Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture
Encyclopedia
The Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture, known as NIFA, is one of four agriculture and food irradiation
research institute managed by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
. The institute is tasked to carry out research in Crop production and protection, soil fertility, water management and conservation and value addition of food resources, employing nuclear and other contemporary techniques.
NIFA was the brainchild of Ishrat Hussain Usmani
, bureaucrat and chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
, however due to economic difficulties, the plans were not carried out until 1980s. In 1982, Munir Ahmad Khan
led the establishment of the institute and its first director was Abdul Rashid
who revolutionized the institute.
The NIFA administers Cobalt-60 radiation source, Laser absorption spectrometer
and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry, Near-infrared spectrometer and Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy.
A library was opened in 1990, and recently, the institute has acquired 75 acres of land at CHASNUPP-I site.
Food irradiation
Food irradiation is the process of exposing food to ionizing radiation to destroy microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, or insects that might be present in the food. Further applications include sprout inhibition, delay of ripening, increase of juice yield, and improvement of re-hydration...
research institute managed by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, , is an administrative governmental and autonomous science and technology governmental department of Pakistan, responsible for development of nuclear energy and development of nuclear power sector in Pakistan...
. The institute is tasked to carry out research in Crop production and protection, soil fertility, water management and conservation and value addition of food resources, employing nuclear and other contemporary techniques.
NIFA was the brainchild of Ishrat Hussain Usmani
Ishrat Hussain Usmani
Ishrat Hussain Usmani, , , , best known as Dr. I. H. Usmani, was a Pakistani bureaucrat and an atomic physicist who was the chairman of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission from 1960 to 1972; as well as the Co-chairman of the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission...
, bureaucrat and chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, , is an administrative governmental and autonomous science and technology governmental department of Pakistan, responsible for development of nuclear energy and development of nuclear power sector in Pakistan...
, however due to economic difficulties, the plans were not carried out until 1980s. In 1982, Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan , HI, was a Pakistani nuclear engineer and a scientist who served as the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission from 1972 to 1991...
led the establishment of the institute and its first director was Abdul Rashid
Abdul Rashid (agriculturist)
Abdul Rashid, , is a Pakistani Nuclear and Bioscientist, currently a member of the Biosciences division of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council . He was previously Director General of the National Agricultural Research Center, from 2006 — 2008...
who revolutionized the institute.
The NIFA administers Cobalt-60 radiation source, Laser absorption spectrometer
Laser absorption spectrometry
Laser absorption spectrometry refers to techniques that use lasers to assess the concentration or amount of a species in gas phase by absorption spectrometry ....
and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry, Near-infrared spectrometer and Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy.
A library was opened in 1990, and recently, the institute has acquired 75 acres of land at CHASNUPP-I site.