[whimsicalism]

> GM crops have significantly less genetic diversity simply as a result of how their created and sold. This isn’t a new problem, but fixing it significantly slows time to market.

The Cavendish is an excellent counterpoint actually - monocropping is not at all en exclusive GMO phenomenon. Naturally selected cultivars like the Cavendish are all identical clones.

This is very common across many different types of produce, and all without GE.

The same solutions for diversity work for cultivars as well as GMO seed.

[Retric]

The same is actually true of a GMO Cavendish.

Currently the Cavendish has some genetic diversity through random mutations. That’s going to drop to ~zero with the first GMO Cavendish that’s cloned.

It might not seem that important for seedless varieties, but GMO is inherently a genetic bottleneck.

[whimsicalism]

> the Cavendish has some genetic diversity through random mutation

Nope, this is not true of cultivars - they are all genetically identical clones.

GMO seeds can be radiated for increased genetic diversity. I actually don't think cultivars can, however.