In Latin America, growers apply enhanced protection against diseases and pests of banana plants for several weeks.

And they report that production costs have already increased by $ 0.15. According to some experts, in this situation, as in the long run, the reduction in supply is real and can lead to an increase in demand.

Importers claim that there is currently no threat to the supply chain. In turn, according to other market observers, right before Christmas, bananas in stores will be more expensive due to the very risk of spreading the disease.

Depending on how manufacturers cope, this increase can reach 50%. And this will be a long-term problem for the whole of Europe.

Fusarium Tropical Race 4 (TR4), recently discovered in Colombia, seriously threatens the stability of the global banana industry, which is heavily dependent on supplies from Latin America and the Caribbean.

Almost 92% of bananas sold worldwide through Fairtrade come from there. Rulers, producers, researchers, retailers and representatives of international organizations mobilized to fight to maintain the production of popular fruits.

“Scientists have not yet found an effective way to stop the fungus, which is deadly for bananas and completely destroys our plantations. Once it is in the soil, it can no longer be removed.

There are other dangerous crop diseases in the area, ”said CLAC Nicholas Leger, a network of growers supplying over 90% of Fairtrade certified bananas to the world market.

In Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and the Dominican Republic, manufacturers are very serious about the threat of infection with TR4. They implemented preventive and protective measures, in accordance with which they use disinfection systems at entrances and exits of farms.