Wheat from Peru, tsetse fly traps from South Africa, and a sediment corer from the Caribbean were among the many hands-on-items showcasing the varied work of the IAEA´s technical cooperation with countries and regions around the world.
The exhibit Technical Cooperation: Delivering Results for Peace and Development opened today at the IAEA´s General Conference in Vienna. Ms. Ana Maria Cetto, Head of IAEA Technical Cooperation (TC), said the display focused "on concrete and tangible results" that IAEA projects had delivered to people around the world.
"It offers a snapshot of IAEA projects at both the national and regional level - projects which are making a difference in people´s lives on a daily basis," she said.
In Pakistan for instance, breeding salt-tolerant rice using nuclear applications, has helped the country to boost cultivation in arid, salty soils. In addition to enhancing agricultural production, the Agency is supporting countries to improve health care, manage water resources and to monitor and protect the environment.
Safety and security are also key areas of cooperation. "Respecting safety and security is a non-negotiable element" when it comes to the IAEA´s work with its Member States, Mr. Philippe Jamet, Director, Nuclear Installation Safety, Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, said at the exhibition´s opening.
As part of its work, the IAEA also provides energy assessments to help countries ensure their energy supply is sustainable, and radiation technologies are widely applied.
Almost 40 completed projects are profiled in the exhibition which celebrates the technical cooperation between the IAEA and Member States.