They are a staple food and an export commodity. As a staple, bananas (including plantains and other types of cooking bananas) contribute to the food security of millions of people in much of the developing world, and when traded in local markets they provide income and employment to rural populations.
How does the banana industry impact the environment?
Environmental Impacts of Production Major environmental problems arise from the production of bananas for export or from large-scale commercial production of bananas for local markets. These include habitat conversion, soil erosion and degradation, pollution from agrochemical use, solid waste, and water usage.
What country is economically dependent on bananas?
In 2020, the countries that had a largest trade value in exports than in imports of Bananas were Ecuador ($3.83B), Philippines ($1.66B), Costa Rica ($1.27B), Guatemala ($1.15B), and Colombia ($1.07B).
How do bananas make a profit?
“Stores typically go for a 30- to 40-percent margin in the produce department, because they have to deal with shrink [spoilage] and overhead and all these other things. But for bananas, typically you see them more at a 10- or a 15-percent margin for stores.
What is the problem with the banana industry?
The banana industry consumes more agrochemicals than any other in the world, except cotton. Some of these chemicals are classified as hazardous by the World Health Organisation. Agrochemical use pollutes water supplies, contaminates soils, and can have devastating impacts on worker health.
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