Given the importance of the banana (and plantain) to food security in dozens of tropical countries, as well as its importance in world trade, there is a surprising lack of scientific research being done. The leading institution, which is a network linking the main centres of conventional research around the world, is INIBAP, International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain, whose mission is to improve banana and plantain production for the benefit of smallholder farmers. INIBAP's focus is not therefore on world trade in dessert bananas.

A global consortium of publicly funded institutes announced plans in 2001 to sequence the banana genome within the next five years. The Global Musa Genomics Consortium, led by the International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain (INIBAP), is hoping to use the new genetic data to enable farmers to grow bananas that are able to resist the black sigatoka
fungus as well as other diseases and pests.

The scientists are intending to sequence the genes of a wild banana from East Asia which should contain useful genes that could be added to edible varieties. According to Emile Frison, former director of INIBAP, the consortium will focus on discoveries that will benefit the small farmers who grow 85% of the world's bananas, mostly for their own consumption, and added that 'one rule for joining the consortium is that any invention developed through the project and protected by patent will be made available through a royalty-free licence'.

Some NGOs have given a cautious welcome to the development. 'The establishment of a public research initiative is welcome' said Antonio Hill of Oxfam, but added that researchers should examine beforehand the socio-economic impacts of new varieties to ensure they do not end up
damaging the livelihoods of the people they were intending to help.Previous to this, there was relatively little work into applying genetic modification technologies to bananas. An initiative by the World Bank's Banana Improvement Programme was closed down when it became clear that the
major private companies were not prepared to cooperate with each other in this field.  But as the following company statements from Del Monte, Chiquita, Dole and Fyffes on biotechnology reveal, there is also a divergence of opinion over whether to proceed at all with such research.

Del Monte Says No To GMOs

"Fresh Del Monte Produce Company continually works to ensure that the highest quality produce is provided to our consumers in the most efficient and environmentally friendly manner.  Del Monte does not produce or market any food products that have been developed by means of genetic engineering, and we do not intend to sell genetically modified products until such time that they become publicly accepted as safe, wholesome and desirable." Source: Del Monte Fresh Produce (UK), October 1999

Chiquita Researching Banana Biotechnology

"Chiquita Brands is committed to the protection of the environment in the countries where it operates.  As part of this policy, the company has focused much of its R&D efforts towards the integrated production of bananas, including the reduction or elimination of agrochemical use whenever possible.  The company is actively exploring alternative ways for control of banana pests and diseases, including more efficient application methods, biological control, organic compounds and sanitary cultural practices.

"Bananas are produced in a tropical environment, where high humidity, high temperatures and abundant rainfall are present all year-round. These conditions also promote the growth of pests and diseases, mostly fungi and nematodes. Several foreign pests have been introduced to the banana farms in Central America through the movement of plant materials over the year. The two requiring the most attention are the fungus Micosphaerella fijiensis (or black sigatoka) and the nematode Radopholus similus.  In our efforts to determine the most environmentally acceptable methods to control these and other pests and diseases, Chiquita is exploring many avenues of research.  One of these avenues is the potential use of biotechnology. The possibility of producing nutritious and safe fruits without the dependence on agrochemicals is a very attractive proposition that combines the protection of the environment and the production of safe, wholesome products. The potential benefits are numerous and far-reaching.

"Chiquita does not currently commercialise any biotechnological products.  Chiquita takes food safety, quality and environmental issues as well as consumer concerns very seriously.  It is Chiquita's policy to fully investigate the impact of the possible use of biotechnology on all of these
levels prior to any potential commercial introduction."
Source: Tesco Customer Services, August 1999

Dole

Dole was asked on two occasions to supply a written statement on its policy regarding transgenic bananas, but was unable to do so. A spokeswoman for Dole Europe did not deny that the company was actively investigating the full potential of transgenics in Honduras, but stressed that no fruit currently produced or traded by the company are the result of GM technologies. She also noted that Dole is well aware of consumer concerns about the technology.
Source: Dole Europe, February 2000

Fyffes

British shoppers don't want GM bananas under any circumstances, according to a survey commissioned by Fyffes. In the survey 769 people were asked if they would buy GM bananas if they were ever on sale in Britain. A resounding 86 per cent said no. When asked if they would buy GM bananas if they were proved safe 82 per cent said no. Even if GM bananas had been proved safe and would reduce the amount of chemicals used in farming 82 per cent still said they still would not buy them.
Source: Living Earth magazine, Oct-Dec 2000

...But The Research Goes On

While both the banana companies and retailers are understandably cautious consumers so far (and also by some religious leaders), research is continuing.In 2003 Harvard University's Centre for International Development confirmed that field trials of transgenic bananas had taken place in Honduras in 2002. A trial of GM bananas in Nigeria was put on hold in 2003 while the government reviewed its legislation.

While transgenics remain highly controversial, other biotechnologies, notably propagation through tissue culture, are much less so. A government-funded laboratory was set up in Uganda in August 2003, using cell culture in a disease-free environment. In 2004 India developed new techniques for early detection of viruses, allowing them to use tissue culture propagation techniques without running the risk of spreading viral infections to plantations.

By 2005, tissue culture was being more widely used. Farmers in the Churan district of Kenya - with funding from a local foundation backed by chemical giant Dupont - saw their productivity double thanks to new tissue culture technology. Previously farmers had exchanged seedlings with each other, spreading diseases in the process.Field trials of disease-free Cavendish clones, produced using tissue culture were also underway in Sindh province in Pakistan in 2006.

Further Reading

Common Fund For Commodities: Partner In Sustainable Development, Amsterdam, May 2003

Better Bananas With Biotechnology? by James Brown

Websites

Information on the genetic imprint of bananas, diseases, pests and insects from research institution INIBAP - International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain

CAB International - research and training in biological science - search under bananas for details of research areas in plant disease and nematodes

The Banana, Plantain And Pineapple Programme Of CIRAD - a French scientific organization specializing in agricultural research for the tropics and subtropics.

AgriFor - catalogue search for 'bananas' of quality reviewed Internet resources in agriculture, food and forestry.