Climate change and disease are posing significant threats to global banana supplies, with implications for costs, according to Pascal Liu, senior economist at the World Banana Forum. The industry is facing challenges from severe weather and diseases like Fusarium Wilt TR4, which are exacerbated by rising temperatures.
The UK, importing around 5 billion bananas annually, recently experienced shortages due to sea storms, although supply chain resilience has mitigated immediate impacts. However, long-term threats from climate change and disease spread, particularly TR4 affecting the Cavendish variety, are concerning.
The World Banana Forum, meeting in Rome, aims to address these issues, focusing on sustainability and the rising costs of production. Liu predicts that without a significant increase in supply, banana prices in the UK and globally are expected to remain high.
Source: bbc.com