The world of organic bananas: a review of production, markets, sustainability, and current and future trends

C. Dawson, J.W.H. van der Waal
Fueled by the growth of the organic food sector, organic banana consumption has soared over the past decade in its main consumption markets, the USA and the EU. In a first step, an inventory of the world production of organic export bananas was carried out, by producing country, using national statistical data and interviews with key experts of the sector when data were unavailable. The survey shows that production growth of organic export bananas continues, and that this growth is being fueled by the promise of better income for producers in response to a conventional sector under great economic pressure. Secondly, we studied the dynamics of the main import and consumer markets, the USA and the EU, based on statistical data and interviews with key experts of the sector. Although these markets have posted double-digit growth over the past ten years, there are a few red flags in terms of consumption that need to be taken in consideration, particularly in the EU. Simultaneously, emerging trends are taking root. Organic-plus certifications, such as Demeter, Biosuiss, Naturland, appear like a tool for differentiation and could lead to additional value creation, but remain niche as they are difficult to implement by all producers. Moreover, the new organic legislation that was introduced in the EU to reinforce consumer trust in certifications, leads to additional constraints in particular for small producers. How can small farmers profitably keep up with changing compliance, new regulations, and productivity requirements? At last, the current crisis leading to higher costs along the value chain and higher consumer prices, may have a potential negative impact on consumption of organic bananas.
Dawson, C. and van der Waal, J.W.H. (2023). The world of organic bananas: a review of production, markets, sustainability, and current and future trends. Acta Hortic. 1367, 13-24
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2023.1367.2
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2023.1367.2
banana market, emerging trends, organic banana production, stakeholders
English

Acta Horticulturae