BRIN Reveals Progress in Nuclear Technology for Food and Health

The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) showcased its nuclear technology research results during an audience with President Prabowo Subianto at the Palace in Jakarta. BRIN Head Arif Satria said the technology presented falls under peaceful nuclear applications aimed at energy, food, and health.

“So regarding nuclear, it is not only for energy; nuclear also includes food and health applications,” Arif told reporters at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Thursday (6/8/2026).

For health, BRIN is developing radiopharmaceuticals — medicines containing radioactive substances used in nuclear medicine to diagnose and treat cancer.

“So now we have already developed radiopharmaceuticals, and this will be very important for identifying cancer as well as for treating cancer,” Arif said.

Meanwhile, nuclear technology in the food sector is being developed for preservation. He confirmed that BRIN will continue to develop this nuclear potential.

“When we export fruits, several countries require irradiation so that the fruit products last longer, and we have now developed that facility at Pasar Jumat, at BRIN, and also in Serpong, which is very important for improving the quality of our export products,” he said.

Arif emphasised that BRIN continues to develop nuclear technology comprehensively. This is an anticipatory measure should Indonesia decide to develop nuclear power plants (PLTN) in the future.

“We are striving to master the entire chain: uranium and thorium mining and purification, fuel fabrication, reactor technology, safety, radiation metrology, and waste processing,” he said.

“BRIN must prepare nuclear technology capabilities from now, so that when Indonesia decides to enter the nuclear power plant era, we do not start entirely from zero and do not merely become technology buyers,” Arif continued.