GM bananas premiere in Australia

(26 March 2010) After a year of growth in far north Queensland, the first Australian GM bananas genetically modified to contain increased levels of pro-vitamin A and iron have been picked and tested.

Planted in the South Johnstone area of Queensland, the GM bananas were part of a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation project to address mineral and vitamin deficiencies in human nutrition is East Africa.

As a collaborative effort between the Austrailan Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and the Ugandan National Agriculture Research Organisation (NARO). Genes developed in Australia are placed into varieties of East African banana.

Participating scientists from both institutions have expressed excitement over the first results. At least one combination of genes is said to be "working really well for pro-vitamin A", according to Professor James Dale from the QUT. The accumulation of iron in the fruit will be the subject of the next assessment.

Professor Dale and Professor Wilberforce Tushemereirwe from NARO have both raised the possibility of micro-nutrient-enriched bananas reaching East African tables within five years.

See also on GMO-Compass:

• Fruit and Vegetables: Bananas