NPR Science Friday: Fighting Banana Blight in a North Carolina Greenhouse
May 6, 2024 | 1 min to read
Bananas are the most popular fruit globally, with Americans consuming nearly 27 pounds annually per person. However, a deadly fungus threatens these crops. In Research Triangle Park, Matt DiLeo, Vice President of Research and Development at Elo Life Systems, is leveraging gene editing to combat this crisis and protect the future of bananas. His innovative work highlights the potential of biotechnology in enhancing fruits and vegetables amidst looming agricultural challenges.
Bananas are the world’s most popular fruit. Americans eat nearly 27 pounds per person every year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A deadly fungus could destroy most of the world’s crops, but a company in Research Triangle Park is trying to save the banana through gene editing.
When it comes to growing bananas, RTP may not be the first place that pops in your head. But Matt DiLeo has a greenhouse full of them.
DiLeo is Vice President of Research and Development at Elo Life Systems, a biotechnology firm that’s exploring how gene editing can improve fruits and vegetables.
To read the rest of the interview, please go to: NPR Science Friday