Banana production under threat | BBC News

From a mix of adverse weather, soaring production costs and plant disease - the production of bananas is under threat.

Pascal Liu, senior economist at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation, said climate impacts posed an "enormous threat" to supply.

So, what can be done to make the banana industry more sustainable?

#BBCNews

[liveontheverandah]

Pay the farmers properly - stop the supermarkets inflating the prices

[samsmith]

I have a banana tree growing right outside my window. They grow very fast.. Problem with the produce industry is there are TOO many middle men.

[missdebbie]

Here on the Greek island of Crete there are two types of bananas available. They are the usual large bananas that are on sale in most western supermarkets or the locally grown small bananas. The smaller bananas are grown here on the island so they have a much smaller carbon footprint when it comes to transportation. Even better, they taste so much better than the large bananas that are on sale in most western nations. The banana crisis is a direct result of the large growers creating a monopoly on bananas.

[RatKindler]

Bananas are so cheap. A bunch costs about the same as a small cup of coffee here.

[RayHaffenden]

There are over 20 varieties of banana in the Philippines alone, but only see a couple on the market here in the U.K.

[bats]

Senior advisor for bananas. Great job position right there.

[facitenonvictimarum]

Bananas are only 27¢ each at my W*Mart, 6 for $1.62, delivered with my groceries to my front door, you cant even buy a candy bar for that.

[TNFVLOGS]

2 dollars a box...i need to go straight to the source to buy some

[andredecaires]

I live in Saint Lucia. I was a manager who worked on a banana plantation from 1988 to 1995. The introduction of the WTO was one of the biggest disasters that hit our industry. We were made to compete with huge American multinationals in South America like Chiquita, Dole, Del Monte etc. How could we survive? We did not. Smfh

[tonys]

I just paid €1.67kg for bananas today, that's €33.40 for a box, yes they had been shipped from South America but who's getting the bulk of the money?

[agustinprunell-friend]

Canary Islands bananas don't seem to be affected by this

[alfeguminang]

Banana plantations in the phillipined, are blooming in thier productions, especially in mindanao island.

[hashtagalong]

Bananas are definitely getting shipped in to Britain

[mobilephil]

With that Gigantic demand volume, this problem CANNOT be all that hard to solve .. and yes, we may well need to pay a bit more for them.

[marcinhibner]

Banana milk shakes with fruit of choice are the best but it also depends on amounts ratios and ripe time moment of the fruit.

[jeanjacqueslundi]

Friendly reminder the EU doesnt' allow my country (Portugal;: from Madeira) to export bananas because "they are too small".

[beewa]

Just got back from Sainsbury's where a bunch (5) of medium sized Fairtrade bananas is 78p. How is that possible? 😮

[toomignon]

She's been waiting all day for that intro. 😂

[khalidhassan]

0:40 she knows all about bananas sounds so strange 😂

[robertguildford]

Yes, I have been friends with a banana grower in Australia. Like any commodity prices go up and down. When there is dirth prices are high, when there is plenty the prices are low. 2$ a box is probably the bottom end of the price range. It would have been more helpful to the audience to give the price at the top end of the market. That way opinion can be probably formed. However as is the case with all media, they presentation is never balanced.