Commercial cultivation of bananas has succeeded in the Netherlands

The company Neder Banaan has harvested the first commercially grown bananas in the Netherlands. The bananas are grown in glasshouses in pots with a substrate based on coconut fibers. The bananas are partly processed in profiteroles and beer. The fibers from banana peels are also used. Among other things, they form the basis for a meat substitute.

Banana cultivation in the Netherlands started 1.5 years ago in collaboration with Wageningen University & Research. The initial aim was to research banana cultivation, with a view to threats to cultivation in tropical areas.

The collaboration has resulted in the company Neder Banaan. Various types of bananas are grown in the greenhouse. In addition to bananas suitable for the fruit shelf, these include bananas that are highly suitable for brewing beer and plantains.

Nonetheless, this cultivation of new variety is not expected to increase the supply volume as they were targeted high-end markets such as care homes, hotel restaurants, and food services. Furthermore, it cannot compete with the price of bananas cultivated in the plantations in South America. However, this success can be of significance for the further development of resistant species against certain fungi and the development of circular agriculture.