The banana sector is currently grappling with interconnected challenges that are undermining the resilience of ecosystems on plantations worldwide. In response, carbon and water reduction strategies have become essential for the industry's sustainability. These strategies not only help prevent and mitigate environmental impacts but also enhance the sector's ability to adapt to climate change and other adverse conditions.

Members of the WBF recognize the significant role that agriculture plays in contributing to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and freshwater consumption. As such, this initiative is focused on promoting the widespread adoption of low-carbon strategies and efficient water management practices across the banana value chain. This will be achieved through a standardized and proven methodology and tool.

The project also aims to catalyze transformative approaches that promote environmental sustainability throughout the value chain. By engaging a diverse range of stakeholders—including producers, traders, NGOs, research institutions, certification bodies, governments, and retailers—it seeks to advance and strengthen environmental governance within the industry.

The goal

This project aims to mainstream the adoption of low-carbon strategies and efficient water management across the banana value chain. It seeks to offer technical expertise, strategic guidance, global coordination, neutral information sharing, and governance facilitation, while promoting innovative value-chain approaches. By doing so, the project will contribute to more sustainable banana production, better use of natural resources, and a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Three phases compose the Carbon and Water Footprint (CWF) initiative:

PHASE I (2017): The methodological guide was developed to measure and reduce carbon and water footprints. This phase included a pilot in Costa Rica. The guide was published in English and Spanish in 2018.

PHASE II (2020): Create a tool using the above guide, which will be in the form of an automated platform accessible online (cloud). Conduct training and validation sessions, hand-in-hand with producer associations in Ecuador, Colombia Costa Rica and Guatemala.

Phase III (2022): Improve the created tool by expanding its scope and robustness, as well as conducting training and validation sessions, hand-in-hand with producer associations and companies in, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama and Brazil.

Objectives

• Produce an online automated practical tool to quantify, measure and support the development of strategies to reduce carbon and water footprint of banana plantations;
• Promote knowledge transfer and best practices among banana farmers and value chain actors;
• Support the sustainable use of natural resources, and efficient water management;
• Prepare organizations to comply with agricultural and environmental standards at national and international levels;
• The third phase of the project also aims to test a distributed ledger system (blockchain) to enable transparency and traceability of the environmental footprint of bananas produced from farm to retail, in order to encompass a greater number of beneficiaries.
• Build climate resilience into banana supply chains;
• Provide valid and reliable information to strengthen national policies in terms of low carbon strategies and water stewardship;
• Raise awareness and educate consumers on the efforts of the global banana industry in reducing carbon emissions and impact on water use and management.
• Provide valid and reliable information to strengthen national policies in terms of low carbon strategies and water stewardship; and
• Increase transparency and traceability regarding GHG emissions and water impact across the banana value chain

The project is ongoing, and new partners are welcome to join the implementation activities.

Collaborations