Banana Plant: Crisis Highlights the Need for Food Diversity

Banana Plant: What Happened to the Banana We Used to Eat?

The reason the Cavendish was selected as our global banana is partly because it is, in terms of global trade, the most perfect example of a banana: the right size, colour, taste and shelf life. However, it’s worth remembering that there was another global banana. Those born before 1960 may well remember a different tasting, slightly fatter banana that was called Gros Michel, commonly known as Big Mike. It was far more susceptible to Panama disease.

In a globalised food system, where everything has to be shipped thousands of miles, uniformity is everything. It was the Gros Michel’s lack of shelf life that did for it, ultimately, rather than the fungus. This was because it had to be picked before it was fully ripe, otherwise it would deteriorate before arriving in supermarkets.

In Panama disease’s relentless spread across the global banana trade lies a terrifying example of the problems that lie ahead for our food system. Consequently, scientists and food companies are racing to find both a genetic remedy and an acceptable replacement for the Cavendish. But this is a long shot, given how long it takes to test new varieties.

The Search for the Elusive New “Banana Hero”

Chiquita, the biggest banana company in the world, has a division called Fresh Express focusing on bananas that are “unique in flavor, shape and color”. It's likely we'll see a push towards alternative varieties, but these will be more expensive. For instance, you might have encountered red bananas in speciality shops, which are shorter and stockier than the Cavendish and have a reddish-purple skin.

Meanwhile, there is some hope that a wild banana native to Madagascar might be a “hero banana". The Ensete ventricosum has the potential to provide food security for 100 million people in Ethiopia, as its roots and stems are edible as well as the fruit. Nonetheless, these wild bananas are far less sweet and contain large seeds. It would take years of careful plant breeding to make them more palatable as the next globally traded banana.

The current predicament the global banana plant trade finds itself in is a timely wake-up call. We have grown complacent about the lack of diversity in our food system. Furthermore, as the climate crisis intensifies, the need for greater diversity as a form of resilience is ever more urgent.

If we want to encourage greater diversity in the food system, it’s crucial to change our consumer expectations and habits. It’s time to move away from the idea that every single piece of fruit and vegetable has to conform to a certain size, colour, shape and shelf life.

We also need to accept that some fresh produce will be seasonal, rather than available all year round. This might mean buying frozen fruit and vegetables when they are out of season, or relying on alternative preservation methods such as canning and preserving at home.

As well as being open to trying different-looking and tasting fruit and vegetables, we should also broaden our diets by eating more ancient grains and pulses that are less commonly available. This could mean replacing one standard type of bean or lentil with a new one every few weeks. Furthermore, it may involve seeking out and supporting farmers and retailers that champion these foods.

Greater awareness and small changes in behaviour can make a transformative difference. After all, change starts with us, the consumers, not just with producers.

The Banana plant: Emblematic of our Fragile Food System

The banana is far more than just a piece of fruit. It’s a reminder of how the pursuit of cheap prices and flawless uniformity has pushed our food system to the brink. There’s a lesson here for our relationship with many other foods as well.

Take the humble tomato: we’re used to seeing shiny-skinned, spherical red ones all year round in supermarkets. The pursuit of high-yield, long-lasting varieties with little taste is why we've ended up with the bland offerings we have now. The good news is that there are people fighting to reintroduce the flavour back into the tomatoes we eat, and they’re getting some positive results.

Dan Barber is an American chef and co-owner of Blue Hill restaurant in Manhattan and Stone Barns Centre for Food and Agriculture in Westchester County, New York. He is working in collaboration with plant breeders to create new, more flavourful varieties of tomato. The Row 7 seed company sells some of these varieties to home gardeners and market growers, and they include a striped tomato called Badger Flame and the Sunrise Bumble Bee, an orange and yellow cherry tomato.

Barber has described the flavour of a tomato as being a “three-way conversation between the genetics of the seed, the environment it’s grown in – the soil, the sun and the rain – and then the final piece, the culinary care”. So, not only should we be choosing tomatoes with better flavour and more variety, we should be looking at the way they were grown too. Regenerative agriculture – which encourages plant, animal and soil health for optimal nutrient density – is the way forward.

Supermarket Power: Can it Fuel Positive Change?

Supermarkets have a huge role to play in driving these changes in consumer behaviour. However, their current model often operates to limit consumer choice rather than expand it.

In the quest for ever cheaper prices, supermarkets often set strict specifications about product size, shape, colour, and durability. This has led to a great deal of food waste as produce that doesn't fit these criteria may be rejected before it even reaches the shelves.

Thankfully, some initiatives are beginning to address this. In 2016, Asda launched its Wonky Fruit and Veg box and claims to have saved thousands of tonnes of produce from going to waste. Similarly, the French supermarket chain Intermarché ran a clever campaign called ‘The Inglorious Fruits and Vegetables’ in 2014 which positioned slightly misshapen produce as desirable, creating a brand around imperfect-looking produce. These efforts garnered much support from shoppers and farmers and highlighted the power of savvy marketing and consumer demand to change the food landscape.

The Bottom Line

Ultimately, it comes down to a fundamental shift in perspective. It’s time to move away from the pursuit of flawlessness and the expectation of endless availability. We need to embrace seasonality and greater diversity. We should learn to accept that nature is variable, and see this as something to celebrate rather than try and fight against. It's not just about ensuring the future of our food, it's about enjoying a wider variety of tastes and textures that offer a more exciting and nutritious eating experience.

Moreover, the banana's current plight sends the crucial message that the health of our planet is ultimately our own health. Supporting more sustainable farming practices and putting pressure on supermarkets to champion diversity is our responsibility as consumers. After all, change begins on our plates.

The Banana plant: More Than Meets the Eye

While highlighting the precarious state of the banana is important, it's also worth celebrating this extraordinary fruit beyond its taste and convenience. The banana plant itself is a wonder of nature, and it serves as a valuable resource in countless ways.

First off, the banana isn't technically a tree. It's classified as a perennial herb, the largest in the world. After the plant yields a stem of bananas, the main plant dies back. However, it immediately regenerates from an underground stem known as a rhizome. This means banana plants can theoretically keep producing for hundreds of years.

The giant leaves and stalks of the banana plant are incredibly versatile. In tropical countries, they're used to wrap and steam food, as plates, and to make a variety of things from hats to fishing lines. The fibre from banana plants is turned into rope, twine, and textiles. In the UK, there's even a company called Banatex, which has partnered with a Philippines-based factory to create an innovative textile from banana fibre.

The banana itself is highly nutritious. In particular, it's a great source of potassium, an essential mineral important for healthy blood pressure. However, there's been some debate in recent years about the extent to which the nutritional value of our food has declined due to soil degradation linked to intensive farming methods. Consequently, those looking to maximize the nutritional value of their diet should opt for organically grown bananas if possible.

Beyond Cavendish: A World of Banana plant Diversity

While the current crisis with the Cavendish is very real, there's an important takeaway - it doesn't have to be this way. Expanding our understanding and appreciation of the diverse world of bananas can open our eyes to new possibilities for a more secure and delicious future. Let's briefly explore some of the fascinating varieties that exist beyond the supermarket standard:

Lady Finger: Smaller and sweeter than the Cavendish, these are commonly eaten as a snack.

Plantains: A staple in many countries, plantains are larger and starchier, requiring cooking before eating. They are incredibly versatile, used in everything from savoury dishes to desserts.

Red Dacca: This variety has stunning reddish-purple skin and sweet, creamy flesh with hints of raspberry.

Praying Hands: These unusual bananas have fused clusters that resemble hands in a prayer position.

While a major shift away from a Cavendish monoculture is unlikely to happen swiftly, there is growing interest in other possibilities. One example is the growing popularity of the baby banana, also known as the Nino banana, found in some speciality stores. Although slightly smaller than the Cavendish, it's said to be far more flavourful.

What Does the Future Hold?

The banana crisis is a serious issue, but it needn't spell the end of this beloved fruit. While scientists work on solutions, we all have a role to play as consumers. Here's what you can do:

Explore different varieties:

If you can find them, give other types of bananas a try. Expanding your horizons not only supports diversity but could bring some wonderful culinary surprises.

Support companies championing diversity: 

Opt for brands that support banana plant varieties beyond the Cavendish and promote sustainable farming practices.

Learn about sustainable agriculture: 

Understand the impact of conventional farming methods on food quality and soil health. Choose organic and regenerative produce when possible.

Spread the word:

 Talk to friends and family about the banana plant crisis and the importance of food diversity.

The banana story is a wake-up call, a chance for us to reshape our food system to create a more sustainable, resilient, and flavourful future. Let's take this opportunity and run with it!

Our Food, Our Future: Beyond Bananas plant

While the banana crisis reveals the vulnerability of our food system, the reality is that many food crops are facing similar threats. The focus on monocultures, with their reliance on a small number of varieties, makes them susceptible to disease, pests, and the effects of climate change.

Take wheat, for example, which accounts for about a fifth of global human calorie intake. Three varieties alone supply around 40% of the internationally traded wheat. Just as with the banana, this leaves the world’s wheat supply dangerously vulnerable. Similarly, with rice – where over 90% of the world's rice is from ten varieties – scientists are issuing grave warnings.

However, the news isn't all bleak. Around the world, farmers, scientists, and activists are exploring solutions steeped in a respect for the value of biodiversity.

Rediscovering Ancient Grains

One promising avenue is the rediscovery of ancient grains. These are varieties that have been cultivated for centuries but have been largely replaced by high-yielding modern varieties with poorer nutritional and flavour profiles. Ancient grains offer several advantages. Many have deep root systems that make them more resilient to drought, a vital trait as the effects of the climate crisis intensify. Additionally, they tend to be more nutritious than modern grains, containing more vitamins, minerals, and fibre.

Emmer, an ancestor of wheat thought to have originated in central Asia, has a rich nutty flavour and is higher in protein than many modern types of wheat. Einkorn, also an ancient wheat variety, is gaining popularity due to its high antioxidant content and sweet, mild flavour.

Other examples of rediscovered grains include millet, which is naturally drought-resistant and a great source of fibre, iron, and protein. Teff, a staple food in Ethiopia, is a tiny grain packed with calcium, iron, and protein. It is also naturally gluten-free.

The Case for Crop Rotation

Crop rotation is another traditional farming practice that is seeing a resurgence. It involves planting different crops on a piece of land over a cycle of years. This helps to improve soil health, reduce pest and disease pressure, and increase biodiversity. It works well with bringing ancient grains back into the mix.

A classic example is the Three Sisters farming technique used by Native American cultures, where maize, beans, and squash are planted in close proximity. The maize provides support for the beans, the beans fix nitrogen in the soil, benefiting the other crops, and the squash shades the ground, helping to suppress weeds and retain moisture.

The Importance of Seed Saving

Seed saving is a crucial practice for preserving genetic diversity. When farmers save their own seeds from year to year, they ensure that crops adapt to local conditions and retain important characteristics. This is in stark contrast to the reliance on hybrid seeds (seeds produced by cross-pollinating two different parent plants), which don't breed true from one generation to the next, resulting in farmers needing to buy new seeds every year.

Thankfully, there are now seed banks around the world that act as repositories for diverse plant varieties. The most famous is the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway. It’s designed to withstand cataclysmic events and houses a vast collection of seeds, protecting the precious genetic heritage of crops all over the world.

Food for Thought

The banana crisis is a powerful reminder of the fragility of our food system. It also highlights the crucial role we play as consumers in shaping the future. We can choose to perpetuate the status quo, with its emphasis on cheap, uniform food and its reliance on monocultures. Alternatively, we can embrace a vision of a food system that celebrates diversity, supports sustainability, and nourishes both ourselves and the planet.

While it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of the challenges, even small changes can make a big difference. Here are some practical steps you can take:

Expand your palate:

Seek out different varieties of fruits and vegetables, including bananas. Try ancient grains and pulses. Don't be afraid to experiment with new flavours and textures. Your taste buds will thank you, and you'll be supporting a more diverse and resilient food system.

Shop in season: 

Buying fruits and vegetables when they are in season supports local farmers and reduces the need for long-distance transportation. Seasonal produce often tastes better and is more nutritious.

Choose organic and regenerative: 

Prioritize products from farms that prioritize soil health and biodiversity. Look for certifications or directly support farmers' markets where you can ask questions about farming practices.

Reduce food waste: 

Plan your meals, use leftovers creatively, and learn how to preserve and store food effectively. Small changes in how we handle food in the home can help reduce the staggering levels of global food waste.

Support local food initiatives

Find out what's happening in your community. There may be community gardens, food co-ops, or organizations advocating for sustainable food systems that you can support.

Perhaps most importantly, let's spread the word about the importance of food diversity. Talk to your friends and family, share information on social media, and support businesses that are making a difference. The more people become aware of the challenges facing our food system, the greater the collective pressure for change.

Some may argue that eating a wider variety of foods will be more expensive. However, in choosing to support companies championing diversity and sustainable farming, we contribute to building a market for these goods. Over time, increasing demand and improved efficiencies have the potential to make such products more accessible and affordable.

Ultimately, the fight for a more sustainable and diverse food system is about nourishing ourselves, future generations, and the very planet that sustains us. We are all stakeholders when it comes to reshaping the way we think about food. It's time for our choices on the plate to reflect that responsibility. After all, the future of our food is in our hands.