Editing Banana (section)

=== Sustainability ===

The excessive use of fertilizers contributes greatly to [[eutrophication]] in streams and lakes, harming aquatic life, while expanding banana production has led to deforestation. As soil nutrients are depleted, more forest is cleared for plantations. This causes soil erosion and increases the frequency of flooding.<ref name="Cohen-2009">{{cite web |last=Cohen |first=Rebecca |date=2009-06-12 |title=Global issues for breakfast: The banana industry and its problems FAQ (Cohen mix) |url=https://www.scq.ubc.ca/global-issues-for-breakfast-the-banana-industry-and-its-problems-faq-cohen-mix/ |access-date=2020-06-05 |website=SCQ |archive-date=June 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605014801/https://www.scq.ubc.ca/global-issues-for-breakfast-the-banana-industry-and-its-problems-faq-cohen-mix/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Sustainability standards and certification|Voluntary sustainability standards]] such as [[Rainforest Alliance]] and [[Fairtrade certification|Fairtrade]] are being used to address some of these issues. Banana production certified in this way grew rapidly at the start of the 21st century to represent 36% of banana exports by 2016.<ref>{{Cite report |last1=Voora |first1=V. |last2=Larrea |first2=C. |last3=Bermudez |first3=S. |year=2020 |title=Global Market Report: Bananas |url=https://www.iisd.org/ssi/commodities/banana-coverage/ |website=State of Sustainability Initiatives}}</ref> However, such standards are applied mainly in countries which focus on the export market, such as Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Guatemala; worldwide they cover only 8–10% of production.<ref name="Voora-2023">{{cite web |last1=Voora |first1=Vivek |last2=Bermudez |first2=Steffany |last3=Farrell |first3=Johanna Joy |last4=Larrea |first4=Cristina |last5=Luna |first5=Erika |title=Banana Prices and Sustainability |page=8 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-03/2023-global-market-report-banana.pdf |publisher=[[International Institute for Sustainable Development]] |access-date=13 July 2024 |date=March 2023}}</ref>