The Climate Adaptation, Mitigation and Biodiversity Conservation Subgroup aims to promote climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in the banana supply chain. Through the subgroup activities, members are encouraged to make the necessary investments to strengthen producers’ resilience through targeted measures that address the negative impacts of climate change on farming and livelihoods, while also supporting sustainable production and biodiversity conservation. Due to its inextricable linkage with climate change and biodiversity, the subgroup is also addressing issues related to plastic use and management in the banana industry. 

Objectives

The Subgroup has 2 main objectives:

a) Knowledge and collaboration platform

The Subgroup aims to facilitate the exchange of practical experiences and best practices among stakeholders related to climate change adaptation, mitigation, and biodiversity conservation in banana production. This includes identifying cross-cutting issues with the Agroecological Practices and Water Management Subgroup, as well as leveraging the positive outcomes of the former Action Alliance for Sustainable Bananas (ABNB). 

b) Stakeholder commitment

Subgroup members are committed to contributing and collaborating on climate adaptation, mitigation, and biodiversity efforts in banana supply chain. 

1. Standard-setting organizations continuously enhance the climate-related criteria in their standards, share best practices and learning experiences, and offer collaboration and guidance for climate projects and programs.
2. Producers work toward implementing climate-smart measures to ensure the long-term sustainability of their farms.
3. Companies source bananas from farms where climate-smart measures have been adopted and provide financial support to help producers make the necessary investments for these initiatives.
4. Civil Society and Other Stakeholders advocate for climate adaptation and mitigation in their banana-related projects.
5. Subgroup Members develop information tools to raise awareness and educate consumers about the banana sector's climate action strategy.

Based on scientific evidence and insights from experts, the former ABNB identified 7 measures that are inextricably linked to the goal of adapting production to climate change and reducing the negative impacts of production on the environment.

The implementation of these measures is being described in the Manual on Sustainable Agriculture, with emphasis on biodiversity and climate change developed by the “Del Campo al Plato” Project (ABNB/GIZ/GNF) in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. This manual intends to supports producers to adapt to climate change, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions (GES) and protect biodiversity. It clearly outlines the required activities and investments, while providing best practice examples from Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic and Ecuador. 

Workstreams

1) Soil Management/Ecosystem Conservation: composting, cover crops, mulching, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), irrigation management and buffer zones.

NEW PILOT PROJECT - Together with the Global Soil Partnership (GSP, FAO), the WBF Secretariat will soon launch a pilot project aimed at smallholder banana farmers in Colombia. Building on the success of the Global Soil Doctors Program (GSDP, FAO), this project seeks to strengthen their capacity in sustainable soil and ecosystem management through dedicated crop-specific trainings and the establishment of a farmer-to-farmer training network. The initiative aims to enhance resilience to climate shocks, boost biodiversity, and improve the overall sustainability of banana production systems.

2) Sustainable Management of Plastics: plastic reduction and plastic recycling

In December 2021, the FAO published the ‘Assessment of agricultural plastics and their sustainability: A call for action’, a comprehensive report on the use and unsustainable management of plastics in agriculture. The report underscores the exponential increase in the use of plastics in agriculture since the mid-20th century, a trend projected to continue in the future. As the world's most consumed fruit, banana production and trade are particularly dependent on plastics which are used in various processes along the supply chain.

In response, the WBF Secretariat, in close collaboration with various Subgroup members, has developed the Factsheet – Towards a Banana Sector Free of Plastic Contamination. This document aims to highlight persistent plastic-related challenges in the sector and showcase best practices implemented by various actors, encouraging all industry stakeholders to take action. Stay tuned—the factsheet will soon be available!

To learn about plastics in agriculture, visit FAO's dedicated page by clicking here. 

3) Crop Diversification and Biodiversity Conservation

While the global banana export industry depends almost exclusively on the Cavendish variety, there are more than 1,000 banana varieties grown worldwide, primarily by small-scale farmers for local consumption and domestic markets. These diverse varieties are vital not only for ensuring food security and preserving banana biodiversity, but also for enhancing resilience to climate change, pests, and diseases. Recognizing their importance, the Subgroup, with the extensive support of CIAT-Bioversity Alliance, is committed to increase genetic diversity in banana production systems This initiative aims to boost the resilience and sustainability of banana farming in the medium and long term, making it better equipped to face environmental and market challenges.

To learn more about the critical work in banana biodiversity conservation by the Alliance Bioversity–CIAT, please visit their website.