Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Malaysia

Malaysian Nuclear Agency

Dato Muhamad b. Lebai Juri, Ph.D. Director General Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuclear Malaysia) Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Malaysia (MOSTI)

9-Oct-13

ASEAN Regional Conference on Food Security; Penang, 8-10 )ct. 2013

1
1

Outline
Nuclear technologies in agriculture. Nuclear technology applications in agrofood industry in Malaysia. Strategies to harness nuclear technology for a sustainable food production in Malaysia. The way forward.

9-Oct-13

Nuclear Technologies in Agriculture

9-Oct-13

Nuclear Technologies in Agriculture

Ionising radiation; stable & radioactive tracers; nuclear instrumentation

-ray

, X, n, ion beam N-15, C-13

, X, e-beam

N-15, C-13, P-32, P-33, K-40, Rb-86

, n

N-15, C-13

9-Oct-13

Dimensions of food security & sustainable production Food Security

Food Availability Domestic production Import capacity Food stocks Food aid Access (Physical & economics) Purchasing power Income of population Transport & market infrastructure Stability (of supply & access) Weather variability Price fluctuations Political /economic factors Food utilization Food safety Hygiene & Good Practices applied in food chain Diet quality & diversity: meeting needs of energy, macro/micro nutrients

Nuclear technologies provide unique or substantial complementary values in addressing food security challenges. They are used in to increase production sustainably by breeding improved crops, enhancing livestock reproduction and nutrition, as well as controlling animal and plant pests and diseases. Post-harvest losses can be reduced and safety increased with nuclear technology. Soil can be evaluated with nuclear techniques to conserve and improve soil productivity and water management.
9-Oct-13 5

Mutant varieties generated through radiation breeding programmes

Chemical 13%

Physical 87%

2012: 3218 officially released mutant varieties worldwide from 214 different plant species.

More than 80% mutant varieties have been developed by using nuclear techniques.
http://mvgs.iaea.org
9-Oct-13 6

Radiation Mutation Breeding in Japan (e,g. economic value of 1.2 billion yen)

9-Oct-13

Nuclear Technology Application in Malaysian Agrofood Industry

9-Oct-13

Induced Mutation Breeding

In 1984, Nuclear Malaysia started a coordinated research programme under RCA/IAEA/FAO entitled Semi-dwarf mutants for rice improvement in Asia and Pacific using the variety Manik. The main objective of the project was to generate semi-dwarfs in both native and improved cultivars for possible use as new cultivars, or as parents in cross breeding programs. Within five years, 101 semi-dwarf mutants with were recovered and evaluated. Among them, twenty-nine of these lines were reported to have grain yields of between 6.0-7.3 t/ha from experimental plots, higher than the parent, which yielded 5.7 t/ha; forty-seven lines had similar grain yields (5.0-6.0 t/ha) to the parent. Twelve mutants were resistant to brown planthopper (BPH) but had poorer yields.
MA 03, a rice mutant , dubbed tongkat ali developed through Nuclear Malaysia R&D under the RCA/IAEA/FAO Coordinated Research Program. 9

9-Oct-13

Development of Improved Rice Varieties through the Use of Induced Mutations in Malaysia

The first rice mutant through radiation induced mutation breeding

9-Oct-13 10

Useful Rice Mutants Derived From Mutation Breeding Programmes in Malaysia

Mutant
Mahsuri Mutant MM98 Q34 Muda 2 MR90 MA03 Manik 817 PS1297

Original or parent variety

Mahsuri Mahsuri Mutant Mahsuri Mutant Muda Muda Manik Manik Pongsu Seribu 2

Characteristics or traits observed in mutant

Good eating quality (high quality rice); elongation trait for cooked rice Early maturity; splitting of cooked rice. Good eating quality Short stature; good grain elongation Moderate improvement in BPH resistance Semidwarf; high yield and upright panicle Short stature; glutinous endosperm Reduce pigmentation on the panicles and grains; shorter and erect flag leaf; more tiller per plant; shorter panicles with less spikelets; increased amylose content and higher spikelet sterility Reduce maturation period; increase number of tiller per plant; reduced percentage of sterile grains; reduced panicle length; increase 1,000-grain weight Reduce plant height; higher yield; grain quality reduce (does not quality as Basmati rice) Higher grain weight (in preliminary yield trial) Reduced maturation period; reduced plant height Reduced maturation period; reduced plant height; higher yield potential Better resistance to BLB and PMV
11

SPM29 & SPM39

Jarum Mas

SPM 68 SPM 106 through 115 Y 1281 Y 1290 MR 215 & MR 216
9-Oct-13

Basmati MR 162 Q31 Mayang Bunga Y 1150

Mutation Breeding for Varietal Improvement of Irrigated Rice under Minimal Water Conditions

Collaboration of UPM, MARDI, DOA, MADA, Nuclear Malaysia

9-Oct-13

12

Rice mutants MR219-4 and MR219-9 under aerobic condition

Trial Plot at MARDI Serdang

just recently

9-Oct-13

13

Mutation breeding of groundnut for Cercospora leaf spot disease

9-Oct-13

14

Groundnut mutants launched in 2005

Seeds of KARISMA Sweet and KARISMA Serene

KARISMA Sweet was derived from variety Matjan which received 400 Gray of gamma radiation. It is high yielding (4.6 5.9 tone/ha), resistant to Cercospora leaf spot disease and efficient at fixing atmospheric nitrogen (60% of the total N sources) KARISMA Serene was derived from variety Matjan which received 200 Gray of gamma radiation. It is high yielding (4.8 6 t/ha), resistant to Cercospora leaf spot disease and efficient at fixing atmospheric nitrogen (>70% of the total N sources)
9-Oct-13 15

Mutation breeding of Cavendish banana undertaken by IAEA-Nuclear Malaysia-UM-UP Berhad leading to development of Novaria

Grand Naine GN-60A mutagenesis with gamma radiation. 1990 - field trials in Malaysia. Released in August 1994. Flowering ten weeks earlier than parent.
9-Oct-13 16

Selected mutants resistance to Papaya Ring Spot Virus (PRSV) with improved fruit quality (bigger fruit size and higher sugar content)

Collaboration of MARDI, UM, Nuclear Malaysia

9-Oct-13 17

Gamma irradiation induced mutation for the improvement of Josapine pineapple against bacterial heart rot and multiple crown.
To evaluate and select mutations with resistance to bacterial heart rot disease and single crown characteristic with improved fruit quality. A total of 10,000 mutant plants were irradiated with 10,20,30 and 40Gy of gamma rays and screened in the field a) Cylindrical fruit shape with bigger fruit size between 800-900g (Highest recorded 1,160g and Control 300500g) b) Higher sugar content (20-25 sugar index, control only 18 sugar index) c) Smooth leaves
18

Micropropagation using bioreactor systems

9-Oct-13

Field test in MARDI Kluang, Johor

Rooting and hardening of in vitro shoots Josapine pineapple

9-Oct-13

In vitro shoots from bioreactor

19

Nuclear and Isotopic Techniques in Agronomic Management

Nitrogen-15 labelled fertilizer identifying factors that affect nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency; determine amount of N fixed through BNF. Soil moisture neutron probe monitoring soil water to improve water use efficiency. 18O, 2H isotopes partitioning soil evaporation and crop transpiration from total ET to minimize water losses; identifying sources and pathways of agricultural water. Carbon isotope discrimination () selecting crops tolerant to drought and salinity. 13C for quantifying carbon sequestration and organic matter turnover. 15N natural abundance for tracing sources of agricultural N to improve farming practices. Natural cosmic ray neutron for area-wide agricultural water management to improve water productivity.

9-Oct-13

20

Nuclear Techniques in Soil-Water-Crop-Nutrient Management

15N 15N 13C 18O 2

To quantify biological nitrogen fixation to save N fertilizers

To quantify the flow and fate of N fertilizers to improve fertilizer use by crops

Carbon isotope discrimination to assess adaptation of crops tolerant to drought and salinity
13CO 2

To estimate sources and fluxes of water to improve WUE

15N 15N

14N

12CO 2

13C 12C

9-Oct-13

To assess soil organic carbon storage

21

Highlights on use of isotopic tracers in agronomic studies involving various agencies 1980s-1990s

Oil Palm Plot UPM, Golden Hope (Prang Besar, Carey Island). Rubber LGM Sg Buloh Sgor, Pegoh Melaka, Siliau & Sunggala NS (rubber & cash crop) Coffee MARDI Serdang, Kluang, Pontian, Parit Botak. Cocoa MARDI Serdang, Plot DOA Serdang, DOA Tawau Sabah Black pepper MARDI Kluang, Serdang, DOA Semonggok Sarawak Acacia mangium FRIM Kepong, Setol Forestry Neg. 9, Jengka Forestry Pahang, Forestry Sandakan Sabah Rattan manau FRIM, Lanchang Pahang. Guava, Star fruit, Groundnut, Rice - NM Banana Felcra, Batu Kurau Perak Dokong LDBJ Jerangau Terengganu. Rice, Tobacco (15N) MARDI, DOA, Kelantan Sago CRAUN Mukah Sarawak
22

9-Oct-13

32P

isotope aided experiment to delineate active root zones of sago palm on peat (CRAUN-NM)

10/9/2013

23

Defence against insect pests

Nuclear techniques can be used as part of an integrated approach to control insect pests that destroy crops and spread disease. Diseases and pests destroy more than a third of crops before and after harvesting. Insect pests can be controlled using the sterile insect technique (SIT). In SIT, an environmentally friendly alternative to insecticides, male, laboratory-raised insects, are sterilized with gamma radiation. When they are released into the wild and mate, no offspring are produced. Over time, insect populations shrink and are eventually fully suppressed, reducing the need for pesticides. SIT has been used to eradicate the medfly, a threat to some 250 species of fruit and vegetables, from Chile and Mexico, as well as from parts of Guatemala and the United States.
Malaysia, 1990s SIT trials on Plutella xylostella (diamond back moth) of cabbage MARDI, UPM, DOA, Nuclear Malaysia
9-Oct-13 24

Improving Food Safety by Irradiation

9-Oct-13

25

Improving Food Safety by Control of Food Hazard

9-Oct-13

26

Improving Food Quality and Safety

Food irradiation for food processing and phytosanitary applications (UKM, UPM, DOA, MARDI, Nuclear Malaysia)
Nuclear and related analytical techniques for multi-residue or multi-target; fate of pesticide in rice ecosystem (MARDI, MADA, UPM, DOA, UKM, MOH, Nuclear Malaysia)

Development of techniques for traceability of food products (USM, MARDI, MADA, Nuclear Malaysia)

9-Oct-13

27

Irradiation facilities
Malaysia

Gamma plants (Sinagama, Sterilgamma, Isotron, Ansell).

Electron beam machines (Alurtron in Nuklear Msia: 3 MeV). Cross-linking of wire, cable,film, tubes, hydrogel, medical product sterilization

9-Oct-13

28

FI R&D activities in Malaysia (1980s 2000)

Types of Food
Milled rice

Purpose of Irradiation
Insect disinfestation

Max. Dose (kGy)

1.0

Pepper
Frozen shrimp

Reduce microbes
Eliminate pathogenic microbes

10.0
5.0

Chilled chicken

Eliminate pathogenic microbes and extend shelf-life Inhibit sprouting Disinfect fungi Disinfest insect (quarantine)

3.0

Fresh ginger Cocoa beans Fresh fruits-papaya

9-Oct-13

0.05 6.0 0.15 (min)

29

Commercial application in Malaysia

Quantity/Types of Irradiated Food Year
1997 - 1999 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Metric Ton
100 475 800 728 691 826

2010

785

Spices curry powder, coriander, white and black pepper, lemon grass, fennel, fenugreek, aniseed, bay leaves, ginger, cumin, paprika, nutmeg, cardamom, chili Herbs - tongkat ali, kacip fatimah, ginseng, misai kucing, mengkudu, Chinese herbs, Ganoderma, Spirulina, green tea, chitosan, birds nest.
9-Oct-13 30

Pre-audit by USDA officials at Sinagama, Nuclear Malaysia & fruit packaging facility, DOA

9-Oct-13

Mock Trial for Rambutan Exportation to USA (2013)

31

Factors delaying commercial application

No demand for the benefit provided - due to unawareness / limited knowledge of technology Image of technology Cost-benefits Competitiveness with alternative processes Unharmonised regulations

Current restricted market for irradiated products

Uncertainty of consumer acceptance / perceived

consumer resistance
9-Oct-13 32

Regulatory control
Application of food irradiation controlled by:
Food Act 1983 Regulation 396(2)(a): Prior approval required from Director-General of Health for importation, preparation, advertisement for sell and sale of irradiated food in Malaysia

Food Irradiation Regulation 2011

Gazetted April 2011 (not enforced yet) Approval of 8 classes of food Registration of Food Irradiation Premises Certificate of Irradiation Packaging and Labelling Requirements
33

9-Oct-13

Strategies to Harness Nuclear Technology for Sustainable Food Production in Malaysia

9-Oct-13

34

Strategies to Harness Nuclear Technology for a Sustainable Food Production in Malaysia

Collaborative work between Nuclear Malaysia and agricultural agencies in R&D and services (e.g. through inter-ministerial/inter-departmental Joint Committees). Promotion of nuclear technologies to the agroindustry, especially the gamma irradiation facilities for varietal crop improvement, and for food preservation and phytosanitary purposes. Facilitating fruit export to USA and European countries compliance to phytosanitary requirements through gamma irradiation.
9-Oct-13 35

The Way Forward

9-Oct-13

36

The Way Forward

Blue Ocean @ multi-agency approach utilisation of nuclear technology in Malaysian agrofood sectors; including allocation of a developmental budget for enhancement of agrofood industry (e.g. tropical fruit export) through nuclear technology. Enhancement of nuclear application in the socioeconomic sectors, especially for agriculture (from the current 0.03% to the GDP; cf. 0.3% for Japan). Promotion of atoms for peace schoolchildren, youths, public/consumers & the agroindustry.
9-Oct-13 37

Terima Kasih /Thank You

Acknowledgment: Organisers of ARCoFS Universiti Malaysia Kelantan & Jabatan Pertanian Malaysia;
MOSTI & Central Agencies for financial support; Project collaborators and all researchers and support staff involved.

9-Oct-13

MALAYSIAN NUCLEAR AGENCY

MINISTRY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION MALAYSIA (MOSTI)

38