Bananas under threat as rising temperatures killing crops
Bananas are coming under increasing threat from climate change, with farmers saying extreme weather is 'killing' their crops, according to a report.
An analysis by international development charity Christian Aid released on Monday shows rising temperatures and climate-related pests are putting bananas at risk.
It found that nearly two-thirds of the most suitable banana-growing areas in Latin America and the Caribbean – a region responsible for around 80% of the world's banana exports – could be lost by 2080 due to climate impacts.
Bananas grow in a temperature range of between 15-35C but are also very sensitive to water shortages, meaning increasingly extreme weather is affecting the plant's ability to photosynthesise.
Diseases such as fusarium tropical race 4 have also emerged as a growing threat in recent years, causing the loss of entire farms across Latin America.
CLIMATE & SUSTAINABILITY HUB
Christian Aid cited farmers from the region who say their farms are 'dying', which in turn is affecting their income.
Aurelia Pop Xo, 53, a banana grower in Guatemala, said: 'Climate change has been killing our crops.
'This means there is no income because we cannot sell anything. What is happening is that my plantation has been dying.
'In the past, there was a prediction that this would happen in the future, but it has come earlier, and this is because we are not taking care of our motherland, our ecosystems, and this is very worrying for our kids, and especially for our grandkids.' In light of the findings, Christian Aid is urging developed nations to urgently reduce their carbon emissions to stem the growing impacts of climate change.
It also calls for international climate finance to support banana growers and agricultural communities to adapt to the changing climate.
Osai Ojigho, Christian Aid's director of policy and campaigns, said: 'Bananas are not just the world's favourite fruit, but they are also an essential food for millions of people.
'The lives and livelihoods of people who have done nothing to cause the climate crisis are already under threat.' Ms Ojigho called on countries to use this year's deadline for new UN national climate action plans as an opportunity to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels and ensure climate finance 'reaches people in desperate need of it'.
Elsewhere, consumers and businesses are being urged to choose bananas certified as Fairtrade, which ensures farmers are paid more for their crops.
Anna Pierides, Fairtrade Foundation's senior sustainable sourcing manager for bananas, said: 'Without fair prices, banana farmers simply cannot make ends meet.
'Fairtrade is committed to raising incomes, living standards and the resilience of banana producers to enable them to deal with the changing climate and to continue farming.
'One way businesses can support this is through our Shared Impact initiative, which brings buyers together to ensure longer-term sourcing commitments, greater transparency and more opportunities for banana growers to sell more on Fairtrade terms.' Holly Woodward-Davey, project co-ordinator at Banana Link, which works across the banana supply chain, said: 'The climate crisis and the associated biodiversity crisis demand a rethink of industrial food production systems, which depend on the use of increasing amounts of harmful chemicals.
'Governments must continue to take decisive action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ban the most toxic chemicals while investing in transitions to fair, stable and healthy food systems.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
2 days ago
- The Journal
This spring was the warmest in Ireland since modern records began
Met Éireann Met Éireann SPRING 2025 WAS the warmest spring Ireland has ever experienced in the 126 years of weather records held by Met Éireann. Of the top five average temperatures for spring (which covers March, April and May) in those 126 years, four have occurred since 2017 – signalling a pattern of rising seasonal temperatures in line with climate change. This year's spring was the first one that was more than two degrees Celsius hotter on average than the average spring temperature of the 20th century. Met Éireann's new seasonal climate statement says it was also the sunniest spring on record. Advertisement Most weather stations around the country recorded their highest values for total hours of sunshine in spring. It was a relatively dry spring, provisionally ranking as the 16th driest since the start of the relevant records in 1941 and the driest since 2020. Shifting weather patterns around the world and successive record-breaking conditions are evidence of climate change, which is being caused by human activities leading to excessive greenhouse gas emissions that trap heat inside the atmosphere. Many people will have enjoyed the unusually warm conditions this early in the year – but it's also a concerning signal of the climate change the world faces, which is on track to escalate in coming years if countries fail to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The unusual conditions during this spring caused a marine heatwave in Irish waters and drought conditions in numerous parts of the country. The marine heatwave develop off the west coast in April and May. Sea surface temperatures reached over two degrees warmer than average in some coastal areas and up to four degrees warmer than average in offshore areas. Related Reads Storm warning: Extreme wind is now 'priority' climate risk for Ireland Ireland's excessive emissions mean climate goals 'are increasingly out of reach' UN says 70% chance average global warming will exceed 1.5C benchmark in next five years These kinds of marine heatwaves can have major ecological impacts, according to Met Éireann, including coral bleaching, shifts in marine species, harmful algal blooms and disruptions to food chains. On land, there were numerous instances of what Met Éireann terms 'climatological dry periods' during spring 2025. These are classified as dry spells (a period of 15 or more consecutive days with no days having 1mm or more of precipitation', an absolute drought (a period of 15 or more consecutive days with no days having 0.2 mm or more of precipitation), or a partial drought (a period of at least 29 consecutive days, the mean daily rainfall of which does not exceed 0.2 mm). The areas around 11 of Ireland's weather stations had absolute droughts during spring 2025. Three had partial droughts and 22 had dry spells. Eight had two dry periods at different times during the season. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
28-05-2025
- RTÉ News
Global temperatures may top 1.5C in next five years, says UN agency
The world is expected to experience more record temperatures over the next five years, with Arctic warming predicted at more than three times the global average, a new report by the UN weather agency said. There is an 80% chance that at least one of the next five years will see record heat, with a high likelihood that average warming will exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, according to the report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Last year, the hottest year on record, saw the first breach of the 2015 Paris climate agreement, which committed countries to avoid global warming of more than 1.5 C. From this year until the end of 2029, the mean near-surface temperature globally is forecast to be between 1.2C and 1.9C higher than pre-industrial levels of the years 1850-1900, the WMO said, adding that this would fuel more extreme weather. "Every additional fraction of a degree of warming drives more harmful heatwaves, extreme rainfall events, intense droughts, melting of ice sheets, sea ice, and glaciers, heating of the ocean, and rising sea levels," it said in a statement. In the Arctic, the above-average projected warming will accelerate ice melt in the Arctic and northwest Pacific Ocean. The report said Arctic warming was predicted to be more than three-and-a-half times the global average, at 2.4C above the average temperature during the most recent 30-year baseline period over the next five winters. Overall global temperatures will remain at or near record levels until the end of the decade, the WMO report said. Above-average rainfall is forecast in parts of the world including the Sahel, northern Europe, Alaska and northern Siberia, for the months between May and September between 2025 and 2029, while drier-than-average conditions are foreseen this season over the Amazon, according to the weather agency.
Irish Examiner
12-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Bananas under threat as rising temperatures killing crops
Bananas are coming under increasing threat from climate change, with farmers saying extreme weather is 'killing' their crops, according to a report. An analysis by international development charity Christian Aid released on Monday shows rising temperatures and climate-related pests are putting bananas at risk. It found that nearly two-thirds of the most suitable banana-growing areas in Latin America and the Caribbean – a region responsible for around 80% of the world's banana exports – could be lost by 2080 due to climate impacts. Bananas grow in a temperature range of between 15-35C but are also very sensitive to water shortages, meaning increasingly extreme weather is affecting the plant's ability to photosynthesise. Diseases such as fusarium tropical race 4 have also emerged as a growing threat in recent years, causing the loss of entire farms across Latin America. CLIMATE & SUSTAINABILITY HUB Christian Aid cited farmers from the region who say their farms are 'dying', which in turn is affecting their income. Aurelia Pop Xo, 53, a banana grower in Guatemala, said: 'Climate change has been killing our crops. 'This means there is no income because we cannot sell anything. What is happening is that my plantation has been dying. 'In the past, there was a prediction that this would happen in the future, but it has come earlier, and this is because we are not taking care of our motherland, our ecosystems, and this is very worrying for our kids, and especially for our grandkids.' In light of the findings, Christian Aid is urging developed nations to urgently reduce their carbon emissions to stem the growing impacts of climate change. It also calls for international climate finance to support banana growers and agricultural communities to adapt to the changing climate. Osai Ojigho, Christian Aid's director of policy and campaigns, said: 'Bananas are not just the world's favourite fruit, but they are also an essential food for millions of people. 'The lives and livelihoods of people who have done nothing to cause the climate crisis are already under threat.' Ms Ojigho called on countries to use this year's deadline for new UN national climate action plans as an opportunity to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels and ensure climate finance 'reaches people in desperate need of it'. Elsewhere, consumers and businesses are being urged to choose bananas certified as Fairtrade, which ensures farmers are paid more for their crops. Anna Pierides, Fairtrade Foundation's senior sustainable sourcing manager for bananas, said: 'Without fair prices, banana farmers simply cannot make ends meet. 'Fairtrade is committed to raising incomes, living standards and the resilience of banana producers to enable them to deal with the changing climate and to continue farming. 'One way businesses can support this is through our Shared Impact initiative, which brings buyers together to ensure longer-term sourcing commitments, greater transparency and more opportunities for banana growers to sell more on Fairtrade terms.' Holly Woodward-Davey, project co-ordinator at Banana Link, which works across the banana supply chain, said: 'The climate crisis and the associated biodiversity crisis demand a rethink of industrial food production systems, which depend on the use of increasing amounts of harmful chemicals. 'Governments must continue to take decisive action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ban the most toxic chemicals while investing in transitions to fair, stable and healthy food systems.'
