Latin America has made significant progress in using nuclear techniques for development over the last 35 years, and the Regional Cooperation Agreement for the Promotion of Nuclear Science and Technology in Latin America and the Caribbean (ARCAL) has contributed to this achievement.
“It has been fascinating to observe the steady progress being made by countries of this region in using nuclear science and technology to improve the health and prosperity of their people,” Director General Yukiya Amano said at an event marking ARCAL’s 35th anniversary.”
ARCAL was created to promote, foster and coordinate the use of nuclear techniques for peace and development. For the past 35 years, it has worked to make nuclear science and technology available in health care, food and agriculture, industry and other areas.
Key achievements under ARCAL include curbing fruit fly infestation in countries such as Mexico and Guatemala, using the sterile insect technique. In addition, the use of radiation-induced mutation techniques has led to the development of new food varieties such as tomato and quinoa in a number of countries in the region, and scientists have been using isotopic techniques to improve management of precious water resources and monitor marine pollution.
In 2018, the IAEA provided equipment to both Ecuador and Mexico so they could use non-destructive testing techniques, including radiography, to determine whether buildings and other structures damaged in earthquakes were in danger of collapse.
In its 35 years, ARCAL has had 163 technical cooperation projects approved, which translate into nearly 40 million USD invested in capacity building and infrastructure for the region. ARCAL has organized nearly 400 training courses, 200 expert missions and trained nearly 16 000 professionals from its state parties.
ARCAL and the IAEA are working together on the basis of the Regional Strategic Profile for Latin America and the Caribbean for 2016 to 2021. They have identified six priority areas: food security, human health, the environment, energy, radiation safety and radiation technologies.
Similar cooperative agreements are in place in Africa, Arab States in Asia and Asia and the Pacific.
Original source: IAEA
Published on 20 May 2019
