Bananas

My other posts on bananas point out their history and cultivation but they do not address the effects that they have on the environment.

The major affect that initially starting a plantation will have on the enviornment is detrimental. Many natural features, such as rainforests are being destroyed to make way for the creation of banana plantations.

Several large banana plantations such as Dole, Chiquita, and Del Monte are focused highly on the appearance of their bananas with little regards to the environmental affects on the earth. Many pesticides are used so that insects will not alter the appearance of the banana, which brings along many other issues. If the insect species that is being targeted is not present when sprayed, then the beneficial predetors may end up being killed. The pesticides used on these insects have also shown to be harmful to surrounding wildlife such as birds and fish which are predators to the insects that these pesticides kill.

A startling fact is that bananas are actually the most pesticide-rich topical fruit produced for international trade. Even more shocking, in Costa Rica 280 different pesticides are approved for use on bananas and one third of banana production cost in Costa Rica is spent on pesticides.

Although Costa Rica has ideal conditions for banana production, it also provides the an abundance of rain. This can become an issue because the rain water carries away pesticides from the plantations to other areas of the country. In fact around 60 - 85% of all chemicals are lost to leaching or runoff due to raining and absorption.

Banana plantations also have issues with the disposal of waste. Twenty percent of waste from plantations requires special treatment. The Ministry of Health found that in Costa Rica, 78% of plantations did not dispose of waste properly. Waste exists from the disposal of bad banana production and also plastic bags and ties used to protect the plant from insects.

It is apparent that banana production seems to have a very detrimental affect on the environment. Companies are starting to improve the ways of production so that there are less effects occuring. Later in our trip, we are visiting an organic plantation where I'm hoping to learn about more sustainable ways to grow bananas.

(http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/15843/Banana-Production-and-the-Environment-Sarapiqui-1)