Closing Statement [International Symposium on Induced Mutations in Plants, Vienna (Austria), 12-15 August 2008]

This Symposium was the eighth in the Joint FAO/IAEA Programme's Symposium series, dedicated to harnessing and disseminating information on current trends in induced mutagenesis in plants. The first meeting was held in 1969, and the most recent in 1995. Thirteen years on, in a climate of increasing food shortages, it was high time that this Symposium was held. Although mutation breeding is 80 years old, as we just heard, new applications continue to be found and will continue to be developed. The application of mutation techniques, such as Gamma-rays and other physical and chemical mutagens, has generated a vast amount of genetic variability and has played a significant role in plant breeding and genetic studies in countries throughout the world. The importance of these techniques is reflected in the large number of participants gathered here: a total of 500 delegates from 81 countries that are IAEA and FAO Member States and nine organizations. I believe that the extensive scientific programme, which included 126 oral and 252 poster presentations, is an indicator of the range, depth and relevance of the topic. Being aware of the scientific nature of this Symposium, let me however, say a few words on behalf of the IAEA's TC Programme. The programme provided financial support to several participants to attend this Symposium, but more importantly, many of the participants have been trained through the Technical Cooperation Programme, supported by the FAO/IAEA Joint Division. Technical training of this sort is a core component in the implementation of the IAEA mandate 'Atoms for Peace, Health and Prosperity'. Over the past five years, food and agriculture has accounted for one of the largest areas of the IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme around the world, and projects in this area are on the increase in the 2009-2011 programme cycle. The Agency's combination of technical and managerial expertise offers Member States significant benefits in the formulation and development of projects, transfer of technology, infrastructure development and capacity building. Support is delivered through training courses, fellowships, expert and scientific visits, and through setting up of laboratories. Ladies and gentlemen, Pandit Jawarlal Nehru, the great former prime minister of India, remarked once that 'Everything else can wait but not agriculture', and this remark remains relevant today. There is no short-term magic formula to solve the world's food problems. We must take advantage of all possible modes of intervention and action. Nuclear technology will continue to play an essential role in strengthening conventional breeding through induced mutations and efficiency-enhancing biomolecular technologies. As we have just heard, there is now a trend towards directed mutagenesis. I am sure that our technical colleagues have taken note of the suggestion to dedicate the next Symposium to this topic. These will hopefully continue to represent safe techniques, respectful of nature and the environment, supporting and speeding up natural processes to develop food and agricultural products with improved characteristics and increased value. I sincerely hope that you have enjoyed your stay in Vienna, and that the Symposium has stimulated you to find innovative ways to face the challenges that face us all. Your work is key to ensuring the sustainability of agriculture and to meeting the ever-growing global demand for food resources