One of the planet’s top industry experts tells BBC News that bananas are set to get more costly as climate change impacts this much-loved fruit.
Pascal Liu, a senior economist at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation, warns that climate impacts pose a significant threat to banana supply, exacerbating the challenges posed by fast-spreading diseases. The World Banana Forum convenes in Rome to address these pressing issues.
Banana Shortages: A Consequence of Climate Events
Recent banana shortages in UK shops due to sea storms highlight the vulnerability of the supply chain. Despite bananas being the world’s most exported fruit, with the UK alone importing approximately 5 billion annually, disruptions in supply can occur, impacting consumers and retailers alike.
Resilience in the Supply Chain
Although short-term weather events like storms may cause fluctuations in supply, the UK’s supply chain demonstrates resilience. Ripening centers can adjust the ripening process of bananas upon arrival, buffering against supply disruptions.
Long-Term Threats: Climate Change and Disease
While the supply chain can adapt to short-term challenges, experts are increasingly concerned about the long-term threats posed by climate change and disease.
Rising temperatures and extreme weather events can adversely affect banana production, while diseases like Fusarium Wilt TR4, a fungal infection spreading globally, pose significant risks to banana crops.
Fusarium Wilt TR4: A Looming Menace
Fusarium Wilt TR4, known for its devastating impact on banana plantations, is particularly worrisome.
The disease, originating from Australia and Asia and now spreading across continents, poses a significant challenge to banana cultivation, as infected plantations face complete loss of crops.
In conclusion, while the banana supply chain has mechanisms to mitigate short-term disruptions, the compounding threats of climate change and disease require urgent attention and collaborative efforts from stakeholders to ensure the resilience and sustainability of banana production worldwide.