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Scientists see hope in race to save the banana

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By illuminem briefings

· 2 min read


illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Wall Street Journal or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Chiquita has developed a new banana strain, Yelloway 1, resistant to one of the two major diseases threatening global banana crops, and showing potential against the second
In Australia, researchers have also created a genetically modified banana resistant to both diseases
These advancements aim to protect the Cavendish variety, which represents 99% of global banana exports

🔭 The context: Bananas have been threatened by Tropical Race 4 (TR4) and Black Sigatoka, which could wipe out the Cavendish crop as happened to the Gros Michel variety in the 1950s
The sterility of bananas makes breeding disease-resistant varieties difficult, but scientists are racing to develop a solution

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Bananas are a critical food crop and source of income globally Developing disease-resistant strains could safeguard food security and prevent future agricultural crises

⏭️ What's next: Yelloway 1 bananas will be tested in the Philippines later this year, and if successful, further breeding will aim to replicate the taste and appearance of the current Cavendish bananas

💬 One quote: “If in a few years time you don’t see any change in your banana, we’ve done a great job.” — Peter Stedman, Chiquita

📈 One stat: Cavendish bananas account for 99% of the $14.4 billion global banana export market

Click for more news covering the latest on sustainable agriculture and climate change adaptation

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