Thanks to a new, antioxidant-rich variety of purple tomatoes purple tomatoes could soon be gracing Australian supermarket shelves. These genetically modified tomatoes were produced by Cathie Martin at the John Innes Centre in the UK. They’ve been broadly available in the United States for just over two years. Fruits and nuts Nathan Pumplin, the founder and chief executive of Norfolk Healthy Produce, is leading the way bringing this delicious new produce to Australia. If approved, it will be produced in greenhouses.
The beautiful purple hue of the tomatoes is due to the incorporation of snapdragon genes. These genes allow the tomatoes to make anthocyanins, antioxidants linked to better health and long life. In her comments, Dr. Pumplin underscored the significance of this gene-based change. Like other anthocyanin-rich foods, his purple tomato joined the ranks of blueberries and blackberries.
Development and Research
Even more groundbreaking than the purple tomato itself is the research surrounding it. Cathie Martin has been widely recognized as a global leader in fruits and vegetables nutrition-related studies. Her efforts have played a critical role in understanding how these foods can provide important nutrients to eaters.
The introduction of snapdragon genes increases not only color, but the health benefits of the fruit. Dr. Pumplin explained, “The purple tomato is just a tomato — what’s special about it is it has the antioxidants that blueberries have.” This innovation unlocks exciting new opportunities to improve nutritional content in staple food products.
Dr. Pumplin also noted the company’s remarkable successes in the U.S. market. Last year, they were able to sell more than 100,000 punnets of purple tomatoes and 13,000 packets of seeds to home gardeners. This popularity highlights the increasing consumer demand for food that benefits both personal health and the planet.
Regulatory Approvals and Market Launch
Australia’s strict policies against genetically modified crops present another major obstacle for introducing the purple tomato to Australian grocery stores. Up until now, approval for cultivation has been granted only for canola, cotton, safflower, bananas and flowers. Professor James Dale, who has been working on a genetically modified banana for over 20 years, acknowledged the challenges faced in securing federal approval. He stated, “The application went to hundreds of pages of information because we had to document how we did all of those measurements.”
Public consultation on the introduction of the purple tomatoes will start in September. You have 30 days minimum to get your comments in. WRITTEN COMMENTS ARE STILL BEING ACCEPTED! An OTGR spokesperson indicated that “Anyone can register to receive notifications on the OGTR website,” ensuring that interested parties remain informed throughout the process.
If all goes to plan, Norfolk Healthy Produce will deliver the new product first to customers located within Melbourne. Topeka food service provider Travis Murphy highlighted the excitement of food service providers and retailers. As he explained, “The food service guys want to know when they can get it for their chefs and then our retail partners are asking when it will be ready for their stores.
Future Innovations
The effort to get more varieties of healthier produce into consumers’ hands doesn’t stop with purple tomatoes. In addition, Professor Dale is spearheading efforts to create a genetically modified banana that has enhanced nutritional content. This banana will be available in both regular yellow banana and orange-fleshed (high provitamin A) varieties. There will be an iron enriched version as well.
Professor Dale expressed confidence in adapting the banana variety for Australian conditions, stating, “We’re just going to make sure that the banana performs as well over in Queensland, because that’s where the vast majority of bananas are grown in Australia.” This commitment to local adaptation reflects the state’s commitment to improving food security. It tries to increase nutritional content by implementing climate smart agriculture.
