Advancement in agriculture through radioisotopes: Current context, challenges and future directions
Radioisotopes have revolutionized agriculture, leading to new nutrients management methods, crop improvement models, and the recent pests control methods, such as the Sterile Insect Technique. These technologies contribute to global food security by increasing efficiency and effectiveness in using f...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Agriculture and Food Research |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154325003370 |
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| author | Basanta Neupane George F. Antonious Theoneste Nzaramyimana Suprava Acharya Dipesh Oli Anjan Nepal Apekshya Dhakal Hattie H. Makumbe |
| author_facet | Basanta Neupane George F. Antonious Theoneste Nzaramyimana Suprava Acharya Dipesh Oli Anjan Nepal Apekshya Dhakal Hattie H. Makumbe |
| author_sort | Basanta Neupane |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Radioisotopes have revolutionized agriculture, leading to new nutrients management methods, crop improvement models, and the recent pests control methods, such as the Sterile Insect Technique. These technologies contribute to global food security by increasing efficiency and effectiveness in using fertilizers through the rapid production of mutants and by addressing challenges such as pests infestations and soil degradation. The application of radioisotopes, however, carries its risks of environmental contamination, radiation exposure, and transportation problems with radioactive materials. Recent developments in alternative technologies, including stable isotopes and genetic engineering, promise to overcome many issues. For instance, stable isotopes like 15N and 13C are adequate substitutes for radioisotopes in nutrient tracing and provide precise insights into the interactions between plants and soils without presenting environmental hazards. Along these lines, genetic modification offers a less hazardous, non-radioactive means of producing hardy crop varieties. This paper discusses radioisotopes' historical and current application in agriculture, their limitations, and possible alternatives, focusing on the need for environmentally friendly agricultural methodologies. Adopting safer alternatives and advancing further research into these technologies is essential for sustaining agricultural production with reduced environmental hazards. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c372e831aadc4f17a9479afd518949fa |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2666-1543 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Agriculture and Food Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-c372e831aadc4f17a9479afd518949fa2025-08-20T02:05:08ZengElsevierJournal of Agriculture and Food Research2666-15432025-06-012110196610.1016/j.jafr.2025.101966Advancement in agriculture through radioisotopes: Current context, challenges and future directionsBasanta Neupane0George F. Antonious1Theoneste Nzaramyimana2Suprava Acharya3Dipesh Oli4Anjan Nepal5Apekshya Dhakal6Hattie H. Makumbe7School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY, 40601, USA; Corresponding author.School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY, 40601, USASchool of Agriculture and Natural Resources, College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY, 40601, USAInstitute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Lamjung Campus, Tribhuvan University, Lamjung, NepalSchool of Agriculture and Natural Resources, College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY, 40601, USASchool of Agriculture and Natural Resources, College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY, 40601, USACollege of Natural Resource Management, Agriculture and Forestry University, Sindhuli, NepalSchool of Agriculture and Natural Resources, College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY, 40601, USARadioisotopes have revolutionized agriculture, leading to new nutrients management methods, crop improvement models, and the recent pests control methods, such as the Sterile Insect Technique. These technologies contribute to global food security by increasing efficiency and effectiveness in using fertilizers through the rapid production of mutants and by addressing challenges such as pests infestations and soil degradation. The application of radioisotopes, however, carries its risks of environmental contamination, radiation exposure, and transportation problems with radioactive materials. Recent developments in alternative technologies, including stable isotopes and genetic engineering, promise to overcome many issues. For instance, stable isotopes like 15N and 13C are adequate substitutes for radioisotopes in nutrient tracing and provide precise insights into the interactions between plants and soils without presenting environmental hazards. Along these lines, genetic modification offers a less hazardous, non-radioactive means of producing hardy crop varieties. This paper discusses radioisotopes' historical and current application in agriculture, their limitations, and possible alternatives, focusing on the need for environmentally friendly agricultural methodologies. Adopting safer alternatives and advancing further research into these technologies is essential for sustaining agricultural production with reduced environmental hazards.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154325003370IsotopesRadiationMating indicesPlant physiologySterile insect technique |
| spellingShingle | Basanta Neupane George F. Antonious Theoneste Nzaramyimana Suprava Acharya Dipesh Oli Anjan Nepal Apekshya Dhakal Hattie H. Makumbe Advancement in agriculture through radioisotopes: Current context, challenges and future directions Journal of Agriculture and Food Research Isotopes Radiation Mating indices Plant physiology Sterile insect technique |
| title | Advancement in agriculture through radioisotopes: Current context, challenges and future directions |
| title_full | Advancement in agriculture through radioisotopes: Current context, challenges and future directions |
| title_fullStr | Advancement in agriculture through radioisotopes: Current context, challenges and future directions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Advancement in agriculture through radioisotopes: Current context, challenges and future directions |
| title_short | Advancement in agriculture through radioisotopes: Current context, challenges and future directions |
| title_sort | advancement in agriculture through radioisotopes current context challenges and future directions |
| topic | Isotopes Radiation Mating indices Plant physiology Sterile insect technique |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154325003370 |
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