SPECIAL SERIES | Nuclear Science & Agricuture - New Farming Frontier
When people hear the word “nuclear”, the first image that usually comes to mind is a nuclear power plant, reactor or electricity generation. But nuclear science has a much wider range of peaceful applications.
In India, nuclear and radiation technologies are being used in areas including agriculture and food processing. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), under the Department of Atomic Energy, has a dedicated Nuclear Agriculture and Biotechnology Division working on crop improvement, plant biotechnology, pest management and related agricultural technologies.
Idea is not to make agriculture “nuclear” in the way the word might suggest. Instead, scientists use carefully controlled radiation and nuclear techniques as additional tools to address specific agricultural problems.
From the laboratory to the farm
One important application is radiation-induced mutation breeding. Mutations are natural changes in genetic material. Scientists can use controlled radiation, such as gamma rays or electron beams, to induce genetic changes in seeds or plant material. Breeders then screen the resulting plants and select those showing useful characteristics.
According to BARC, such mutations can help develop crops with characteristics such as early maturity, higher yield, improved nutritional quality and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. This does not mean that radiation simply “creates a better crop” automatically. Radiation-induced changes generate genetic variation, after which considerable breeding, screening and field evaluation are required to identify useful plants.
Why does agriculture need new varieties?
Agriculture faces several challenges simultaneously. Farmers need higher productivity while dealing with drought, heat, changing rainfall patterns, soil salinity, pests and diseases. Crop varieties must also perform well under different growing conditions. BARC's research specifically identifies the development of climate-resilient varieties as one of its agricultural research priorities. Its current R&D information lists radiation-induced mutagenesis and hybridisation for developing crop varieties with improved resilience.
Objective is therefore not simply to produce more. A useful variety may need to mature earlier, tolerate environmental stress, maintain desirable quality and perform reliably under particular farming conditions.
BARC's contribution
BARC has been working on radiation-induced mutation breeding for several decades. Its current agriculture R&D page states that 71 crop varieties had been released and Gazette-notified for commercial cultivation by June 2025.
BARC's Nuclear Agriculture and Biotechnology Division works on developing high-yielding and early maturing crop varieties with resistance or tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, better nutritional quality and wider ecological adaptability. Programme also involves collaboration with ICAR and State Agricultural Universities, helping connect nuclear-agriculture research with conventional crop-breeding programmes.
Two examples from 2025
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| Kaveri Vaman (TBM-9) |
BARC's 2025 highlights include Kaveri Vaman (TBM-9), a dwarf banana variety developed through in-vitro mutagenesis in collaboration with ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana, Tiruchirappalli. BARC says the variety is a mutant of Grand Naine and has a short stature of around 150–160 cm, making it suitable for high-density planting.
Another 2025 release was RTS-43 sorghum, developed in collaboration with the University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur. BARC describes it as early maturing, with early and synchronized flowering and bold, white, lustrous seeds with good roti-making quality.
These examples show that nuclear-agriculture research is not confined to laboratories; some resulting varieties are being released for agricultural use.
Nuclear science after harvest
Agricultural connection does not end when the crop leaves the farm. Post-harvest losses can occur because of insects, microorganisms, sprouting, ripening and deterioration during storage and transportation. This is where food irradiation becomes relevant.
BARC describes food irradiation as a technology that can help prevent losses caused by sprouting of bulbs and tubers, insect infestation of stored grains and pulses, and deterioration of fruits and vegetables. It can also be used for pasteurisation or sterilisation of certain food and allied products to improve shelf life and microbiological safety.
Is irradiated food radioactive?
This is one of the most important questions consumers may have. Food irradiation does not mean adding radioactive material to food. The food is exposed to a controlled amount of ionising radiation. BARC explains that the process works by disrupting biological processes involved in decay and by affecting the reproductive capacity of microorganisms and insects. The distinction between irradiation and radioactive contamination is therefore important when discussing the technology.
Helping agricultural exports
Food irradiation also has an international trade application. Agricultural products exported to other countries may have to meet sanitary and phytosanitary requirements intended to prevent the introduction or spread of pests and diseases.
BARC says radiation processing is increasingly being used to help agricultural and horticultural products meet sanitary and phytosanitary requirements for international trade. This gives the technology another potential role not merely preserving food but helping agricultural commodities meet requirements for access to international markets.
Beyond the reactor
Connection between nuclear science and agriculture therefore extends well beyond nuclear power generation. At one end is the seed:
Radiation-induced mutagenesis - genetic variation - selection and breeding - improved crop varieties.
At the other is the harvest:
Radiation processing - pest/microbial control and other preservation effects - longer shelf life - reduced losses and potential export benefits.
These are different applications, but both demonstrate how controlled radiation technologies can be used for peaceful agricultural purposes.
What could this mean for Indian farmers?
It is important not to portray nuclear technology as a replacement for conventional farming or traditional plant breeding. Rather, it is another tool available to agricultural scientists.
A new variety still needs breeding, testing, field evaluation and appropriate seed deployment. Similarly, food irradiation needs suitable facilities, correct doses, regulatory oversight and an economically viable supply chain. Real test is therefore not simply whether the technology works in a laboratory, but whether it can provide practical and affordable benefits to farmers, food processors, exporters and consumers.
Why this matters for the future
India needs to produce more food while dealing with climate stress, resource constraints and post-harvest losses. BARC's agricultural research programme is already targeting traits such as climate resilience, stress tolerance, improved quality and better productivity.
At the same time, radiation processing offers another avenue for reducing losses and improving the handling of agricultural commodities. That makes nuclear agriculture an interesting intersection of science, farming, food security and international trade.
And for farmers, the most important question is simple: Can advanced science ultimately produce a better crop, reduce losses and improve returns?
Answer depends on how successfully research moves from laboratories and research stations to farms, markets and consumers.
The next question
How can radiation actually help scientists develop a new crop variety? What happens to a seed when it is exposed to radiation—and how do scientists identify the useful changes among thousands of plants? That is the subject of next article - How Radiation Helps Create Better Crop Varieties.