Panama disease is becoming a growing threat to Australia’s $1 billion banana industry as the disease has been detected in six Queensland farms in “close proximity to one another”, says Biosecurity Queensland Panama TR4 Program Leader Rhiannon Evans.
Ms Evans says the disease was detected in north Queensland’s commercial crops in 2015.
“Our biosecurity strategies that have been in place, have really limited the ability for this disease to spread,” she told Sky News Australia.
“And Queensland has, in fact, had one of the most successful control and containment efforts for this disease seen anywhere in the world.”
Despite the recent increase of attacks on the staple fruit, Ms Evans said current international research into the disease and soil quality means it is “highly unlikely” bananas would be “eradicated” from supermarkets.
Ms Evans says the disease was detected in north Queensland’s commercial crops in 2015.
“Our biosecurity strategies that have been in place, have really limited the ability for this disease to spread,” she told Sky News Australia.
“And Queensland has, in fact, had one of the most successful control and containment efforts for this disease seen anywhere in the world.”
Despite the recent increase of attacks on the staple fruit, Ms Evans said current international research into the disease and soil quality means it is “highly unlikely” bananas would be “eradicated” from supermarkets.
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