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1.5 Environmental Impact of Organic Banana Farming:
The advantages of organic farming for the environment are well known and frequently
mentioned as the main justification for selecting organic versus conventional goods.
Sustainable agriculture depends on organic agricultural practices since they improve soil
health, lessen chemical runoff, and increase biodiversity (Tuomisto et al., 2012). Because of
the size and intensity of conventional banana production—which has been connected to
pollution, deforestation, and soil degradation—banana farming has a particularly large
environmental impact.
Research has indicated that the use of more sustainable agricultural methods in organic
banana production can help to lessen some of these negative environmental effects. For
instance, agroforestry methods, which combine banana farming with other crops and trees to
increase biodiversity and lessen the ecological footprint of banana production, are frequently
used on organic farms (Méndez et al., 2010). Furthermore, organic farming methods can aid
in enhancing the fertility and soil structure, both of which are critical to the long-term viability
of banana plantations.
It's crucial to remember that organic farming is not without its difficulties. For example,
compared to conventional farms, organic farms could yield less, which, if improperly managed,
could result in increased land use and increased environmental damage. This demonstrates
how, in order to maximise environmental advantages while preserving productivity, organic
farming systems require continual study and innovation.
Figure 1.5 Comparison of organic and non-organic banana samples. Adapted from 'Sustainability of
organic and conventional agricultural systems,' by M. Kang & J. Zhang, 2015, Journal of Cleaner
Production, 100, p. 325.