As part of the BINUS Kijang and Kemanggisan Teams, Dr. Nesti F Sianipar, S.P., M.Si. (Head of Food Biotechnology Research Center) and Dr. Reina S.Kom, M.M. (Vice Rector Academic Operations & Resources and Director of Binus Kemanggisan Campus) harvested Torpedo Bananas on Thursday, February 29, 2024. Torpedo bananas are harvested at 0.6 to 1.1 kg per fruit, much higher than ordinary horn bananas which are only around 0.2 kg per fruit. FBRC has developed this banana as a result of research at the Food and Biotechnology Research Center (FBRC).

In addition to developing the Torpedo Banana, FBRC is researching and producing an innovative variety obtained from tissue culture biotechnology. A plant growth regulator, Benzylaminopurine (BAP), is added to the growing medium of horn banana tissue cultures in order to take advantage of somaclonal diversity. The presence of BAP in the planting medium can speed up the formation of shoots by triggering cell activity. It is thought to contribute to larger fruit. In the last few years, FBRC has developed 2 potential torpedo banana varieties, TM1 (Torpedo 1) and TM2 (Torpedo 2). In the near future, Ibu Dr. Nesti F. Sianipar hopes this Torpedo banana research can be further developed. As a result, it can be used as a functional food to replace other sources of carbohydrates.