A future bent on bananas
Industry aims to endure
Bananas are a well loved meal in a peel, but a national gathering in the Far North this week is looking at ways to make the industry associated with the product’s growth more sustainable and profitable.
More than 450 experts from around the country have gathered at the Cairns Convention Centre to discuss challenges, solutions and innovations to keep the banana industry afloat in its toughest time yet.
The 2023 Australian Banana Industry Congress kicked off with a scientific symposium on Wednesday to showcase the latest work of world-renowned banana researchers as a congregation of delegates, researchers, wholesalers, marketers, and retailers prepared to discuss the biggest issues faced by the industry.
Australian Banana Growers’ Council director, Congress Chair and Lakeland grower, Paul Inderbitzin said the event would provide motivation to make positive changes, especially as things were bleak at the moment.
“Right now, in Far North Queensland, the banana industry is doing it tough,” he said.
“It’s a story we’re also hearing from growers around the country.
“We’re dealing with skyrocketing costs of production, coupled with periods of low prices, while also conscious that there are some serious pests and diseases at our doorstep.”
He said people from every link in the supply chain were under one roof with the single goal of ensuring a sustainable and profitable future for the industry.
“We’re hoping to make a start on some of these challenges here at Congress,” he said.
“In particular, I’m looking forward to a session we’ve got dedicated to driving up demand.”
On the sustainability front, there were talks presented on revolutionising the thought process around waste, with technology that is ready to roll and will soon be available for use.
“Researchers have also updated us on work being done on new banana varieties, some of which are resistant to key diseases, as well as improved and faster ways to detect these,” Mr Inderbitzin said.
The biennial event, which concludes on May 19, also celebrated 10 years of its very own Banana Management Practice (BMP) – a voluntary checklist for growers to assess their own land management practices – with a cupcake tower.
Highlights from Thursday included a session on global robotic advances in tree cropping by Professor Salah Sukkarieh, a talk on smart technologies and creating sustainable materials and products from waste by renowned materials scientist Professor Veena Sahajwalla, as well as a panel on understanding the customer and current retail climate.
A Banana Industry Ball and Awards of Honour will also be held on Friday night to recognise some of the industry’s top talents.