The genetic modification process resulted in the identification and selection of banana genes that could be used to enhance pro-vitamin A in banana fruit.
Researchers at the Queensland University of Technology have created the world’s first golden orange fleshed banana which is rich in pro- vitamin A and will help tackle micronutrient deficiency in Uganda.
The genetic modification process resulted in the identification and selection of banana genes that could be used to enhance pro-vitamin A in banana fruit.
The research, backed by $10 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation, ultimately aimed to improve the nutritional content of bananas in Uganda where the fruit is the major staple food.
The research team tried and tested hundreds of different genetic variations in the laboratory and in field trials in Queensland. The genes have been sent to Uganda in test tubes, where they have been inserted into Ugandian bananas for field trials.
Ugandian farmers will begin growing the pro-vitamin A rich bananas in 2021.
