The Role of Nuclear Technology in the First Harvest of Superior Rice Varieties in Subang
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SUBANG – The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) carried out the first harvest of breeder seed varieties of superior rice developed through irradiation mutation breeding in Subang, West Java, on Thursday (30/4/2026). This strategic step reinforces the role of nuclear technology in accelerating national food self-sufficiency, a priority programme of President Prabowo Subianto.
BRIN Chief, Prof Arif Satria, emphasised that the use of nuclear technology through gamma ray radiation is no longer merely theoretical research but a tangible contribution to addressing the global food crisis. “What we are harvesting today is a key instrument in realising President Prabowo’s food self-sufficiency target. With superior varieties from irradiation, we can significantly increase the crop index and yield per hectare,” said Arif Satria at the production site of CV Fiona Benih Mandiri.
According to Arif, nuclear technology enables researchers to broadly and safely enhance the genetic diversity of crops to improve plant characteristics with weaknesses, such as overly tall stems or long harvest times.
Induction Mutation: The Science Behind Nuclear Seeds
The mutation breeding technique using gamma ray irradiation (Co-60) works by administering a specific dose of radiation energy to rice seeds to trigger changes in DNA structure, which are then rigorously selected by breeders. Unlike Genetic Engineering (GMO), irradiation mutation results do not introduce foreign genes, making them completely safe for consumption and environmentally friendly.
Director of Research and Innovation Utilisation in Industry at BRIN, Dr. Mulyadi Sinung Harjono, explained that the activity in Subang focuses on multiplying breeder seeds (yellow label) with genetic purity approaching 100 percent. “Breeder seeds are pure seeds under direct breeder supervision. From the core seeds we plant here, they will produce seeds that can meet the needs of thousands of hectares of farmers’ rice fields in the future,” he stated.
This multiplication process involves a team of researchers from the Food Crop Research Centre who intensively monitor growth. One crucial stage is roguing—the removal of deviant plants—to ensure seed purity is maintained before distribution to the seed industry.
Modern Agriculture
In the world of modern agriculture, such approaches are essential because the challenges faced are never singular.
However, innovation would be meaningless if it does not reach farmers’ hands. This is where downstreaming becomes important, a stage that often serves as a weak point in the research ecosystem.
BRIN is attempting to address this challenge through partnerships with the private sector. Through the licensing scheme for plant variety protection, research results are encouraged to enter the national seed industry system.
This collaboration demonstrates that the success of innovation is not only determined by research quality but also by the ability to build an ecosystem that allows those results to develop and be widely used. The seed industry serves as a crucial bridge connecting the laboratory to agricultural fields.
Mulyadi emphasised that this partnership is key to ensuring research does not stop at mere scientific publications.
With industry support, superior seeds can be produced in large quantities and distributed more quickly and efficiently. At this point, science begins to show its most tangible face: providing solutions that can be directly felt by society.
Amid various challenges facing the agricultural sector, from climate change to land conversion, innovation-based approaches like this offer new hope.
This does not merely offer a shortcut but shows that with investment in science, food security can be built more solidly.
The harvest in Subang serves as a reminder that the future of food is not only determined by land area or workforce numbers but also by the ability to manage knowledge and technology.
When science, policy, and industry align, efforts towards food sovereignty are no longer mere rhetoric but a process that moves forward steadily, slowly but surely.