REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SUBANG \u2013 The National Research and Innovation Agency\n(BRIN) carried out the first harvest of breeder seed varieties of\nsuperior rice developed through irradiation mutation breeding in Subang,\nWest Java, on Thursday (30\/4\/2026). This strategic step reinforces the\nrole of nuclear technology in accelerating national food\nself-sufficiency, a priority programme of President Prabowo\nSubianto.<\/p>\n
BRIN Chief, Prof Arif Satria, emphasised that the use of nuclear\ntechnology through gamma ray radiation is no longer merely theoretical\nresearch but a tangible contribution to addressing the global food\ncrisis. \u201cWhat we are harvesting today is a key instrument in realising\nPresident Prabowo\u2019s food self-sufficiency target. With superior\nvarieties from irradiation, we can significantly increase the crop index\nand yield per hectare,\u201d said Arif Satria at the production site of CV\nFiona Benih Mandiri.<\/p>\n
According to Arif, nuclear technology enables researchers to broadly\nand safely enhance the genetic diversity of crops to improve plant\ncharacteristics with weaknesses, such as overly tall stems or long\nharvest times.<\/p>\n
Induction Mutation: The Science Behind Nuclear Seeds<\/p>\n
The mutation breeding technique using gamma ray irradiation (Co-60)\nworks by administering a specific dose of radiation energy to rice seeds\nto trigger changes in DNA structure, which are then rigorously selected\nby breeders. Unlike Genetic Engineering (GMO), irradiation mutation\nresults do not introduce foreign genes, making them completely safe for\nconsumption and environmentally friendly.<\/p>\n
Director of Research and Innovation Utilisation in Industry at BRIN,\nDr.\u00a0Mulyadi Sinung Harjono, explained that the activity in Subang\nfocuses on multiplying breeder seeds (yellow label) with genetic purity\napproaching 100 percent. \u201cBreeder seeds are pure seeds under direct\nbreeder supervision. From the core seeds we plant here, they will\nproduce seeds that can meet the needs of thousands of hectares of\nfarmers\u2019 rice fields in the future,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
This multiplication process involves a team of researchers from the\nFood Crop Research Centre who intensively monitor growth. One crucial\nstage is roguing\u2014the removal of deviant plants\u2014to ensure seed purity is\nmaintained before distribution to the seed industry.<\/p>\n
Modern Agriculture<\/p>\n
In the world of modern agriculture, such approaches are essential\nbecause the challenges faced are never singular.<\/p>\n
However, innovation would be meaningless if it does not reach\nfarmers\u2019 hands. This is where downstreaming becomes important, a stage\nthat often serves as a weak point in the research ecosystem.<\/p>\n
BRIN is attempting to address this challenge through partnerships\nwith the private sector. Through the licensing scheme for plant variety\nprotection, research results are encouraged to enter the national seed\nindustry system.<\/p>\n
This collaboration demonstrates that the success of innovation is not\nonly determined by research quality but also by the ability to build an\necosystem that allows those results to develop and be widely used. The\nseed industry serves as a crucial bridge connecting the laboratory to\nagricultural fields.<\/p>\n
Mulyadi emphasised that this partnership is key to ensuring research\ndoes not stop at mere scientific publications.<\/p>\n
With industry support, superior seeds can be produced in large\nquantities and distributed more quickly and efficiently. At this point,\nscience begins to show its most tangible face: providing solutions that\ncan be directly felt by society.<\/p>\n
Amid various challenges facing the agricultural sector, from climate\nchange to land conversion, innovation-based approaches like this offer\nnew hope.<\/p>\n
This does not merely offer a shortcut but shows that with investment\nin science, food security can be built more solidly.<\/p>\n
The harvest in Subang serves as a reminder that the future of food is\nnot only determined by land area or workforce numbers but also by the\nability to manage knowledge and technology.<\/p>\n
When science, policy, and industry align, efforts towards food\nsovereignty are no longer mere rhetoric but a process that moves forward\nsteadily, slowly but surely.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-role-of-nuclear-technology-in-the-first-harvest-of-superior-rice-varieties-in-subang-1777542760", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }