Case study - Bananas

Question 1

Why are bananas important?

Answer 1

• 4th most important food product globally produced
• staple food in many cultures

Question 2

Where are bananas produced?

Answer 2

• produced in tropical regions with a hot and rainy climate
• central america and the caribeans are where they are mostly exported
• many of these countries are economically dependant on them

Question 3

Deforestation facts

Answer 3

• to produce 1 tonne of bananas 2 tonnes of forest needs to be cut down
• more deforestation in places to produce bananas like in the Amazon

Question 4

Patterns of consumption

Answer 4

• 80% of bananas produced is for national/local consumption
• India and Brazil consume a lot of bananas but also produce a lot
• USA and the EU are the largest importers

Question 5

What are the roles of TNCs in banana trade?

Answer 5

• 90% of bananas trade value stays in HICs
• creates a high inequality between farmers and distributors
• TNCs like Chiquita control 45% of all banana trade

Question 6

What caused the banana war?

Answer 6

Lome convention in 1975, the EU allowed former EU colonise a reduced tariff on bananas to protect their economies from TNCs

Question 7

What did the TNCs do in retaliation in the banana war?

Answer 7

TNCs demanded the WTO to sanction the EU and they were forced to raise the tariffs back up