Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about Biotech Papaya
- What's the quick story behind biotech papayas?
- How have biotech papayas benefitted growers and consumers?
- How does plant biotechnology work with papayas?
- Is there a more sustainable method for growing papaya instead of plant biotechnology?
- Where is papaya grown?
- Are any efforts underway to get this new technology into the hands of people outside of Hawaii?
- Who developed this technology and who owns the rights to it?
- How many papaya farmers are in Hawaii and what is the average farm size?
- What do consumers think of genetically enhanced papayas?
- How about consumers in important export markets such as Japan?
What's the quick story behind biotech papayas?
Although the papaya story is not well known, it's a good example of how plant biotechnology is making a difference in people's lives today. The story goes like this: By 1997, a deadly ringspot virus had decimated Hawaii's fifth largest crop. Production had fallen by nearly 40 percent, farmers were going out of business and Hawaii's $17 million papaya industry (at the farmgate, $35 million wholesale value1) was in danger of collapsing.2 But within just four years of the introduction of the genetically improved fruit, papaya production had rebounded to levels near where they were before the deadly papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) invasion.3 So much so, in fact, that Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano credits plant biotechnology with rescuing Hawaii's papaya industry. It's a very positive story for Hawaii papaya growers and their communities - not to mention the millions of people who enjoy eating this healthful, succulent fruit.
How have biotech papayas benefitted growers and consumers?
That plant biotechnology can have a dramatic impact in enhancing people's lives - in this case, papaya growers in Hawaii and consumers. Many of these growers would no longer be in business were it not for plant biotechnology. And the consumer benefits because the excellent new hybrid that has been created is superior to both the traditional Hawaiian papaya and the transgenic variety.4 The rescue of the papaya industry and the development of a fruit consumers enjoy is one of the best stories we have to show the often-stated promise of plant biotechnology with an actual product.
How does plant biotechnology work with papayas?
Researchers inserted a gene that made the plants resistant to the ringspot virus - similar to the way a vaccine makes people immune to disease.5 Researchers identified and cloned the gene that produces the coat protein in the virus, then inserted the gene into the papaya. The gene then makes the plant resistant to the ringspot virus,6 just as a flu shot makes people resistant to the flu. Worldwide, PRSV is the most deadly papaya virus there is.7 Research is also underway in other papaya growing regions to use biotechnology to combat papaya diseases.
Is there a more sustainable method for growing papaya instead of plant biotechnology?
Biotechnology is a safer and more effective alternative than the conventional cure, which is to cut down and burn diseased trees. The virus was first found on the island of Oahu in the 1940s and virtually wiped out the crop by the 1950s.8 By the 1960s, the papaya industry relocated to the island of Hawaii to escape from the virus. The industry thrived there until the 1990s, but PRSV eventually caught up with it.9 Papaya growers have enthusiastically embraced genetically improved varieties, which have spared their trees and saved their livelihoods.
Where is papaya grown?
Papaya is grown throughout tropical and subtropical areas10 and is a staple crop in many parts of the developing world - particularly in Southeast Asia.11
Are any efforts underway to get this new technology into the hands of people outside of Hawaii?
Yes,12 the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications, a nonprofit organization whose goal is to transfer plant biotechnology best practices to the developing world,13 is working to bring this new technology to subsistence farmers in five Southeast Asian countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam14). Researchers are also working to develop papayas that are resistant to PRSV in Australia, Brazil, Jamaica and Taiwan.15
Who developed this technology and who owns the rights to it?
The research culminated more than 20 years of work led by scientists from Cornell and the University of Hawaii.16 The Cornell Research Foundation and the Papaya Administrative Committee, whose grower members helped finance the research, has the license to the genetically improved papaya seeds17. They have allowed Hawaii farmers to use the seeds for free.18
How many papaya farmers are in Hawaii and what is the average farm size?
There are between 20019 and 300 papaya growers in Hawaii. The average size of a farm is about 10 acres.20
What do consumers think of genetically enhanced papayas?
In the United States, consumers seem quite pleased with the fruit because the alternative is that papayas would have been pretty scarce - at least in Hawaii - if new virus-resistant varieties weren't developed.21 There are two main genetically improved varieties of papaya: Rainbow, which is a yellow-fleshed hybrid between a conventional papaya and a genetically enhanced one; and SunUp, which is a red-fleshed transgenic papaya. As stated earlier, consumers have really embraced the Rainbow hybrid.22 There have been a few isolated cases of people objecting to genetically enhanced papayas. But it's just not an issue for most people because the improved fruit is the same nutritionally as conventional varieties. And many people think it tastes even better.23
How about consumers in important export markets such as Japan?
The approval process is underway in Japan. In January 2003, the Canadadian government gave its approval so biotech papayas could be imported. Although growers in Hawaii say they don't anticipate trouble in obtaining approval from the Japanese government, a transgenic papaya was found in Japan in January 2002.24 Traditionally, about a third of Hawaii's papaya crop is exported to Japan, and somewhere between 5 and 10 percent is exported to Canada.25 The balance is sent to the U.S. mainland or consumed locally in Hawaii.
1 Perry, Delan, farmer and member of Papaya Administrative Committee, Electronic document, February 27, 2002.
2 Zakour, John and McCandless, Linda, "First Genetically Engineered Papaya Released to Growers in Hawaii," New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, April 28, 1998, p. 1, <www.nysaes.cornell.edu/pubs/press/1998/papayarelease.html>.
3 Perry, Delan, Interview on January 4, 2001, and "Hawaii Papayas" from the National Agricultural Statistics Service, December 11, 2001.
4 Perry, Delan, farmer and member of Papaya Administrative Committee, Electronic document, February 27, 2002.
5 Zakour, John and McCandless, Linda, "First Genetically Engineered Papaya Released to Growers in Hawaii," New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, April 28, 1998, p. 2, <www.nysaes.cornell.edu/pubs/press/1998/papayarelease.html>.
6 Zakour, John and Candless, Linda, "First Genetically Engineered Papaya Released to Growers in Hawaii," New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, April 28, 1998, p. 1, <www.nysaes.cornell.edu/pubs/press/1998/papayarelease.html>.
7 Gonsalves, Dennis, "Transgenic Virus Resistant Papaya: New Hope for Controlling Papaya Ringspot Virus in Hawaii," APSnet, <www.apsnet.org/education/feature/papaya/Top.htm>.
8 Gonsalves, Dennis, "Transgenic Virus Resistant Papaya: New Hope for Controlling Papaya Ringspot Virus in Hawaii," APSnet, <www.apsnet.org/education/feature/papaya/Top.htm>.
9 Gonsalves, Dennis, "Transgenic Virus Resistant Papaya: New Hope for Controlling Papaya Ringspot Virus in Hawaii," APSnet, <www.apsnet.org/education/feature/papaya/Top.htm>.
10 Monsanto Beautiful Science, Proposal #5 - Papaya key messages, question #4.
11 James, Clive and Hautea, Randy A., "The Road to Global Sustainable Agriculture: A View and Experience from ISAAA" Multimedia presentation, International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications, Slides 17, 18.
12 James, Clive and Hautea, Randy A., "The Road to Global Sustainable Agriculture: A View and Experience from ISAAA" Multimedia presentation, International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications, Slide 16.
13 International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications Web site, <www.isaaa.org/>.
14 Biotechnology Transfer Projects: Asia SEA Researchers Target PRSV Resistant and Delayed Ripening Papaya, International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, <www.isaaa.org/projects/SEAsia/Papaya.htm>.
15 Swain, S. and Powell, D.A., Papaya Ringspot Virus Resistant Papaya: A Case Study, 2001, p. 5, <www.plant.uoguelph.ca>.
16 Zakour, John and McCandless, Linda, "First Genetically Engineered Papaya Released to Growers in Hawaii," New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, April 28, 1998, p. 1, <www.nysaes.cornell.edu/pubs/press/1998/papayarelease.html>.
17 Zakour, John and McCandless, Linda, "First Genetically Engineered Papaya Released to Growers in Hawaii," New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, April 28, 1998, p. 1, <www.nysaes.cornell.edu/pubs/press/1998/papayarelease.html>.
18 Yoon, Carol Kaesuk, "Controversy Over GE Virus-Spliced Hawaiian Papayas: Stalked by Deadly Virus, Papaya Lives to Breed Again," New York Times, July 20, 1999, p. 4.
19 Papaya Acreage Survey Results, Hawaii Agricultural Statistics Service, <www.nass.usda.gov/hi/fruit/annpap.htm>.
20 Papaya Acreage Survey Results, Hawaii Agricultural Statistics Service, <www.nass.usda.gov/hi/fruit/annpap.htm>.
21 Perry, Delan, Interview on January 4, 2001.
22 Perry, Delan, Interview on January 4, 2001.
23 Perry, Delan, farmer and member of Papaya Administrative Committee, Electronic document, February 27, 2002.
24 Japan Steps Up Checks on GM Papaya Imports from U.S., Reuters, January 28, 2002.
25 Perry, Delan, Interview on January 4, 2001.