Will there not be enough bananas to feed humanity due to climate change?

Bananas are one of the most important fruit trees in the world. It provides nutrition and income to millions of people. However, a recent study from the University of Exeter (UK) shows that the impact of climate change on banana cultivation in some banana exporting countries is huge.

Many previous studies have conducted analysis and verification of how the increase in temperature and the pattern of rainfall affect agricultural production. However, the potential impact of climate change on important tropical crops such as bananas has not been considered.

The impact of climate change on banana cultivation is huge.

Dr. Dan Bebber, research leader at the University. Exeter said the team used sophisticated modeling techniques to assess how climate sensitivity affects banana yields. The study was conducted in 27 countries, accounting for 86% of the world's banana production, which has seen crop yields increase since 1961 due to favorable climatic conditions.

Despite this, banana production is forecast to decline significantly by 2050 if climate change continues at the current pace. The findings show that 10 countries including India and Brazil will witness alarming crop yields. On the other hand, for countries like Ecuador and Honduras, climate change can help increase crop yields.

Dr Bebber said: "We are very interested in the impact of diseases such as Fusarium Wilt on bananas but the impact of climate change has been largely ignored by us. There will be winners and losers over the years. and our research could stimulate vulnerable countries to invest early in irrigation technology. "

Climate change is threatening to eradicate banana trees on Earth.

Dr. Bebber emphasized that it is important to predict the potential impacts of climate change on banana production. In particular, Bebber advises tropical agriculture to prepare early dangerous climate change scenarios that could affect tropical fruits in the future.

Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama and the Philippines are the countries expected to record a sharp decline in crop production in the future due to climate change.

Study co-author, Dr. Varun Varma, said that the major banana exporting countries in the world will need to work together and exchange ideas on how to protect banana production in the future. All need to be done now to combat production losses due to climate change.

The research has been published in the journal Nature Climate Change recently.

1. The most popular banana variety is currently extinct
2. This is why you may never eat a banana again