports women’s incomes, and removes harmful carbon from the atmosphere," Grossi stated. He also noted the IAEA's involvement in the international ‘Partnership for Cotton’, a collaborative effort to maximize the potential of the crop.

IAEA's Nuclear Techniques for Cotton Cultivation

With over six decades of experience, the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre for Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture has been at the forefront of developing nuclear-based solutions to enhance cotton production. The centre’s Seibersdorf laboratories conduct applied research, which is then transferred to cotton-growing countries via the IAEA's Technical Cooperation Programme.

A key example is plant mutation breeding, a technique that uses irradiation to accelerate the evolution of cotton seeds, making them more resistant to climate change-related challenges such as drought, heat, and diseases. This method, which involves no genetic modification, helps improve the crop's natural traits by mimicking spontaneous mutation. The IAEA has used this approach to support cotton production in various countries.

Pakistan's Success in Cotton Mutation Breeding

In Pakistan, the IAEA/FAO’s mutation breeding program has led to the development of 32 new cotton varieties since 1970. Today, over 40 percent of the cotton-growing areas in Pakistan utilize these climate-resilient varieties, ensuring better yields and crop adaptability in the face of changing environmental conditions.

The Science of Plant Mutation Breeding

Plant mutation breeding involves exposing plant material, such as seeds or cuttings, to radiation—commonly gamma rays or X-rays. This process induces changes in the plant’s DNA, which can result in beneficial traits like increased disease resistance or better tolerance to extreme weather conditions. The technique accelerates natural mutation processes, providing farmers with stronger, more reliable crop varieties without the need for genetic modification.

Through its extensive research and technological advances, the IAEA continues to support global cotton production, helping countries achieve both economic growth and environmental sustainability. The World Cotton Day celebrations reaffirmed the importance of cotton as a critical natural resource that contributes to sustainable development in regions around the world.