Fight for the banana: organic plantations against dangerous fungus in Peru!

Fight for the banana: organic plantations against dangerous fungus in Peru!

On April 21, 2025, the importance of the banana is again pointed out, in particular by an examination of the organic plantations in Peru, which was carried out by Global 2000. According to Oekonews , the banana is the most popular fruit in Austria. The average banana consumption per person is around 16 kilograms per year. In this context, it is alarming that the banana grown in monocultures is threatened by the aggressive mushroom tropical Race 4 (FOC TR4).

The inspection of the organic plantations includes a comprehensive document test, leaf samples and conversations with producers. Lisa-Maria Krasa von Global 2000 emphasizes that organic farming promotes healthy soil through the use of organic fertilizers. Sustainable cultivation methods such as the use of tea tree and orange oil to combat pests prove to be more environmentally friendly compared to chemical pesticides. Nevertheless, these methods are complex and demand a lot of commitment from farmers.

threat from Tropical Race 4

monocultures offer ideal conditions for fungal attack, which further increases the threat to banana production. The fungus is not only a danger for dessert bananas, but also for cooking bananas that make up more than 70 percent of the global banana harvest. Historically, the Panama disease, which destroyed the “Gros Michel” variety in the 1960s, led to a dramatic crisis in banana production. The successor "Cavendish" is now also in danger.

The use of chemical means to combat the mushroom does not show any significant effect, which underlines urgency to develop alternative and environmentally friendly control methods. The influence of fao -reports since 2011 and other studies emphasizes the need for a global approach to combat the fusarium-fungus.

research and development

A current study illuminates the effectiveness of biobasized fungicides against the Fusarium Wilt. This research shows that certain biofungicides can significantly reduce the growth rates of the fungus. The findings on this have been validated in several tests and represent promising alternatives to chemical treatments. In particular, trichoderma and bacillus-based biofungs was attributed to a high level of effectiveness in combating the fungus, which underlines the importance of the development of ecological control methods, since chemical pesticides often have negative environmental effects. In summary, it can be said that the challenges relating to banana production extend far beyond local problems. Strict guidelines for organic bananas and the transition to sustainable growing methods are crucial to ensure the survival of one of the most important sources of food worldwide. The combating of the fusarium mushroom requires a interaction of research, agriculture and environmental awareness-a challenge that requires international cooperation and which should be particularly respected in the future.