The Fourth Global Conference of the World Banana Forum is poised to address critical sustainability issues within the global banana supply chain. Scheduled for March 12-13 at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy, the forum aims to tackle a range of challenges from climate change to labor rights to gender equality.
Bananas, the most exported fresh fruit in the world by volume, play a vital role in the global economy, with an estimated annual economic value of $10 billion. They serve as a crucial source of income and nutrition for many rural households in developing nations. However, the banana industry is confronted with urgent environmental, economic, and social issues that require collaborative solutions from all stakeholders involved.
The Fourth Global Conference of the World Banana Forum seeks to provide a platform for such collaboration, with the goal of fostering a more equitable, sustainable, and responsible banana industry. The conference will delve into various sustainability topics affecting the banana industry, including environmental impacts, climate change adaptation and mitigation, sustainable production systems, value distribution in the supply chain, labor rights, and gender equity.
Key panel discussions on the agenda include setting the scene for the future of the banana industry, exploring challenges and opportunities related to climate change and environmental sustainability, addressing fair value distribution along the supply chain, paving the way for decent work and adherence to international labor standards in the global banana industry, and strategies and solutions for combating Fusarium Wilt TR4, a significant threat to banana production.
Expected attendees include representatives from governments, international organizations, importers, exporters, retailers, producer organizations, trade unions, civil society groups, and research institutes across the global banana sector. While the conference is free to attend, advance registration is required to participate in this crucial dialogue on the future sustainability of the global banana supply chain.
