Banana

ISHS Working Group Banana, under the Division Tropical and Subtropical Fruit and Nuts, connects more than 700 experts across the entire banana value chain. Bringing together researchers specialized in conservation, breeding, genetics, bioinformatics, pathology, physiology, agronomy, postharvest and sociology, the Working Group serves as an innovation engine that generates cutting-edge scientific knowledge and technologies. It provides a unique mechanism to link networks that scale, validate, and implement solutions across the global banana value chain.

The Working Group creates unique opportunities for collaborative research between public and private sectors. By linking cutting-edge science with industry needs, it serves as a catalyst for innovative research, enabling partners to address shared challenges such as climate resilience, emerging diseases, sustainable production, and improved livelihoods for banana-growing communities.

Working closely with MusaNet, the global banana research and knowledge-sharing network established in 2011, the Working Group facilitates access to international expertise, germplasm-related knowledge, capacity development, and strategic partnerships (www.musanet.org). Its vision is to foster healthier, more resilient, and diversified banana production systems by mobilizing the full value of Musa genetic diversity.

The Working Group also convenes the prestigious International Symposia on Banana and publishes the corresponding Acta Horticulturae proceedings, providing a global forum where science, industry R&D, and development partners come together to shape the future of banana.