Will Purple Tomatoes Pass The Australian Test?
Image: Supplied, Norfolk Healthy Produce
Australian consumers may see a newly developed purple tomato on their supermarket shelves from early next year, given the all-clear by regulators.
The colour of eggplant, the genetically modified (GM) purple tomato was created by adding two snapdragon genes, allowing it to produce a class of antioxidants called anthocyanins. The nutrients provided by anthocyanins are what cause the purple colour, the same with blueberries, blackberries, eggplant and purple potatoes.
There are multiple advantages provided by increased anthocyanins, including nutritional health benefits. Studies suggest a link between anthocyanins and lowering inflammation, lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes and cancer, and protecting the brain from diseases such as dementia.
The higher levels of anthocyanins also give purple tomatoes increased durability as a crop. They have double the shelf life compared to red tomatoes, as anthocyanins delay the fruit from over-ripening and reduce susceptibility to pest and fungal infestation after harvesting. The anthocyanins also help protect the crop from UV damage and pathogens while growing.
Another benefit provided by higher levels of anthocyanins is increased crop yield, attracting animals and pollinators that disperse the seeds, improving reproductive success. These important advances in the field come more than two decades after the first genetically modified food – a tomato – was made commercially available.
The purple tomato was developed by renowned biologist Professor Cathie Martin and her team at the John Innes Centre in Norfolk, England. Professor Martin’s research and scientific work pertains to harnessing plants for human nutrition and health. It took 18 years of development before the purple tomato was approved for growing and sale in the US, where it has been available to consumers for the past two years.
Dr Cathie Martin
The purple tomato is being marketed by US-based company Norfolk Healthy Produce. Victorian-based produce marketing company, All Aussie Farmers has entered an exclusive commercial agreement with Norfolk Healthy Produce to market purple tomatoes in Australia.
Given the green light by federal regulators, purple tomatoes could be growing in greenhouses in south-east Queensland from early next year. They will be rolled out initially to fruit shops and food service operators in Melbourne. The crops will undergo a safety assessment by Food Standards Australia New Zealand with oversight by government regulatory body, The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR).
Australia upholds some of the highest food standards in the world, especially for fresh produce. Our biosecurity measures mean the availability of GM foods in Australia is strictly controlled, with only five GM crops and one fruit having been approved.
The approval of purple tomatoes by the regulator could be a massive boon to both Queensland’s and Australia’s agricultural industry, providing additional jobs and diversifying our means of production. Many local producers already have the greenhouse infrastructure in place capable of cultivating the crops required to meet commercial demand, making for an easy transition.
Genetically modified crops are a still a matter of debate in terms of food safety and biosecurity concerns, especially in Australia. South-east Queensland alone is home to one of the country’s primary fresh produce regions, the Lockyer Valley – the Salad Bowl of Australia. Our rich and fertile land is known globally for producing some of the highest quality fresh produce in the world.
But climate change, international trade regulations and governmental indifference is putting this vital industry at risk. GM crops can offer significant advantages in terms of human nutrition, harvest yield and sustainability, but these advances in the field should also be balanced with public safety concern.
Purple tomatoes aren’t necessarily the answer to these problems, but with a sweet/savoury flavour, they will be a nutritious and colourful addition to the dinner table.
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