Enjoy these guys while you can, they might not last forever. Photo: Shutterstock.
Your favorite pre-workout snack is in jeopardy of going extinct. As one of the world’s staple fruits, the Cavendish banana can be found in almost any grocery store on the planet. Known for being rich in potassium, Vitamin B-6, and Vitamin C, the banana is a powerhouse fruit for athletes trying to prevent painful muscle cramps. Beyond their nutritional value, bananas are also convenient and portable. Thanks to the sturdy peel, it’s easy to keep the fruit completely protected until the moment you’re ready to eat it, which is a godsend for travelers fearing stomach bugs.
Now, however, the MVP of the fruit aisle is in grave danger, much like its cousin the Gros Michel banana was 50 years ago, before its eventual extinction. In its day, the Gros Michel was a far superior banana. It lasted longer, it tasted better, it was much more resistant to adverse conditions, and it did not require artificial ripening. The Gros Michel was the world’s primary banana crop until it was completely wiped out by the Panama Disease. The fungal disease began its devastation in Central America, but it quickly infected all of the world’s largest commercial banana farms. The Gros Michel was particularly vulnerable because it was raised as a monoculture, meaning that commercial growers planted only that crop on their land each year. Unfortunately, this farming method promotes the spread of the disease, and the Panama Disease ran rampant. The species was declared commercially extinct 1965, and with the banana industry in crisis, growers made the shift to the world’s current banana du jour: The Cavendish cultivar.
Apparently, the demise of the Gros Michel taught growers nothing, as most of the problematic practices are still in place. In addition to being grown as a monoculture, Cavendish banana plants are just clones of one another. (Yes, you’re basically just eating the same exact banana over and over) With zero genetic diversity, the Cavendish species has been completely vulnerable disease, and now, infection has finally struck.
Named “Tropical Race 4,” the world’s newest banana-killing fungal infection began its world tour in 1990 in Malaysia. Caused by the common fungus Fusarium (that was most likely already present in the soil), the disease can spread at alarming rates. At its core, it is very similar to Panama Disease, and it has the potential to be just as devastating. TP4 affects the plant’s vascular system, and it blocks the plant from absorbing water hence killing the plant. When contaminated dirt is transported by wind, water, or cars, even a tiny amount can spread the infection wherever it goes. Since it came about, the disease has already moved from Malaysia to South-East Asia, then across the sea to Australia, and finally to Africa. Most recently, traces of the disease were found in the Middle East. In combination, this spread indicates that TP4 is truly a worldwide threat.
In addition to a tragic loss for your morning smoothie, the endangerment of the banana industry could have serious impact on millions of people. In Africa, for example, the banana is not only essential for food security, it serves as a major pillar of the economy for income generation. With India as the world’s largest producer of bananas and Ecuador as the largest exporter of bananas, the obliteration of the market could be devastating for food security in developing regions.
Perhaps most problematic, is that the disease remains in the soil. Even if plantation owners burned down the current crop to start fresh, as its typical for combatting other forms of disease, they could not eradicate the pathogen in the soil. Banana trees could not be replanted in the infected areas. The banana industry may once again have to turn to other options, as the dominant species of banana faces looming extinction. Growers may consider GMO or hybrid options, but only time will tell. In the meantime, enjoy those bananas while you can.
