The World Bank has increased its support for the Global Alliance Against Fusarium TR4, a coalition focused on combating a disease that threatens bananas, a key food source. The disease, caused by the fungus strain Fusarium Tropical Race 4 (TR4), has spread to countries like Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela, posing a risk to the banana industry and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. The Alliance, which includes the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and other stakeholders, is working on prevention, training, developing resistant varieties, monitoring, and policy support. A pilot project in Ecuador, a major banana exporter, will receive support from the World Bank, focusing on developing new banana varieties, bolstering smallholder farmers, and implementing biosecurity systems.