In Rwanda, a significant advancement has been made in the battle against the Panama Disease affecting bananas, through the development of genetically modified (GM) varieties that exhibit resistance to this fatal affliction.
Athanase Nduwumuremyi, a prominent figure at the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) and the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB) Rwanda coordinator, highlighted the potential of GM crops to mitigate food insecurity and malnutrition. "There is a hopeful outlook regarding the potential use of GM crops now that parliament has passed legislation permitting their cultivation," Nduwumuremyi stated.
The Rwandan parliament recently approved a bill in December 2023, regulating the cultivation of GMO crops. This biotechnological approach promises a faster development of new crop varieties, potentially reducing the time from over a decade to merely two years. Furthermore, in Australia, scientists at Queensland University of Technology have submitted the Cavendish banana, a genetically modified fruit, for regulatory approval. This submission marks a significant step towards the potential global approval of the first GM banana, offering a possible safeguard against the Panama Disease.
Source: geneticliteracyproject.org