The Latin American banana industry faces serious risk that threatens its existence

For 40 years, farmers, scientists, producers and exporters in the banana industry have watched the fungus Fusarium Odoratissimum, or Tropical Race 4 (TR4), advance through the plantations of Southeast Asia. In 2013, its presence was detected in Jordan and soon spread to the countryside of Africa. Since then there was fear that it would infiltrate Latin America, where the frost-free climate and alluvial soil allowed the cultivation of the most consumed variety in the world, Musa cavendishii (Cavendish). However, that moment has arrived and currently in Colombia (the fourth largest exporter in the world) almost 8,000 acres (3,237.4 ha) in 17 banana farms remain under quarantine, according to a Bloomberg report. The Cavendish banana represents 99% of world exports. In 2022, the countries of Central and South America, where the market is concentrated, shipped more than 16 million tons for export. Almost all bananas in supermarkets correspond to a Cavendish produced in Latin America. ...