ReNuAL News Brief: November 2017Issue No. 9

New Insect Pest Control Laboratory inaugurated

It only took 15 months to transform an empty site of dirt into a new building, surrounded by grass and trees. On 25 September 2017, IAEA Director General (DG) Yukiya Amano inaugurated the new Insect Pest Control Laboratory (IPCL). Representatives of more than 35 Member States joined the celebration in Seibersdorf and toured the new laboratory. With over 1,700 square meters of new laboratory space, the new facility will substantially increase the Agency’s ability to assist Member States in controlling harmful insect pests.

“With new and modern facilities, the IPCL will in future be able to do even more to help Member States control insect pests that endanger our crops, our livestock and our health.” said Director General Amano during the event. He was joined in delivering remarks by Indonesian Ambassador and Chair of the IAEA Board of Governors HE Darmansjah Djumala, Austrian Ambassador HE Christine Stix-Hackl, German Ambassador and Co-chair of the Friends of ReNuAL HE Friedrich Däuble, South African Ambassador

and Co-chair of the Friends of ReNuAL HE Tebogo Joseph Seokolo and Assistant Director General Ren Wang of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The transition from the current IPCL to the new IPCL will begin as planned in the first quarter of 2018.

Flexible Modular Laboratory Construction Fully FundedThe IAEA will be able to complete construction of the second new laboratory facility, the Flexible Modular Laboratory (FML), thanks to recent extra-budgetary contributions from Member States. Since May 2017, €5.7 million have been raised for ReNuAL+ construction to achieve full funding for the Animal Production and Health Laboratory, the third planned laboratory of the FML. Construction of the first two laboratories is fully funded under ReNuAL. FML construction began in April 2017 and is planned for completion at the end of 2018.

Renovation of the Nuclear Applications Laboratories

Director General Amano leads the ribbon cutting ceremony and is joined by the ambassadors and FAO representative who also delivered remarks during the event.

Nuclear Science and Instrumentation LaboratoryDivision of Physical and Chemical Sciences

International Atomic Energy Agency Telephone No.: (+43)-1-2600-0 Vienna International Centre, PO Box 100 Telefax No.: (+43)-1-26007 1400 Vienna, Austria Email: official.mail@iaea.org

The recent pledges and contributions for construction have been made by Belgium (€200 000), Germany (€1 million), Japan (€1 million), Norway (€400 000), the United States (€3 million) and Thailand (€5 000), and an additional contribution of US $100 000 was made by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Furthermore, the USA has pledged US $230 000 to fund several equipment items being sought under ReNuAL+. In total, the IAEA has raised over €32 million in extra-budgetary funds plus in-kind contributions for ReNuAL and ReNuAL+ from 31 Member States and other donors.

Donors were recognized at an event during the IAEA’s General Conference that featured the unveiling of the ReNuAL/ReNuAL+ donor wall. Director General Amano delivered remarks along with representatives of the Co-chairs of the Friends of ReNuAL: Ms. Thembisile C. Majola, Deputy Minister of Energy for South Africa, and Mr. Thorsten Herdan, Director General for Energy Policy of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy of Germany. The donor wall will be permanently displayed in the new IPCL in Seibersdorf. The upcoming focus for resource mobilization is now on outfitting the laboratories through procurement and partnerships as well as enhancement of the laboratories remaining in the current buildings.

Partnering with the Private Sector to Strengthen Radiotherapy ServicesA new medical linear accelerator (Linac), that will be at the IAEA’s disposal for non-clinical use under a partnership agreement with manufacturer Varian Medical Systems next year, will significantly enhance the assistance the IAEA can provide to hospitals around

the world on the safe and effective use of radiotherapy. The agreement was signed during this year’s IAEA General Conference and is a positive example of how the IAEA is working with non-traditional donors.

In October 2017, the United States pledged to fund a five-year maintenance and service contract for the Linac as an in-kind contribution to the IAEA. This will ensure the safe and effective operation of the Linac at the IAEA’s Dosimetry Laboratory in Seibersdorf.

Construction of a bunker to house the Linac is fully funded, and preparatory works for the bunker’s construction began in August 2017. The bunker is scheduled for completion in the 2nd quarter of 2018, when the Linac is also scheduled for delivery.

Another private company, Shimadzu Corporation, has come forward to support the enhancement of the laboratories in Seibersdorf: The Food and Environment Protection Laboratory will be able to increase its efforts to help Member States test for contaminants in food thanks to an in-kind donation of sophisticated detection equipment. Director General Amano signed the agreement for the donation with Shimadzu Chairman Mr. Akira Nakamoto in Tokyo on 2 October.

The IAEA will use the new machine to train scientists from all over the world in applying state-of-the-art analytical methods to test for contaminants, such as pesticides and veterinary drug residues, in basic food products. It will also support IAEA research on reliable methods to confirm the origin of food and to test for food adulteration. The donated machine is a liquid chromatograph with triple quadrupole mass spectrometric capabilities (LC-MS/MS).

ReNuAL and ReNuAL+ are initiatives to modernize laboratories in Seibersdorf, Austria that are managed by the IAEA’s Department of Nuclear Science and Applications. These laboratories strengthen Member States’ capacities to use nuclear and related techniques in food and agriculture, human health, the environment, and scientific instrumentation. For further information on these initatives, please go to the new ReNuAL webpage: https://www.iaea.org/about/organizational-structure/department-of-nuclear-sciences-and-applications/seibersdorf-laboratories/renual Email: nuclearapplications@iaea.org

A Linear Accelerator will soon be available in Seibersdorf.

Director General Amano and Member State delegations at the unveiling of the ReNuAL donor wall.

Equipment Manufacturer Donates to Support Food Safety