Bananas are among the most successful fair trade products.
In a recent research report on behalf of "Fairtrade International" the so-called external, environmental and social costs in the main growing countries Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Peru were calculated. In conventional cultivation, the average is around € 5.40 per box of bananas (18.14 kg). The enormous price pressure along the supply chain leads to unjust wages and bad working conditions for the employees, explains Transfair. Uncontrolled use of plant protection products can lead to health problems and leads to the loss of biodiversity in the growing regions.
Fair trade as a holistic concept supports the workers on the banana plantations, but also smallholder families. Stable minimum prices give producers planning security. Often the additional Fairtrade premium is invested in measures that increase the productivity and quality of bananas. This can increase yields and reduce water consumption and fertilizers. For organic products, an additional surcharge is paid. However, there is still room for improvement: according to the results of the study, external costs are also 2.90 euros per box for fair trade. In the opinion of Transfair, the banana sector is faced with the task of making the production of tropical fruits more sustainable in the future, with low external costs.
Source: BVEO