what is the genetically engineered ingredient in bananas

Expert response from Community Manager

Moderator for GMOAnswers.com

Friday, 16/10/2015 13:10

The banana available in U.S. grocery stores is a cultivar called the Cavendish banana. This banana is not currently available as a GM variety, or GMO, in the United States.

However, the Cavendish banana is under disease pressure from Fusarium wilt, and biotechnology could be one solution to the disease. Also, biotechnology is currently being used to improve bananas in Africa. For example, a research program in Uganda is working on a GM banana that could help prevent vitamin A deficiency.

You might also be interested to know that GM plants don’t have genetically engineered “ingredients” but are developed through a process in which a copy of a desired gene or section of genetic material from one plant or organism is placed in another plant. The only GMOs commercially available in the U.S. are the following nine crops: soybeans, corn (field and sweet), papaya, canola, cotton, alfalfa, sugar beets, summer squash and potato. A GM apple has also been approved to be grown in the United States.

Expert response from Community Manager

Moderator for GMOAnswers.com

Friday, 16/10/2015 13:10

The banana available in U.S. grocery stores is a cultivar called the Cavendish banana. This banana is not currently available as a GM variety, or GMO, in the United States.

However, the Cavendish banana is under disease pressure from Fusarium wilt, and biotechnology could be one solution to the disease. Also, biotechnology is currently being used to improve bananas in Africa. For example, a research program in Uganda is working on a GM banana that could help prevent vitamin A deficiency.

You might also be interested to know that GM plants don’t have genetically engineered “ingredients” but are developed through a process in which a copy of a desired gene or section of genetic material from one plant or organism is placed in another plant. The only GMOs commercially available in the U.S. are the following nine crops: soybeans, corn (field and sweet), papaya, canola, cotton, alfalfa, sugar beets, summer squash and potato. A GM apple has also been approved to be grown in the United States.