Credit...Illustration by Sam Whitney/The New York Times; source photographs by wwing, Fotoforce, Clara Bastian, DaydreamsGirl and Mercedes Rancaño Otero, via Getty ...

This essay is part of What to Eat on a Burning Planet, a series exploring bold ideas to secure our food supply. Read more about this project in a note from Eliza Barclay, Opinion’s climate editor.

Food irradiation is a gentle, non-invasive technique that uses radiation to keep food fresh and safe to eat. It eliminates microbes and controls insects and other pests while preserving the ...