Banana Prices to Rise Sharply... Due to This Global Phenomenon

Rising Temperatures Make It Easier for Fungus Causing Banana Root Rot to Spread

Due to the climate crisis, there are forecasts that banana supply will decrease and prices will rise.

On the 12th (local time), the British BBC reported the diagnosis of Pascal Liu, chief economist of the United Nations-affiliated organization 'World Banana Forum' (WBF), which promotes sustainable banana production and trade: "Climate change poses a tremendous threat to the banana industry."

[Photo by Pixabay]

For example, as temperatures rise, an environment conducive to the spread of the fungus ‘Fusarium wilt TR4’ is created. This fungus is known to cause Panama disease, which rots banana roots. Because bananas have similar genetics, if one banana is infected with Panama disease, all nearby bananas become infected.

BBC reported, "Currently, Fusarium TR4 is spreading from Australia and Asia to Africa and South America." Liu explained, "Fusarium spores are highly resistant and can spread through floods or strong winds. Therefore, these (climate) phenomena will spread the disease much faster than normal climate patterns."

In addition, rising costs and labor shortages are also expected to cause banana prices to increase worldwide, including in the UK. In the UK, where annual banana imports reach 5 billion, some stores have already experienced banana shortages.

Liu predicted, "If supply does not increase significantly, banana prices will remain relatively high in the future."

(This photo is not directly related to the article.) [Photo by Pixabay]

Earlier, research also showed that eating potassium-rich foods such as bananas and sweet potatoes is more effective in lowering blood pressure than reducing salt intake. A research team from the George Institute for Global Health (GIGH) at Imperial College London (ICL) announced that adding 1g of potassium daily?equivalent to two medium-sized bananas, one cup of spinach, or a large sweet potato?could be a simple way to treat hypertension.

Meanwhile, reports have emerged that the Earth's average temperature rose by 1.5 degrees Celsius between February 2023 and January this year, compared to pre-industrial levels. In response, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) proposed that to achieve the goal of limiting the rise in Earth's average temperature to within 1.5 degrees since industrialization, an investment of more than 1.9% of gross domestic product (GDP) is necessary.