Category: plant

Japan Bans Bananas: From the Annals of Government Stupidity – Forbes

Under the new rules, the limit for general foodstuffs such as fruit, vegetables, rice, seafood and meat is 100 becquerels of radiation per kilogram, down from 500 prior to April 1. The limit for milk, baby food and infant formula is 50 becquerels per kilogram. For drinking water and tea leaves, it is 10 becquerels per kilogram.

The ministry said local municipalities will be responsible for carrying out testing and that any item measuring above the set standard will not be permitted to be sold.

The problem is that bananas are naturally radioactive. One banana has perhaps 15 Bq, there are usually more than 6 or 7 bananas to a kilo of them and thus a kilo of bananas has more than 100 Bq. And as for Brazil nuts, these are actually so radioactive that if you take them into a nuclear installation you cannot take them out again. They’re too radioactive, go over the limits for what a nuclear installation is allowed to release into the environment. It is possible that this nuts story is apocryphal of course but I wouldn’t bet against it being true.

via Japan Bans Bananas: From the Annals of Government Stupidity – Forbes.

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Welcome to the Traditional Knowledge Information Portal, which has been developed by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity in order to promote awareness and enhance access by indigenous and local communities and other interested parties to information on traditional knowledge, innovations and practices relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. It aims to provide useful and timely information especially as traditional knowledge in relation to the programme of work for Article 8(j) and Related Provisions.

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$170-M Banana Exports to Iran Secure

By MIGUEL JAIME G. ONGPIN

October 31, 2010, 5:14pm

TEHRAN, Iran – The government of Iran said over the weekend that the Philippines’ $170-million banana export contracts with the Islamic republic is secure and will not be cancelled due to Manila’s alliance with Washington.

Iran’s Minister of Commerce Dr. Mahdi Ghazanfari denied reports appearing in Manila newspapers last month that the Philippines’ banana export contract with Iran may be cancelled.

The Minister of Commerce issued the statement during the 17th Press and News Agencies Festival held here with 247 participants from the academe and media from 48 countries.

Responding to a question related to trade sanctions and exports, Dr. Ghazanfari said that if four waves of “unfair and unjust” sanctions had failed to adversely affect Iran, then there was no reason to cancel any of its existing import or export contracts.

He said that gone are the days of the Cold War when smaller states were dependent on superpowers, adding that in this new era of globalization, buyers need only to find suppliers and arrive at a mutually agreeable price.

“In the year 2009, our exports to your country were worth $250 million; and in the same year, we had imports of $130 million from your country. You can be sure that there is no limitation for expanding our trade,” Ghazanfari said.

Backyard permits urged to stop banana disease

The Australian Banana Growers Council is urging backyard banana growers to get a permit to help stop the spread of bunchy top disease.

National program coordinator David Peasley says commercial crops from Byron Bay to Cooroy are monitored closely for the disease but backyard growers can unwittingly pass it on if they give their plants away.

The disease is spread by aphids, and stunts plants and deforms bunches.   Link to rest of story;

Carotenoid and riboflavin content of banana cultivars from Makira, Solomon Islands

Lois Englbergera, Graham Lyonsb, Wendy Foleyc, Jeff Daniellsd, Bill Aalbersberge, Usaia Dolodolotawakee, Claudine Watotof, Ellen Iramug, Belden Takih, Francis Wehii, Peter Waritof, i and Mary Taylorj 

Abstract

The Solomon Islands face problems of vitamin A deficiency and infectious diseases, including malaria. It is essential to identify nutrient-rich indigenous foods for preventing and alleviating these diseases. Previous work in Micronesia identified yellow/orange-fleshed carotenoid-rich banana cultivars, in particular Fe’i cultivars (characterized by upright bunches), with potential to alleviate vitamin A deficiency. Although there is a great diversity of Solomon Islands bananas, little is documented about these cultivars and their nutrient content. Using an ethnographic approach, this study aimed to identify nutrient-rich cultivars and to collect information relating to production and consumption. Seven Fe’i cultivars (not previously analyzed) and three non-Fe’i cultivars were assessed for flesh color, fruit size and other attributes and analyzed for provitamin A carotenoids (β- and α-carotene), total carotenoids and riboflavin. Five Fe’i and two non-Fe’i cultivars were identified as carotenoid-rich. Of 10 cultivars analyzed the concentrations of β-carotene equivalents ranged from 45 to 7124 μg/100 g. Compared to cultivars with light-colored flesh, the yellow/orange-fleshed cultivars generally contained higher carotenoid concentrations. All Fe’i cultivars contained riboflavin, from 0.10 to 2.72 mg/100 g, some having substantial concentrations. The nutrient-rich cultivars, including Fe’i, should be promoted for their potential to contribute to vitamin A intake and overall health.

Keywords: Fe’i banana; Musa (Fe’i group); Vitamin A deficiency; Indigenous foods; Ethnographic approach to food analysis; Biodiversity of traditional food systems; Horticulture and biodiversity; Agrobiodiversity; Cultivar differences; Underutilized species; Food composition

Panama Banana Blight Harmless to Humans (in one sense…)

Panama Banana Blight Harmless to Humans
(But really? Is it? Doesn’t it threaten the viability of a staple crop?)

Local administrations in Haikou have opened ports to facilitate banana business and avoid more losses, after news that “banana cancer” swept most parts of China. As the rumor of the “Panama Disease” outbreak in banana plantations gradually quiets down, the local government has decided to give a 300-yuan subsidy [USD 37.5] for each banana truckload in an attempt to boost fruit sales and reduce losses suffered by local banana planters. Continue reading Panama Banana Blight Harmless to Humans (in one sense…)