Mr. James G. Butler, Deputy Director General of FAO, speaking at the Scientific Forum, IAEA General Conference 2008
During a 44-year partnership, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, (FAO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency have worked together to provide lasting development solutions to Member States in the area of food and agriculture research, said
James G. Butler, Deputy Director General of FAO, speaking at the Scientific Forum on the Future of the IAEA at the IAEA General Conference 2008.
In a talk largely focused on the current global food security crisis, Butler referred to a statement by the Nobel Peace Laureate and first Director General of FAO, Sir John Boyd Orr: "You Cannot Build Peace on Empty Stomachs".
For 44 years, he said the IAEA and the FAO have worked together with the "IAEA providing the science and FAO providing the applications, that special link of networks between research and food production."
For example, in genetic resources and plant breeding, the IAEA develops varieties that are drought and stress tolerant, and FAO works with national governments to replicate these varieties, in order for farmers to put them to use.
"FAO headquarters in Rome are very proud of the special relationship between the IAEA and FAO on the development and application of nuclear techniques in Member Countries in all areas of agricultural production and protection," said Butler.