Banana industry faces disease threat
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The fungal disease fusarium wilt is ravaging the $25 billion banana industry. A strain known as Tropical Race 4 is now spreading among the banana heartlands of Latin America
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Banana exports (2019) Latin America produces 80% of global exports

Mexico $269.5m
Honduras $302.7m
Guatemala $944.5m
Ecuador $3.3bn
Costa Rica $999.7m
Panama $379.1m
Dominican Republic $432.7m
Colombia $1.6bn
Peru $152m
United States $450.3m
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Fusarium fungus: Lives in soil and attacks roots before spreading through entire plant Spores contaminate soil for decades
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Spreads through soil movement, typically caused by workers, animals or flooding
Tropical Race 1: First strain nearly wiped out Gros Michel banana in 1950s – Cavendish variety found to be resistant to it
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Tropical Race 4: New strain, first detected in Taiwan in 1990 Kills Cavendish – main type grown for international market
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Sources: Bloomberg, UN Food and Agriculture Organization
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