Bananas as We Know Them Could Disappear Forever

[NAC4EV]

The disease -- which is referred to as "Panama disease" or "Fusarium wilt" -- has spread from Asia to Australia, Africa and the Middle East.

http://www.straitstimes.com/world/fungus-threatens-to-wipe-out-worlds-supply-of-cavendish-banana

 

[Ichinisan]

Isn't this news like 15 - 20 years old already?

 

[NAC4EV]

Isn't this news like 15 - 20 years old already?

This is not the banana industry’s first encounter with the disease.
Back in the 1960s, a strain of the Fusarium wilt wiped out the Gros Michel variety, which, until that point, had been the world’s preferred banana breed.


.

 

[purbeast0]

does the WHO ever put out any information that is not scare tactics? pretty much every article i've ever read by them is basically a full article of clickbait.

 

[Eli]

I read about this several years ago now, and it isn't the first time it has happened.

Our monoculture practices are what cause things like this.

 

[Exterous]

Crap - I eat those close to every day

 

[disappoint]

 

[dullard]

Like others have said. This happens every generation. We plant only one type of banana in bulk, it gets wiped out, we plant another type in bulk.

There are so many delicious banana varieties. We just need to be willing to eat the next variety that will be overplanted. The only difference is the next overplanted banana will be different than our current banana in an unimportant way: smaller, straighter, fatter, a different skin color, etc.

 

[Linux23]

Like others have said. This happens every generation. We plant only one type of banana in bulk, it gets wiped out, we plant another type in bulk.

There are so many delicious banana varieties. We just need to be willing to eat the next variety that will be overplanted. The only difference is the next overplanted banana will be different than our current banana in an unimportant way: smaller, straighter, fatter, a different skin color, etc.

Are you describing um, never mind.

 

[Carson Dyle]

They've been predicting this ... for about 50 years.

 

[FerrelGeek]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDd8shcLvHI

 

[Rakehellion]

Good riddance. We'll engineer better bananas.

 

[DrPizza]

Good riddance. We'll engineer better bananas.

I'm pretty sure they're working on it. GMO bananas ftmfw!

 

[poofyhairguy]

Like others have said. This happens every generation. We plant only one type of banana in bulk, it gets wiped out, we plant another type in bulk.

There are so many delicious banana varieties. We just need to be willing to eat the next variety that will be overplanted. The only difference is the next overplanted banana will be different than our current banana in an unimportant way: smaller, straighter, fatter, a different skin color, etc.

Actually for the next round they are trying to make a super banana. GMO bananas for the win.

 

[Cheesemoo]

As long as it doesn't hit avocados Im good.

 

[PokerGuy]

What is to prevent them from saving bananas, waiting until the disease is gone and then replanting them at a later point? Wouldn't it be as simple as switching to another type temporarily and then back later?

 

[William Gaatjes]

Noooooo !

I need a banana with my morning coffee as my breakfast.

 

[Newbian]

Meh I don't care for them other then the rare cases of banana bread and as long as the recipe doesn't use a ton of them so let them burn especially as most people eat them from the wrong end.

 

[Genx87]

Next up is the last Okra harvest and then off to explore the universe!

 

[Kaido]

The history of the banana is INSANE! If you like reading, check out this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Banana-Fate-Fruit-Changed-World/dp/0452290082/

It's like Breaking Bad on a global scale. Also if you have not had a grilled banana boat (you can do it in your oven, too), you owe it to yourself to try one:

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/grilled-banana-boats/7e0f5924-05cb-40cc-b879-1050f7c118a7

http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/grilled-banana-boats/09e8e5bb-c44e-4111-8af1-8b1cf8a182f5

http://homecookingmemories.com/grilled-banana-dessert-bar/

 

[rh71]

They've been predicting this ... for about 50 years.

Maybe the ones who could use more profit from supply & demand are doing this... again.

 

[nakedfrog]

I'm ashamed of each and every one of you, and myself most of all, and I apologize, but...



THIS SHIT IS B-A-N-A-N-A-S



I'll skulk back to 2005 now. Tip your server.

Just the tip.

 

[ElFenix]

how will we measure things if the banana goes extinct?

 

[core2slow]

that's cool, im a cherry/strawberry guy anyway.

 

[DrPizza]

I guess it's time to preserve some for future tasting. Time to make a huge 12 gallon batch of banana wine.