Per capita consumption of bananas in Germany in 2020/21 was 11.6 kilograms - making the fruit the second most popular fruit, after apples. The majority of these fruits are still grown conventionally. In order to make their cultivation more environmentally and socially compatible, EDEKA and WWF launched the "better banana" project in 2014. So far, the sustainability commitment has focused on cultivation in Colombia and Ecuador. Now the joint project is being expanded: From December, 'project bananas' from Costa Rica will also be available in EDEKA stores - in cooperation with EARTH University in San José/Limón, which trains students in sustainable agricultural sciences.
In the joint banana project, EDEKA and WWF promote more sustainable conventional banana cultivation on currently 19 farms in Colombia and Ecuador. The topics that Germany's leading food retailer and the nature conservation organization are working on include the protection of natural ecosystems, water and waste management, integrated cultivation management such as the promotion of soil health, climate protection and social responsibility. Now, with EARTH University from Costa Rica, a partner has been added that will enable knowledge transfer and new impetus for more environmentally friendly cultivation. At the same time, the project partners want to show that their approach to conventional, more environmentally friendly cultivation also works in another growing region. From December, EDEKA customers will also be able to buy bananas from this growing region.
New ways for more sustainable banana cultivation
For EDEKA, the expansion to include the new partner also means ensuring the supply of more sustainable bananas. This is because the effects of climate change are increasingly being felt in the banana sector as well, affecting the growing regions in different ways. It is therefore crucial for robust supply chains to expand the project across multiple growing countries and project partners. The new growing regions are also subject to a ban on all WHO Class 1a + 1b pesticides, which are considered particularly harmful. In Costa Rica, however, it is particularly difficult to do without these pesticides due to the climate. EDEKA, WWF and EARTH are taking up this challenge and positioning themselves as pioneers in Costa Rica.
Banana project benefits from expertise
EARTH is a private, so-called non-profit university, focusing on sustainable agricultural sciences and, in parallel, operating a commercial banana farm. It is located in the middle of the lowlands of Costa Rica and students from all over the world are educated there. The majority of them come from rural regions. EARTH's aim is for graduates to contribute to the positive socio-economic and ecological development of their countries of origin after completing their education by disseminating their knowledge of sustainable cultivation practices and thus becoming pioneers for a more sustainable, future-oriented form of agriculture. For the banana project, the combination of university institution and banana farm makes EARTH a partner with a lot of potential.
The university part of EARTH will be integrated into the project work in the future, in order to provide new scientific impulses for more environmentally friendly banana cultivation. In addition to the transfer of knowledge, cooperation with the international students will also be used to network and disseminate knowledge beyond the project boundaries. The issue of sustainability is firmly anchored in EARTH's core values. For example, bananas are only supplied to buyers who share EARTH's sustainability values. Overall, the cooperation with EARTH University offers the opportunity for EDEKA and WWF to work towards the transformation of the banana sector on various levels. It is a vision that unites all project participants and one they want to advance together.