subistence – Indigenous Colonial Banana

Fairtrade banana crisis brewing in Colombia | Banana Link

Reefer Trends reports on the crisis in the Colombian industry,

‘In the last few weeks the crisis has started to bite and producers have had to choose between paying workers their full wages and benefits or applying inputs.’

This is the stark assessment made by NGO Banana Link in describing the situation of the banana industry in Colombia. Despite being at the top end of the scale in terms of compliance with core ethical standards such as freedom of association, living wages, stable employment contracts and decent working conditions and despite enjoying the best industrial relations in the Latin America banana sector the industry in crisis. This is because producers sell their fruit in US dollars and pay nearly all their costs in Colombian pesos. The report says that an ‘uncompensated 6.5% rise in the peso’s value against the dollar over the last 12 months, coupled with serious climatic disruption at the end of 2011 and into 2012, has meant increased costs to all producers.’ This has created a highly volatile situation in one of the world’s most violent regions.

via Fairtrade banana crisis brewing in Colombia | Banana Link.

Plant diversity: the key to life on Earth

Plants are a biological resource more valuable than all the money in all of our banks – let’s work towards protecting them

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

Lois Englberger^a, Graham Lyons^b, Wendy Foley^c, Jeff Daniells^d, Bill Aalbersberg^e, Usaia Dolodolotawake^e, Claudine Watoto^f, Ellen Iramu^g, Belden Taki^h, Francis Wehiⁱ, Peter Warito^f^,ⁱ and Mary Taylor^j

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