Disease-resistant banana could become Costa Rica's first GM product

The Costa Rican industry is awaiting the market launch of the country's first genetically modified (GM) product, a variety of banana that would also be resistant to diseases. The scientists responsible for this advance are expected to release the crop by the end of the year. According to a report from the United States Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) in San José, the new variety would offer resistance to black Sigatoka and Fusarium wilt, diseases that reduce the yield and profitability of farmers around the world. The Costa Rican Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that initial steps have been taken to advance research efforts. "There is the intention of a company to request approval from the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE) in a research context, to begin a study process on black Sigatoka and validation of promising plant traits for fusarium wilt in the future, but to the date the request has not been specified, according to the SFE deputy directorate," the ministry wrote to ...