Organic banana

1994/09/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Nekazaritza

Two Honduran researchers working in the international organization for research and development in Ottawa have achieved a special variety of bananas called Goldfinger. The particularity is to deal with a fungus that, without any pesticide, is currently destroying the avant-garde around the world.

Cavendish banana is currently the most cultivated in the world, but a small fungus has put it in danger to destroy it. As a result, 44 kilos of pesticides per hectare are are used in plantains, although 0.5 kilos are commonly used in other areas. It is estimated that 500 workers died in Costa Rica intoxicated by pesticides between 1980 and 1986.

The fungus does not harm the new type of banana and a Brazilian variety has been combined with another Asian.