Climate change is fast reducing the capacity of producers of bananas to produce the most popular fruit. The latest research conducted by at the University of Exeter, published in Nature Food, has found that it is economically insufficient before 2080 for many places all over Latin America and the Caribbean to keep growing bananas to export due to the rising temperature caused by the climate change.

The banana is a major export crop that is worth around $11 billion (PS8.9 billion) every year, and they are essential for the economy of several nations. But in just 50 years, 60 percent of the areas that currently produce bananas will be struggling to cultivate the fruit until there is a swift intervention to combat the effects of climate changing.

The research also revealed the socioeconomic aspects like labor supply and the infrastructure of the country, are a major obstacle to adapting to climate change. The majority of banana production happens close to densely populated regions and ports, which limit possibility of relocation into more appropriate regions.

Prof. Dan Bebber from the University of Exeter was the lead researcher and stated: “Our findings are a clear warning that climate change isn’t only an environmental problem, and is a real threat to our food security as well as livelihoods. Without significant investment into adaptation measures, such as cultivation of irrigation systems and varieties that are heat-tolerant and varieties that are heat-tolerant, the potential for export banana production appears uncertain. “Bananas are among the top fruits around the globe and not just for the consumers, but also for a vast number of farmers in countries producing them. We must act fast to protect the industry from both the threats of the climate crisis and new diseases.”

The scientists developed a revolutionary technique using satellite images to plot the banana industry across Latin America and the Caribbean in high resolution. They later estimated the climate in the conditions that bananas grow best. Their research revealed that changes in climate will affect the most suitable areas that yield bananas, and the growth rate in a number of key nations, and increasing the risk of workers being exposed to extreme temperatures.

Countries like Colombia as well as Costa Rica will be the worst affected since they’re expected to get too hot to be suitable for cultivation. Ecuador as well as portions of Brazil are among the smallest regions that will remain major producers since climate change is expected to not be as severe in these areas. Researchers propose a variety of methods to adapt, such as increasing the infrastructure for irrigation as well as creating drought-resistant and heat-loving banana varieties and assisting farmers of bananas to reduce the climate risk.

Professor. Varun Varma of Rothamsted Research created the algorithms used for remote sensing to aid in this work, and additional assistance was offered from Jose Antonio Guzman Alvarez of CORBANA. Costa Rican organization CORBANA, who supports the nation’s industry of bananas.

More information is available here:

Duncan Sandes

University of Exeter

Tel: +44 01392 722391

Email: [email protected]

www.news.exeter.ac.uk