The Future of Bananas

The most eaten fruit in the world is facing possible extinction. While there are thousands of banana varieties, only one has become the West’s favourite – the Cavendish: our familiar curvy, yellow-skinned, seedless fruit. But our obsession with the Cavendish has come at a cost. Years of selection and humankinds’ migration across the world has left the Cavendish susceptible to disease and climate change. How can we save the future of the banana? Professor James Dale is leading the way. Based at Queensland University of Technology in Australia, he and his team have developed the world’s first genetically modified banana to be approved for commercial production. Based on the latest research and technological developments, from gene editing, cisgenics, AI design and biofortifiction, Dale shows how we could save the banana, while bringing to life its colourful history – the lucrative banana industry has resulted in political coups, drug trafficking and even murder.  Bananageddon can be prevented, Dale argues, if the world is ready to embrace a new future led by scientific change.