Mr WOOD - 2007-10-11
I understand the horticultural section of the Coastal Plains Research Station has an area set aside to evaluate banana varieties that may be resistant to Panama disease. As you know, Panama disease has basically wiped out banana production in the Top End. Could you say whether the control area, that is the area not affected by Panama disease, has been infected? How did it become infected? Will the trials continue? How much private money has gone into these trials?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. As he quite rightly pointed out, Panama disease has had a crippling effect on the banana or plantains industry in the Northern Territory. It is caused by a fungal pathogen that mainly comes from the soil, and it is spread within properties and from property to property through the cultivation of the soil or soil transfer and, obviously, infected plants.
It was first detected in Australia in June 1997 on a commercial block at Berry Springs, and over the next couple of years, there were more properties detected. Over a period of about five years, there were seven properties in total that had contracted the disease. Currently, all but one commercial property in the Northern Territory is being quarantined from the disease. I am pleased to say that the Consultative Committee on Exotic Plant Pests and Diseases plus the Primary Industry Standing Committee have agreed to a cost-shared funding situation to contain the disease in the current situation on those properties.
There has been some funding provided into research at Coastal Plains Research Station, as the member quite rightly pointed out. The funding has been provided for research into varieties that are tolerant to the disease. It is a six-year project. Thirty-five banana and plantain varieties have been screened. Three have been found tolerant but, unfortunately, they are not of commercial value. I understand the taste just does not come up to the old Cavendish. The genetics of those plants are valuable, however.
The project is funded by the Northern Territory government, local banana growers and the Australian Banana Growers Association to the tune of around $1m. Industry is keen to continue that testing of the new varieties in the hope that they may turn up a suitable Cavendish replacement. The department is seeking to secure extra funds for the new research to improve soil health and better management in the hope that they can ensure the industry becomes a stable and profitable industry in the not too distant future.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. As he quite rightly pointed out, Panama disease has had a crippling effect on the banana or plantains industry in the Northern Territory. It is caused by a fungal pathogen that mainly comes from the soil, and it is spread within properties and from property to property through the cultivation of the soil or soil transfer and, obviously, infected plants.
It was first detected in Australia in June 1997 on a commercial block at Berry Springs, and over the next couple of years, there were more properties detected. Over a period of about five years, there were seven properties in total that had contracted the disease. Currently, all but one commercial property in the Northern Territory is being quarantined from the disease. I am pleased to say that the Consultative Committee on Exotic Plant Pests and Diseases plus the Primary Industry Standing Committee have agreed to a cost-shared funding situation to contain the disease in the current situation on those properties.
There has been some funding provided into research at Coastal Plains Research Station, as the member quite rightly pointed out. The funding has been provided for research into varieties that are tolerant to the disease. It is a six-year project. Thirty-five banana and plantain varieties have been screened. Three have been found tolerant but, unfortunately, they are not of commercial value. I understand the taste just does not come up to the old Cavendish. The genetics of those plants are valuable, however.
The project is funded by the Northern Territory government, local banana growers and the Australian Banana Growers Association to the tune of around $1m. Industry is keen to continue that testing of the new varieties in the hope that they may turn up a suitable Cavendish replacement. The department is seeking to secure extra funds for the new research to improve soil health and better management in the hope that they can ensure the industry becomes a stable and profitable industry in the not too distant future.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016