INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY MEETING

The Combined Final Coordination Meeting of RLA0063: Using Nuclear Techniques for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation and RLA5084: Developing Human Resources and Building Capacity of Member States in the Application of Nuclear Technology to Agriculture and the First Coordination. Additionally, the first convening of the meeting for RLA7027: Applying Nuclear Technology in Agriculture, Water Resource Management and the Environment in Caribbean Member States (CARICOM) organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was held. Meetings proceeded from 4 to 8 March in Vienna, Austria.

Representing Antigua and Barbuda were Dr. Linroy Christian (Designated Team Member and Country Counterpart for RLA7027), Mr. Ita Jah Simmons (Country Counterpart for RLA0063), and Miss Anika Aska (Country Counterpart for RLA 5084).

RLA 5084 is a technical corporation project that sought to develop human resources and capacity of member states in the application of nuclear technology to Agriculture in Latin America and Caribbean States from 2020-2023 with Antigua/Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Lucia and Trinidad/Tobago as participating countries.

The objectives of the project aim to increase awareness among members of the various applications of nuclear science and technology in the Agricultural sector as well as to develop their human resources and institutional capacity in the use of these technologies towards a regional effort to improve agricultural productivity.

RLA0063 aimed to build, strengthen and maintain human and institutional capacities for the safe, peaceful and secure use of nuclear technology to support climate resilience in the Caribbean states and was executed over the period 2020-2023.

Both RLA0063 and RLA5084 have now been officially concluded and lessons learned have been duly recorded and the capacity enhancement duly recognized.

Building on lessons learned in the preceding projects, RLA7027 represents a new regional project to strengthen human resources and institutional capacity for the application of nuclear technology in the areas of agriculture, water resource management and the environment in the Caribbean region. The project is set to be executed over 4 years (2024-2027). Dr Christian as the regional lead on the project is charged with facilitating robust regional participation, and as the Country Counterpart, ensuring the realization of benefits to Antigua and Barbuda.

National engagement on RLA7027 will commence in due course and the relevant stakeholders engaged throughout the execution process.

Dr. Linroy Christian           Miss Anika Aska                         Mr. Ita Jah Simmons