July’s instalment of the New Nuclear Watch Institute’s ‘Yes to Nuclear’ Perspectives initiative turns to look at the capacity of nuclear energy to improve healthcare services and food production in a world where there is an urgent need to reduce the impact of climate change as well as to adapt to its consequences.
The continued use of fossil fuels is causing potentially irreversible damage to the environment while consuming resources unsustainably. According to the World Nuclear Transport Institute (WNTI), roughly 2,000 – 2500 KWh of electricity is produced from one ton of coal whereas one ton of natural uranium produces 40 million KWh. The realisation that nuclear power provides a cleaner and more sustainable energy source is leading to an overhaul of many nations’ energy mixes.
In Ukraine, nuclear energy accounts for 50% of the country’s electricity production, second only globally to France, whose nuclear share exceeds 70%. This has added to the energy security of the state and has increased the competitiveness of the Ukrainian economy.
The national nuclear energy generating company of Ukraine, Energoatom, sees the maintenance of 50% nuclear capacity, combined with the gradual introduction of renewable energy sources, as the way for Ukraine to transition to a low-carbon economy.
Aiding Healthcare
125 years after Wilhelm Roentgen’s accidental discovery of X-rays, more than a third of all medical procedures involve radiation or radioactive material. Nuclear technology continues to be relied upon by medical professionals in the field of radiology and nuclear medicine when treating and diagnosing patients.
The technology is exemplified when looking at the functioning of organs whereby doctors utilise medical radioisotopes which are either ingested, inhaled, or injected into the body. Computer technology then produces high-quality images which can highlight any problems with the patient. Overall, experience reveals nuclear technology is deemed to be quick, safe, and precise when diagnosing medical conditions.
Nuclear use in food and agriculture
According to the Food Irradiation Global Market Outlook, nearly 1 million tonnes of food is sterilised with radiation worldwide. Such services are supplied by many vendors, from US-based Food Technology Service and Sterigenics International to Russian nuclear giant Rosatom that aims to commission this year the multipurpose irradiation centre in El Alto, Bolivia. This centre is capable of processing over 70 tonnes of products per day.
The Joint Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Centre aims to add to global food security through its contributions towards the national, regional, and global attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). One way to achieve the SDGs is to advance crop production by making use of the radioactive isotopes produced by conventional and advanced nuclear reactors. These isotopes help grow high-yielding crop seeds and determine the efficacy of fertilisers on different plants.
Procedures like this can also help scientists ascertain the exact nutrient and water demand of crops, increasing the sustainability of methods used in different regions and help preclude the stretching of already resource-scarce environments by conserving scant water and soil resources.
Advanced nuclear reactors are designed to consume less water than conventional reactors. This also has a knock-on benefit for agriculture, as it leaves extra water for agricultural use. Some advanced reactors will be able to generate the power for water desalination so that there is more fresh water for irrigation. The density of nuclear fuel means that less land is required to operate nuclear power plants compared to other forms of energy generation. Consequently, more rural land is available for agricultural use rather than being taken up by large power plants.
Climate change means that some species of insects have a higher chance of survival in parts of the world where they have not traditionally been found. These invasive pests can damage crops, but nuclear technology can help save the crops and promote efficient use of land. Nuclear procedures like the Sterilization Insect Technique reduce the reproduction of toxic insects which are a threat to food supplies.
Nuclear energy has a clear and proven ability to improve agriculture, protect food supplies and sustain modern healthcare. As the world population increases, the proliferation of low carbon energy generation, which doesn’t require large swathes of land, is paramount.
The NNWI and its partner organisations are continuing efforts to develop partnerships with governments, NGOs, educational institutions, and UN bodies to support the achievement of the UN SDGs.