BRIN: Gamma Irradiation Can Maintain The Quality Of Indonesian Food Exports

The Integrated Laboratory for Oceanographic Research (LATERIO) of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). (ANTARA-HO-Humas BRIN)

JAKARTA - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) said that exposure to radiation or gamma-ray irradiation can be used to maintain the quality of Indonesian food exports.

This utilization is by firing Cobalt-60 gamma rays at foodstuffs such as fruits and vegetables so that they can kill pests.

"Food food is radiationd in the irradiator, so that pests are dead or unable to reproduce," said BRIN Center for Radiation Research Research Research Center, Murni Indarwatmi in Jakarta, Thursday, October 26, which was confiscated by Antara.

He said the method referred to as the irradiation fitosanitary was considered more effective and optimal than other disinfestation methods.

This is because the fitosanitari process uses gamma irradiation, is effective in killing pests and does not need to open product packaging that will be introduced first.

According to him, the concept of fitosanitari is very useful for maintaining the quality of Indonesia's exports, because importing countries require that the products sent must be free from pests and pathogens.

"This is practical because gamma irradiation is high, so there is no need to open the packaging, it can be immediately fired from the product that has been packaged," he said.

Furthermore, he said, despite using radioactive exposure, the concept of irradiation fitosanitary is harmless, and environmentally friendly. This is because gamma irradiation does not leave residue.

Murni said that in addition to being able to be used to maintain the quality of Indonesia's exports, fitosanitari can also be used to maintain imported products that enter the country to protect against pests and diseases from outside.

"It can also be applied on the other hand for imports, so that Indonesia does not enter pests and diseases from outside," he said.