Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an application to permit a genetically modified (GM) variety of Cavendish banana developed by the Queensland University of Technology. If approved, it will be a world-first for the fruit.
The QCAV-4 banana is the first Australian GM fruit to be submitted for assessment, QUT said, and had the potential to provide a safety net against the Panama Disease tropical race 4 (TR4) which threatens the world’s US$20 billion banana industry.
QCAV-4 is currently being assessed by the FSANZ and the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator.
FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said: “This is the first whole GM fruit assessed by FSANZ and, if approved, would also be a world-first approval for a GM banana,” she said.
Cuthbert said safety assessments were a key part of the approval process for all GM foods.
“The FSANZ assessment for the GM banana considered the specific genetic modification process, potential unintended changes, the nutrient content compared to a non-GM food of its type and any potential allergic or toxic effects in humans,” she said.
QUT distinguished professor James Dale and his team have been working on developing and growing genetically modified Cavendish bananas for more than 20 years.
“The devastating Panama Disease TR4 is caused by a soil-borne fungus that stays in the ground for more than 50 years, wiping out banana crops and destroying farms for generations.
“It is a huge problem. It has devastated Cavendish plantations in many parts of the world and could cripple the Cavendish banana export industry worldwide,” Dale said.
Panama Disease TR4 has already crippled Cavendish banana production in Asia, started to take a foothold in South America, decimated the Northern Territory commercial banana industry, and been found in parts of North Queensland.
Field trials that have been underway for six years in the Northern Territory have proven to be highly resistant to the disease.
QCAV-4 is a Cavendish Grand Nain banana that has been bioengineered with a single gene, RGA2, from the wild, south-east Asian banana, Musa acuminata ssp malaccensis. Cavendish bananas already contain the RGA2 gene, but it is dormant.
“About 95 per cent of Australia’s bananas are grown in Queensland, and Cavendish banana accounts for 97 per cent of production.
“Apart from providing a genuine protection against Panama Disease TR4 for the world’s export industry, QCAV-4 is a safety net for Australia’s $1.3 billion industry, which includes protected employment for 18,000 Queenslanders involved in banana production,” he said.
Cuthbert said: “Our safety assessment found no potential public health and safety concerns. The GM banana is as safe as non-GM banana varieties.”
Cuthbert said if the application was approved, food derived from this GM banana would be permitted for sale in Australia, including as fresh fruit, dried or frozen banana or banana pulp.
“Food from this banana line would need to be labelled as ‘genetically modified’ so consumers can make informed choices about the food they eat,” she said.
“Most importantly, consumers can be assured all approved GM food has gone through vigorous scientific assessment to ensure it is safe.”
Submissions close at 6pm (Canberra time) on 8 November 2023.
