Nuclear Applications in Agriculture in China: Where We Are and What’ s Next

Nuclear applications in agriculture constitute an important component and a representative form of agricultural new quality productivity. Through a systematic review of the historical trajectory and contemporary practices of such applications, this study found that their emergence and development have benefited from the strategic opportunities created by major national policy decisions in different periods. China has achieved notable progress on several key fronts, including mutation breeding in plants, isotope tracing, irradiation processing of agricultural products, and the sterile insect technique. At the same time, these areas still leave room for further improvement in basic research, indigenous transformation, and industrialization. Looking ahead, the future development of nuclear technology applications in agriculture lies in proactively serving national strategic needs, integrating with emerging technologies across disciplines, expanding diversified application scenarios, and pursuing deeper international cooperation. These directions also embody the strategic value of such applications as a national innovation resource.