From Emile Frison, Director, International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain
You were right to report that the banana – a basic staple food for hundreds of millions of poor people in the tropics – is under threat from virulent pests and diseases (18 January, p 26). But the problem is not insurmountable.
In the past 10 years, some improved varieties suitable for large-scale production have been made available. The real obstacle to beating the many diseases that threaten the banana is that worldwide only five scientists are working to breed improved bananas – a meagre research effort decidedly out of proportion to the scale of the problem.
This is alarmingly little investment, given the banana’s global significance. It must be increased if the world’s most popular fruit is not to decline still further.
Montpellier, France
