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Banana
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Technology
- Research and Development
- Posthaverst technology-Handling, transport and ripening
Research and development in the banana sector is needed to increase productivity and yields as well as to improve resistance of bananas to diseases and pests in order to reduce dependence on fungicides and pesticides use. This would have positive effects for smallholders and consumers, improving workers health and reducing the impacts of banana cultivation on the environment.
Several initiatives have been started on this area, such as the Banana Improvement Project launched in 1993 by the Common Fund for Commodities, the FAO Intergovernmental Group on Bananas and the World Bank, with the objective of making a significant contribution toward the improvement and productivity of banana, by using higher-yielding, disease-resistant varieties, and seeking ways to reduce the cost of production, specially the cost of pesticide application.
At present, the leading organization in charge of international research and development for bananas is INIBAP, International Network for the Improvement on Banana and Plantain. It is a program of the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, a Future Harvest Centre. INIBAP was established in 1985 as an international organization with a mission to sustainably increase the productivity of banana and plantain grown on smallholdings for domestic consumption and for local and export markets. Using networking as its modus operandi, INIBAP has a small headquarters staff in Montpellier, France and regional offices in the four major banana-growing areas of the world. INIBAP is coordinating the global consortium that was created in July 2001 with the purpose of sequencing the banana genome within five years.
For information on biotechnology in bananas, see :
- FAO
Document CCP: BA/TF 01/6: Biotechnology and banana production,
- Banana Link, Better
bananas with biotechnology? by James Brown,
- Banana
improvement through biotechnology-ensuring food security in the 21st
century, by R. Haicour, et al. (summary),
- Perspectives
on the application of biotechnology to assist the genetic enhancement
of plantain and banana (Musaspp.) by Crouch, J. et al.
Relevant links for banana research are:
International Network
for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain, INIBAP
Promusa
Barnesa, Banana
Research Network for Eastern & Southern Africa
Centre International pour la Recherche
Agronomique et le Developpement, CIRAD, Banana, Plantain and Pineapple
Programme
International Plant Genetic Resources Institute
CAB International
International Society
of Horticultural Science (International Conference on Banana and Plantain
for Africa)
International Institute
for Tropical Agriculture
Association
for the Improvement in Production and Utilization of Banana
Posthaverst technology-Handling, transport and ripening
Technological changes have allowed for the development and growth in the international banana trade. One of the major developments of banana handling techniques was the packing of bananas in cardboard boxes. At present, bananas for exports are mainly of the Cavendish variety. Up to the sixties the major variety was Gross Michel, but it was then substituted for the Cavendish one, which was more resistant to the Panama disease, although more susceptible to damage when handling. It was at this moment when bananas started to be packed in boxes. The mechanization of handling techniques in charging and discharging areas, though cranes in ports and the use of forklifts or even robots (See Robotics on line), are also very positive advances for the movement of such a delicate fruit as bananas are.
Advances in refrigerating technologies are very important for the development of banana reefer transport and allow for bananas to reach faster and with better quality the consuming centres. The new methods for transporting perishable technologies control better the cold chain and allow for tracing the process through computerized systems. When transported by sea, bananas are said to be put to sleep, reducing the amount of oxigen in the storage area, to extend their shipping live. Some of the technologies used are: controlled atmosphere, controlled humidity, remote access monitoring, enhanced air flow, better insulation materials and techniques and internal monitoring controls.
Banana ripening technology is explained in Banana Ripening Description
