Ahead of Fruit Attraction 2026 in Madrid, 6th – 7th October 2026, Fairtrade is warning that climate shocks, crop disease and rising costs are putting the future of bananas, and the livelihoods of the farmers and workers who grow them.
Anna Pierides, senior partnerships lead at the Fairtrade Foundation, said: “As the fresh produce industry gathers in Madrid at Fruit Attraction, the banana sector is under intense pressure. The bananas we love are at risk, and the people who grow them shouldn’t be left to face climate change alone.
“Banana farmers and workers are facing several threats at once. Extreme weather is becoming more frequent and more severe, with El Niño bringing droughts, floods and unpredictable seasons. Fast-spreading diseases such as Fusarium TR4 threaten crops across banana-growing regions. Geopolitical instability is disrupting trade routes and driving up the cost of fertiliser, labour and transport.
“Farmers didn’t cause these shocks, but they are the ones absorbing them. They are at the start of a supply chain that is increasingly exposed to global crises, yet they have the least ability to carry the extra costs. Despite decades of inflation and rising costs for labour, inputs and climate adaptation, UK banana prices remain below their 1987 level. Bananas shouldn’t be so cheap that farmers pay the price.
“This is not only about fairness, but also about the future of our food. Farmers can’t invest in fighting disease or adapting to a changing climate when the price they receive doesn’t cover the true cost of sustainable production. Resilient supply chains depend on strong producers.
“Building that resilience is a shared responsibility. Businesses need to pay fairer prices and work with producers on climate adaptation, so that shocks are absorbed across the supply chain rather than pushed onto farmers and workers.
“Voluntary action alone won’t fix a system that rewards the lowest price, governments must play a role too. We need a UK responsible business law, with mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence, that ensures all companies take responsibility for their impact on people and planet. It must not pass the costs onto farmers and workers who did nothing to create these problems.”
