Through these and other avenues, the tools, skills, and experience that are vital for the safe development of nuclear energy and science are transferred to where they are needed. Using the IAEA as a base for technical co-operation, many countries are harvesting the benefits of nuclear energy for their development. The Agency provides assistance in numerous fields where nuclear techniques offer advantages over others or can usefully supplement them.
Some activities relate to the generation of electricity by nuclear reactors.
The greatest challenge facing many of the IAEA Member States is the adequate supply of food. Nuclear techniques are used to help meet these challenges, and the IAEA technical co-operation programme seeks to assure that they are available to its Member States. Techniques using radiation and isotopes are used to improve crop and animal production in areas such as soil fertility, plant breeding, animal health, insect and pest control, pesticide use, and food preservation. Founded in 1964, the division works to solve practical problems related to agricultural production and food protection in the developing world. Soil fertility, irrigation, and crop production Nitrogen fertilizers are used widely to increase agricultural production.