The world is in constant need of more food and new genetic engineering methods such as the CRISPR gene editing method offer a solution. However, these remain contested, EURACTIV Germany reports.

The banana looks very different to how it used to. Its original shape is actually small, thick, somewhat round and full of seeds. Its modern supermarket relative is, however, as most fruit and vegetables, the result of a human-led and goal-oriented plant breeding effort.