Australian regulators have approved a genetically modified banana variety known as QCAV-4, designed to resist the devastating fungus Panama disease tropical race 4 (TR4).

The approval by both the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator and Food Standards Australia New Zealand marks the first time a whole genetically-modified fruit has been authorised in Australia and worldwide.

Developed by researchers at Queensland University of Technology over more than two decades, QCAV-4 incorporates a single gene from a wild banana species that triggers the plant’s immune response to TR4.

Field trials in the Northern Territory have shown the plants surviving in infected soil for more than seven years—far surpassing the lifespan of conventional Cavendish bananas in such conditions.

Although food derived from QCAV-4 has been deemed safe and equivalent to existing bananas in nutritional value, commercial rollout is still described as a “safety net” rather than immediate replacement.

The national banana industry remains free of widespread TR4 outbreak, and growers are cautious about consumer acceptance of a genetically-modified fruit.

Label-law will require fresh QCAV-4 bananas and derived products to carry “genetically modified” on their packaging.

The approval has global significance given that the Cavendish variety dominates international trade and TR4 is already undermining plantations across Asia and Latin America.

While Australian growers say there are no immediate plans to commercialise QCAV-4 domestically, several international growers have expressed strong interest.

The key remaining challenge is consumer uptake of a novel genetic technology in staple fruit.

With the banana crop worth about US$20 billion globally and TR4 estimated to threaten up to 80 per cent of production in affected regions, QCAV-4 may represent a turning point in crop security.

Whether the variety achieves commercial scale will depend on growers’ willingness and consumers’ acceptance in the months ahead.