This is one of the topics to be in the spotlight when international scientists gather on the Gold Coast in November to unlock the health potential of tropical fruits.

The Tropical Fruits in Human Health and Nutrition conference, sponsored by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, is the first of its kind to examine the latest knowledge on the health properties of tropical fruits.

Organising committee member and DPI&F science leader Dr Roger Stanley said the conference would develop international networks to accelerate research in the area.

He said it would look at discovering more about tropical fruits such as mangoes, papayas and pineapple, which are common around the world.

"At the moment we know more about the health properties of apples, blueberries and pomegranates than we do about the properties of the tropical fruits that feed a large part of the world," Dr Stanley said.

He said the main objective was to identify the gaps in knowledge so that further international work can understand how to grow, breed and market tropical fruits that are even healthier.

"Many people in developing tropical countries eat a diet rich in carbohydrates from sources such as cassava, taro or rice, but don’t have adequate access to eggs, meat and fruit that contribute the Vitamin A, needed for healthy eyes and bones.

"The availability of fruits such as bananas, mangoes and papaya with high levels of Vitamin A could provide a rich source of this necessary vitamin," Dr Stanley said.

"In Western countries, an increased consumption of tropical fruits will help address obesity and lifestyle diseases."