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68th IAEA General Conference: Day 2 Highlights

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The room was packed for the opening of the IAEA’s two-day Scientific Forum, on the theme of  Atoms4Food – Better Agriculture for Better Life. (Photo: A.Barber Huescar/IAEA)

The 2024 Scientific Forum: Atoms4Food: Better Agriculture for Better Life opened today. The two-day forum provides a platform of exchange for world leaders, policy makers and experts to discuss how nuclear innovations can tackle world hunger and enhance sustainable agrifood systems. The event follows on from the Atoms4Food initiative, which was launched last year by the IAEA and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

In his opening remarks, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi highlighted the IAEA’s science-based contributions to support countries in addressing the global food crisis.

Watch the livestream of the Scientific Forum, and read the latest IAEA Bulletin on Atoms4Food. 

Fifty countries participated in the debate during the plenary session. The statements of the delegations who participated in the general debate during the plenary session can be found here

The following side events took place on Tuesday:

The Diversity: An Essential Ingredient in Implementing Nuclear Safeguards event emphasized how diversity nurtures innovation, broadens the talent pool and brings together the wide range of disciplines needed to carry out safeguards activities.

 Diversity is more than just a ‘box to tick’ in the Department of Safeguards and at the IAEA - it is a critical asset that strengthens the IAEA’s capacity to do its job more effectively.    

At another Safeguards event, COMPASS: The Story So Far event, delegates explored how the IAEA Comprehensive Capacity-Building Initiative for State systems of accounting for and control of nuclear material (SSACs) and national authorities responsible for safeguards implementation (SRAs) (COMPASS) provides tailored assistance to Member States to help them meet their nuclear verification obligations.

The Building Communities of Practice in Nuclear Security: Network Approaches for Detection Operations, Education, Training, Technical Support and Scientific Support event highlighted the importance of nuclear security networks in building capacity and collaboration. It also showcased best practices shared by the speakers, who told delegates how they had improved nuclear security practices through increasing collaboration and resource sharing; and by providing opportunities to enhance capacity building.

At the IAEA Database on Discharges of Radionuclides to the Atmosphere and Aquatic Environment event, participants experienced how the recently upgraded database supports transparency and monitoring of global discharge data.

During the event, attendees viewed data on discharges from nuclear power plants, reprocessing facilities and research reactors. The presentation showcased the accessibility and functionalities of the database, known as DIRATA, such as the data visualization map and the option to download data for further analysis.

The Planning for the Management of Spent Research Reactor Fuel and Disused Sealed Radioactive Sources for Non-Nuclear Power Member States: BRIDE and DSIDES event highlighted how non-nuclear countries can manage research reactor spent fuel and disused sealed radioactive sources.

IAEA tools such as Back End Research Reactor Integrated Decision Making Evaluation (BRIDE) and the Disused Sources Integrated Decision Evaluation Support Tool (DSIDES) can help countries understand costs, environmental impact and human resource requirements associated with various options such as recycling and final disposal of spent fuel and sources.  

Member State side events

The 10th Anniversary of the IAEA ICERR Initiative: Achievements and Opportunities event focused on the International Centres based on Research Reactors (ICERR) scheme. The event was organized by the Republic of Korea and marks the re-designation of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) as an ICERR in 2024, as well as the tenth anniversary of the ICERR scheme. Seven Member States currently have research reactors and ancillary facilities currently designated as ICERRs, serving as centres for education, training, and joint research and development projects.

An Atoms4Food & Gender Mainstreaming event was organized by Italy and Women in Nuclear – IAEA. It highlighted the critical role of gender equality in achieving food safety and security, particularly within the IAEA and UN Food and Agriculture Organization's Atoms4Food initiative.

A Working Together to Ensure and Implement Nuclear and Radiological Safety, Security and Safeguards in Africa event reviewed the efforts and progress made by the Forum of Nuclear Regulatory Bodies in Africa (FNRBA), the African Regional Co-operative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA) and the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) in developing infrastructure for nuclear and radiological safety and security and safeguards in Africa. The event was organized by Ghana.

In Kazakhstan’s Experience in Developing Radiopharmaceutical Production Technologies and Nuclear Medicine Methods event, Kazakhstan shared its experience of developing radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals at the Institute of Nuclear Physics. It also discussed how this led to the development of radionuclide diagnostic and treatment methods in the country's leading medical centres, including through their collaboration with the IAEA’s technical cooperation programme.

Norway’s side event Advances in HEU Minimization took stock of international developments in highly enriched uranium (HEU) minimization in the six years since the last International Symposium on HEU Minimization in 2018 and evaluated past successes, highlight recent accomplishments, and explore ongoing efforts to further HEU minimization.

Japan’s Alpha-emitting Radiopharmaceuticals as an Effective Treatment for Metastatic Cancer - Clinical Trial and Its Applications in Society workshop focused on nuclear medicine therapy using alpha emitting radionuclides such as Ac-225 and At-211 in particular.

An event Facilitating the Early Entry into Force of the IAEA Article VI Amendment organized by the Republic of Slovenia, the Republic of Korea, Brazil, Namibia and the European Union, sought to raise awareness of the Amendment to Article VI of the Statute among Member States.

The Declaration of the Arab Roadmap for Cooperation in Radiological and Nuclear Emergency Preparedness and Response event was organized by Tunisia. It showcased the joint announcement by the League of Arab States, the Arab Atomic Energy Agency (AAEA), and the IAEA of the Arab Roadmap on Emergency Preparedness and Response. Initiated by the IAEA Director General Grossi in June 2022, the roadmap aims to strengthen the capabilities of Arab countries in preparing for and responding to nuclear and radiological emergencies. The IAEA's Incident and Emergency Centre has supported the roadmap's development, ensuring it aligns with international standards.

The 16th Plenary Meeting of Forum of Nuclear Regulatory Bodies in Africa (FNRBA) is convened annually and was organized this year by Ghana. The Plenary Meeting is the highest decision-making body of the FNRBA, and reviews and approves the work plan and provides policy direction.

The IFNEC and Women in Nuclear Power Hour: Women at the Core of Nuclear Energy event was an opportunity to hear from members of Women in Nuclear Global (WiN Global) and of the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC). The session kicked off with brief opening remarks and set off a series of ‘lightning talks’, featuring women leaders who shared their personal journeys. The event was organized by the United States of America.

Other Events

At the Nuclear Operators' Forum: Pioneering the Deployment of AI Applications in Nuclear Power Plants event today, international panellists  looked at how artificial intelligence is being used to support the nuclear power industry now and in the future. 

Streamlining nuclear power plant deployments with Artificial intelligence (AI), including by automating certain tasks previously performed by operators, can help maximize nuclear power’s contribution to the clean energy transition.

A meeting of the Board of Representatives of the Co-operative Agreement for Arab States in Asia for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology (ARASIA) took place this morning. Participants reviewed the achievements of the agreement in 2023 and approved activities for 2024.

 

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