Project goal

The main goal of this project is to increase smallholder banana production by reducing losses from BXW disease and to build local capacity for improving bananas using modern biotechnological tools.

 Expected results

1. Transgenic banana resistant to BXW disease available for prelaunch.
2. An efficient transformation and regeneration system established for recalcitrant EAHB cultivars.
3. Transgenic banana events with activated endogenous Musa defense genes selected for multilocation field trials.
4. DNA-free genome-editing system developed for banana.
5. Second-generation genome-edited (GE) banana ready for field trials in Kenya.
6. Two African Ph.D. students trained in genome editing of bananas.
7. The capacity of African researchers for genome-editing of bananas built.
8. Local researchers empowered to communicate and advocate biotech banana products.
9. A regulatory strategy developed for the commercialization of GM and GE BXW-resistant bananas.
10. Decision obtained from regulators in Kenya that SDN-1 type GE banana with no foreign gene integration will not be regulated as transgenic banana.
11. BananaTracker, a web-based tool, available to document biotech products’ full life cycle.
12. Knowledge and information on GM and GE bananas to be shared openly with researchers, regulators, and the public.
13. Communication materials (website, success stories, and videos) related to BXW-resistant bananas available to the public.