Achieving sustainable cultivation of bananas Volume 1: Cultivation techniques

by Gert H. J. Kema (Editor), André Drenth (Editor), Hugo A. Volkaert (Contribution by), Dan Koeppel (Contribution by), W. K. Tushemereirwe (Contribution by)

Overview

Bananas are the world’s most popular fruit and, according to the FAO, the fourth most important crop in the developing world after rice, wheat and maize. This volume discusses ways of improving cultivation techniques to make production more sustainable.

Part 1 reviews current yields, production trends and constraints. Part 2 surveys ways of improving cultivation practice whilst Part 3 discusses harvest and post-harvest operations. The final part of the book assesses ways of measuring and improving the environmental impact of banana cultivation.

Drawing on an international range of expertise, this collection focuses on ways of achieving more sustainable cultivation of banana at each step in the value chain, from propagation to post-harvest operations. This comprehensive collection will be a standard reference for the banana research community as well as banana producers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781786761583
Publisher:	Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing
Publication date:	10/05/2018
Series:	Burleigh Dodds Series in Agricultural Science , #40
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	378
File size:	51 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Dr Gert Kema is Professor of Tropical Plant Pathology at the Laboratory for Phytopathology of Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands. He leads several international banana research programs, including interdisciplinary research projects and public-private-partnerships focusing on Panama disease and black Sigatoka. He is a cofounder of several spin-off companies focusing on banana improvement, disease management and bioprocessing.
Dr Víctor Galán Saúco is Research Professor (Emeritus) at the Instituto Canario de Investigaciones Agrarias (ICIA), Spain where he was Head of Research from 1980 to 2006. Prof. Galán Saúco is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading experts on mangoes.


Dr André Drenth is Professor in Tropical Plant Pathology and Theme Leader for crop protection in the Centre for Horticultural Science at the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), at the University of Queensland. He leads several projects on tropical plant diseases and he initiated and led a national Banana Plant Protection Programme set up to protect Australia’s banana industry from the impact of a range of pests and diseases.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Banana production and its challenges
1.The origin, domestication and dispersal of bananas: Hugo Volkaert, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Thailand;
2.Understanding the banana industry: monoculture and beyond: Dan Koeppel, Independent Journalist and Researcher, USA;
3.Banana cultivation in Africa: W. K. Tushemereirwe and J. Kubiriba, National Agricultural Research Laboratories, Uganda;
4.Challenges and opportunities for smallholders in banana value chains: William Tinzaara, Bioversity International, Uganda; Dietmar Stoian, Bioversity International, France, Walter Ocimati, Enoch Kikulwe and Gloria Otieno, Bioversity International, Uganda; and Guy Blomme, Bioversity International, Ethiopia;

Part 2 Improving practices across the banana value chain
5.A functional approach to bunch formation in banana: D. W. Turner, School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Australia; and D. J. Gibbs, Consultant, Australia;
6.Banana plant propagation methods: Sharon D. Hamill, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Australia;
7.Conserving banana germplasm through field genebanks: Mike Smith, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Australia;
8.Good agricultural practices: an end or a starting point for more sustainable banana production?: Charles Staver, Bioversity International, France;
9.Challenges in cultivation of bananas in the subtropics: Víctor Galán Saúco, Instituto Canario de Investigaciones Agrarias, Spain;
10.Nutrition and soil management in banana cultivation: Jetse J. Stoorvogel, Wageningen University, The Netherlands; and Rafael A. Segura, CORBANA S.A., Costa Rica; 
11.Harvesting and packaging of bananas: Juan José Aycart, Dole, Ecuador;
12.Ripening systems for bananas: Frits Popma, Popma Fruit Expertise, The Netherlands;

Part 3 Assessing and improving sustainability
13.Life cycle assessment and carbon footprint of banana cultivation: Louis Bockel, Laure-Sophie Schiettecatte and Orane Debrune, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Italy;
14.Sustainable banana cultivation: from standards to multiple solutions: Sietze Vellema and Kees Jansen, Wageningen University, The Netherlands;
15.Organic banana cultivation and sustainability: Frans Wielemaker, Consultant (formerly Director of Research at Dole Fresh Fruit International), Costa Rica;

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"This book provides an excellent and complete overview of banana production in the world. Considering the rapid evolution of banana production in the last couple of decades, it provides a timely update of current information. The contributing authors are among the best experts in banana research worldwide, making this book the future reference volume for this important crop." Dr Emile Frison, Former Director General of Bioversity International

Editorial Reviews

"The book provides an excellent overview of banana cultivation across the world and how the adaptation and adoption of inter-disciplinary management strategies ensure sustainable production…a comprehensive foundation of knowledge on which future research strategies can be built." ISHS - Chronica Horticulturae

From the Publisher