Fresh Plaza: Philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates have visited Queensland researchers trying to make better bananas for sub-Saharan Africa. While holidaying in Cairns on the weekend, the Microsoft founder and his wife met the Queensland University of Technology team working to address nutrient deficiencies through the staple crop. Professor James Dale's field trials at Innisfail have produced bananas with far greater amounts of pro-vitamin A than regular bananas. Vitamin
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A deficiency and iron deficiency anemia are huge public health problems in sub-Saharan Africa, leading to mortality, blindness, impaired immune function and brain development. The technology is also being trialled at the National Agricultural Research Organisation of Uganda. Prof Dale said the Gates were interested in another aspect of the research, which has created bananas almost immune to a common disease called Fusarium wilt race 1. "It was a tremendous privilege for the five of us involved in the project to meet with the Gates and experience in person their commitment and enthusiasm," he said. The research has been backed with close to $10 million of funding over the past seven years through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's Grand Challenges in Global Health program. Source: ninemsn.com, Source: Fresh Plaza
