Recommendations for the Banana and Pineapple Sector

Recommendations for effective criteria for biodiversity protection in food standards and sourcing requirements of food companies in the banana and pineapple sector

These recommendations were created within the framework of the project "Del Campo al Plato" which aims at the protection of biodiversity in the cultivation of bananas and pineapples. They are based on the findings of the IKI’s Baseline Report and the results of studies and pilot projects related to agriculture and biodiversity. These include an extensive consultation process we carried out with experts from international and national food standards organizations, certification companies, food companies, environmental organizations and scientific institutes in Europa, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.

The recommendations focus on the main causes of biodiversity loss: ecosystem degradation and destruction, overexploitation of natural resources, climate change, invasive alien species, and water and soil pollution. However, the lack of knowledge about biodiversity on farms and the surrounding landscapes is another key factor in the loss of biodiversity. Therefore, some of the recommendations focus on motivating producers (especially of bananas and pineapples) to analyze the existing biodiversity on their farms and the adjacent landscape.

The objective of the recommendations is to avoid, reduce and offset negative impacts on biodiversity, to improve protection and to create more potential for biodiversity, especially in the production of bananas and pineapples.

The criteria and measures offer a compromise between the scientific requirements of nature conservation and the viability of implementing these measures in terms of standards and the businesses involved. In addition, the proposed measures have direct and indirect positive impacts on climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Link

 Del Campo al Plato: Recommendations for the Banana and Pineapple Sector

 

Contact

 Marion Hammerl

Dr. Thomas Schaefer

Global Nature Fund
 +49 7732 9995 89
 schaefer@globalnature.org