Why Is The Multi-Billion Dollar Banana Industry In Crisis?

Delicious, nutritious, and budget-friendly to boot, the humble banana is the world's favourite fruit

Estimates suggest that around 100 billion bananas are consumed each year, with the global industry worth many billions of dollars as a result.

But the future of the beloved fruit could be in jeopardy, with disease and climate change putting the most widely-grown variety at serious risk.

The planet is blessed with over 1,000 varieties of banana, although one cultivar (variety) dominates: the Cavendish.

The Cavendish was brought to the UK from Mauritius in 1830 as a gift for William Cavendish, the 6th Duke of Devonshire, who it was named after. 

The world has gone bananas for the banana. It's the planet's most popular fruit and fourth largest crop after rice, wheat, and maize.

According to a much-cited figure, more than 100 billion bananas are consumed annually.

However, based on global production data this number appears to be a massive understatement.

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