Bananas are facing unprecedented challenges. While the notorious Panama disease (or Fusarium wilt) receives more attention because of its devastating and soil-persistent nature threatening the main commercial banana cultivars, the likes of Black Sigatoka and Moko disease remain serious but more regionally or symptomatically focused issues in the banana-growing community.
According to SynTech, these threats are no longer seasonal anomalies, they are persistent risks that can devastate harvests and destabilize supply chains. The global banana trade, already disrupted by adverse weather and pest outbreaks in 2024, underscores the urgency for innovative crop protection strategies.
Export leaders such as Ecuador, Colombia, and Costa Rica stand to benefit from rising demand, but only if they can overcome these biological and environmental hurdles.
Among the most pressing concerns are:
- Black Sigatoka (Pseudocercospora fijiensis): A fast-spreading fungal disease that reduces photosynthesis, triggers premature ripening, and lowers fruit quality. Requires careful fungicide rotation to manage resistance.
- Thrips (Thrips palmi, Frankliniella spp.): Tiny insects that scar banana skins, slashing market value – especially in export markets with strict cosmetic standards.
- Moko Disease (Ralstonia solanacearum): A bacterial wilt that kills plants and spreads via contaminated tools, insects, and planting material, making containment challenging.
SynTech’s global response: Trials backed by technology
France-based SynTech Research Group, a leading agricultural CRO, says it is doubling down on advanced technologies to enhance trial efficiency and data accuracy. Investments in drone spraying, digital monitoring, and precision agriculture are transforming how efficacy studies are conducted across Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
SynTech is also accelerating its work with biologicals – a strategic focus that led to the launch of SynTech BioSolutions in 2022. This dedicated unit offers trials, studies, and regulatory consultancy for biocontrol and biostimulant products, reinforcing the company’s commitment to sustainable crop protection.
Regional Expertise: From Ecuador to the Philippines
- Latin America: SynTech operates in Ecuador, Colombia, and Costa Rica – three of the region’s top banana exporters. Its 8.5-hectare experimental station in Ecuador hosts disease efficacy studies, biostimulant evaluations, and post-harvest simulations.
- Africa: Research in Tenerife in the Canary Islands targets pests and diseases common across tropical Africa, including banana weevil, thrips, and nematodes.
- Asia: In the Philippines, SynTech supports early-stage compound development and trials for Black Sigatoka, Moko, and Panama Disease.
SynTech points out that bananas are a cornerstone of global food security and trade. Integration of emerging technologies and biological solutions is not just about protecting crops – it’s about safeguarding livelihoods and ensuring supply chain resilience in the face of climate and disease pressures.
By combining precision agriculture, drone spraying, and biological innovation, the group aims to set a new benchmark for sustainable crop protection in the global banana industry.
A spokesperson told AgTechNavigator: “SynTech’s investment in technologies and biological solutions reflects our commitment to staying at the forefront of our partners’ evolving needs. We continuously adapt and integrate advanced technologies such as drone spraying, phenotyping, and data modeling to enhance crop protection and deliver innovative and quality solutions to the agricultural sector.
“By integrating advanced technologies and expanding biological solutions, we ensure that our work supports both productivity and environmental protection.”
