Genetically Modified
Bananas Could Solve
Panama Plight
The Australian Banana
Growers Council says
developing a
genetically-modified
banana plant may solve
the problem of panama
disease that has
devastated the industry
in the Northern
Territory.
The growers have agreed
that part of the funds
collected from a
national levy on banana
sales will be directed
to panama research.
The Council's Tom Day
says more than 85 per
cent of Australia's
banana crop was wiped
out when Cyclone Larry
hit Queensland, so it is
important to diversify
and develop the
Territory industry.
"You've got the water,
you've got the land,
you've got the space,"
he said.
"The potential is there
to have a thriving
banana industry there,
but I think with the
panama [disease] we've
really got a problem
unless we start to
tackle it head on."
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