The humble banana
April 26th 2008 08:21
While I was clearing out a couple of large drawers today, drawers full of old magazines and various other paraphernalia, I came across a copy of The New Scientist, that self-important British magazine which is always proclaiming itself on the cusp of new information. At least that’s how it comes across to me.
I’ve pretty much given up reading it. I don’t think it’s reporting is half as good as it’s claimed to be, because even though it presents its material in scientific-speak, a lot of what it reports isn’t factual, and hasn’t been verified in any sense.
One such case was in one of the magazines I threw away today. The front cover roared at us that the banana would be going the way of the dodo – or words to that effect. I remember reading this article when it first came out, and no doubt like many others, mourned the idea that we would be bereft of that favourite fruit, the banana.
In fact, the truth is quite different. Around the time the article came out, along with a host of other media reports along similar lines, a piece was put on the Net which told the reality of the situation. It’s on the CIRAD site, a French agricultural research centre working for international development.
Ah, but can we trust the French? Of course we can – once in a while!
The writer notes: Through its Fruit and Horticultural Crops Department, CIRAD is one of the world’s leading public research organizations working on banana, and can shed light on many published claims. According to its researchers, the crop is set to continue to flourish throughout the tropics and bananas will no doubt remain one of the most widely consumed fruits. However, substantial research efforts will have to be made in order to improve the plant, in view of its importance as a food and export crop.
It goes on to say: The claims made about the likely disappearance of the Cavendish variety are exaggerated. It dominates world trade-12 to 14 million tonnes-but only accounts for 13% of world production (95 million tonnes). Fortunately, banana growing is not restricted to this one variety: hundreds of others are grown worldwide. Cooking bananas (plantains and other varieties) are a major part of the diet in many tropical areas. There are no fewer than 1,500 known banana varieties, some of which are naturally pest- or disease-resistant. There is therefore no threat to the genetic diversity of the species as yet.
So there you have it. Believe not everything you read in the general press.
I’ve pretty much given up reading it. I don’t think it’s reporting is half as good as it’s claimed to be, because even though it presents its material in scientific-speak, a lot of what it reports isn’t factual, and hasn’t been verified in any sense.
One such case was in one of the magazines I threw away today. The front cover roared at us that the banana would be going the way of the dodo – or words to that effect. I remember reading this article when it first came out, and no doubt like many others, mourned the idea that we would be bereft of that favourite fruit, the banana.
In fact, the truth is quite different. Around the time the article came out, along with a host of other media reports along similar lines, a piece was put on the Net which told the reality of the situation. It’s on the CIRAD site, a French agricultural research centre working for international development.
Bananas, and Nelson's column in Trafalgar Square, by armcurl
The writer notes: Through its Fruit and Horticultural Crops Department, CIRAD is one of the world’s leading public research organizations working on banana, and can shed light on many published claims. According to its researchers, the crop is set to continue to flourish throughout the tropics and bananas will no doubt remain one of the most widely consumed fruits. However, substantial research efforts will have to be made in order to improve the plant, in view of its importance as a food and export crop.
It goes on to say: The claims made about the likely disappearance of the Cavendish variety are exaggerated. It dominates world trade-12 to 14 million tonnes-but only accounts for 13% of world production (95 million tonnes). Fortunately, banana growing is not restricted to this one variety: hundreds of others are grown worldwide. Cooking bananas (plantains and other varieties) are a major part of the diet in many tropical areas. There are no fewer than 1,500 known banana varieties, some of which are naturally pest- or disease-resistant. There is therefore no threat to the genetic diversity of the species as yet.
So there you have it. Believe not everything you read in the general press.
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