THE new gamma irradiation machine to be installed at International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences (ICENS) is expected to strengthen agricultural output, particularly for coconuts.

Director general of the Hazardous Substances Regulatory Authority (HSRA) Dr Cliff Riley said the mutation breeding programme for coconuts will increase significantly.

“The irradiator should be at ICENS in a couple of months. Coconuts are one of the priority commodities, along with the entire food safety push in terms of extending the shelf life of different commodities. We will be monitoring and ensuring that the necessary safety procedures and protocol are in place as these research projects are undertaken and implemented,” he told
JIS News.

The gamma irradiation process uses cobalt 60 radiation on plant material. It is proven to be a safe, reliable, and highly effective tool for the sterilisation of food products.

Dr Riley said currently, agro-processors are using UV (ultraviolet) treatment and the cold chain process to extend the shelf life of coconut water.

“But irradiating these materials using gamma radiation neutralises and controls the microorganisms that are present. We want to advance those aspects to see how the industry can develop faster and, by extension, increase trade — which would put Jamaica way ahead of the game with shelf life and how fast the industry can produce resistant strains for coconuts so [that] we can diversify the market,” he said.

The technology has also been used to successfully generate several positive mutations in crops, as well as for pathogen reduction and pest control in seeds.

Dr Riley has estimated that within another six months the project should be launched.

“There will be significant monitoring to ensure that those commodities fall within the regulatory guidelines as well as that [the] level of research is able to be conducted with some level of autonomy, to transform the different sectors of the country — especially with a heavy focus on agriculture and training,” he said.

Gamma radiation can speed up the mutation process, which can play a critical role in securing climate-resilient crops on the island, he said.

“I think we are at the onset of a drought now. We are seeing a reduction in the volume of coconut water, we are seeing quite a number of farmers complaining bitterly about the impact of the low rainfall happening at this point in Jamaica on crop production. The use of gamma radiation technology creates opportunities for planting material to have more resistance to drought, pests and diseases,” Dr Riley said.

The effort to incorporate the use of advanced technologies across multiple sectors is not an isolated effort.

Dr Riley said this is a broad-based partnership with a number of local and international institutions involved, including the International Trade Centre (ITC), with particular emphasis on coconuts.

“There is major interest in coconuts. The market value has increased significantly over the past few years and there is significant revenue to be generated from the sector, which has been plagued by lethal yellowing disease and bud rot caused by a fungus that negatively impacts the productivity of the sector. It is a high-value industry and we have a strong market for coconut-related products,” he said.