Global Trials in South America, Asia, and Africa that are redefining Crop Protection
Bananas are not just a household favorite, they are a global economic powerhouse. In fact, preliminary estimates from the FAO show that the combined production of bananas and other major tropical fruits generated around USD 122 billion in revenues in 2024*, supporting millions of producers across the globe. This figure underscores the fruit’s vital role in both food security and international trade.
Export leaders like Ecuador, Guatemala, Colombia, and Costa Rica are well-positioned to benefit from this trend, if they can navigate the challenges posed by climate volatility and disease outbreaks. Meanwhile, Africa, is also stepping into the spotlight, with exports expected to grow at 1.9% annually, reaching 0.7 million tons by 2034, thanks to increasing demand from Europe and the UK.
This dynamic growth paints a promising picture, but it also raises critical questions about sustainability, resilience, and crop health. As the industry expands, so does the urgency to protect banana crops from pests, diseases, and environmental stressors. That’s where organizations like SynTech Research Group come in, playing a pivotal role in testing and validating solutions that safeguard banana production worldwide.
A growing industry under pressure
As the global banana industry continues to expand and diversify, its resilience is being tested. Despite promising growth projections, 2024 saw global banana trade disrupted by a familiar set of challenges. According to the FAO, lower supplies were reported due to adverse weather conditions and the spread of plant pests and diseases, reminding stakeholders that the path to sustainable growth is far from straightforward.
These threats are not just seasonal hiccups, they are persistent and evolving risks that can undermine entire harvests, destabilize supply chains, and impact livelihoods. Among the most pressing concerns are a trio of biological adversaries that continue to challenge banana producers worldwide:
- Black Sigatoka
Caused by the fungus Pseudocercospora fijiensis, Black Sigatoka is one of the most economically damaging diseases in banana cultivation. It attacks the leaves, reducing their photosynthetic capacity and triggering premature ripening, lower yields, and downgraded fruit quality. The disease thrives in warm, humid environments and spreads rapidly via airborne spores and infected debris. Managing it requires constant monitoring and strategic fungicide applications, often in rotation, to delay resistance. Its persistent pressure on productivity and marketability makes Black Sigatoka a central focus in banana disease research and integrated crop management. - Thrips
These tiny, sap-sucking insects – particularly Thrips palmi and Frankliniella species – can cause significant cosmetic damage to banana fruit. Feeding on young tissue, they leave scars and blemishes that, while not affecting the internal quality, reduce visual appeal and market value. This is especially problematic for export markets, where appearance standards are strict. Thrips populations can surge under dry, warm conditions, making regular field monitoring essential. Their impact on fruit quality places them high on the list of pests to watch in commercial banana production. - Moko Disease
Caused by Ralstonia solanacearum race 2, Moko is a highly aggressive bacterial disease that poses a serious threat to banana plantations. It spreads systemically through contaminated tools, insect vectors, and infected planting material, making containment difficult. Infected plants show irreversible wilting, vascular discoloration, and eventual death, leading to major yield losses and long-term field contamination. Early detection, strict hygiene protocols, and prompt removal of infected plants are critical to preventing its spread and protecting both productivity and export viability.
Solutions rooted in science: SynTech Research’s global commitment
In the face of mounting biological and environmental pressures, the banana industry needs more than reactive measures, it requires proactive, science-driven solutions. This is where SynTech Research Group brings its value to life.
A Trusted Partner in Crop Innovation
SynTech Research offers a comprehensive value proposition built on data reliability, process validity, and deep agronomic expertise. Every trial is grounded in robust experimental protocols, executed by trained personnel with international experience, and supported by advanced equipment and environmental monitoring systems. The integration of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards ensures that results are not only high-quality but also reproducible and regulatory-compliant.
This scientific rigor positions SynTech as a trusted partner for agrochemical and biostimulant development: delivering precision, consistency, and integrity across every stage of product evaluation. Whether it is early-stage screening or full-scale field trials, SynTech’s approach is designed to generate actionable insights that drive innovation and support sustainable banana production.
Global reach for a global crop
SynTech Research operates across the three principal continents of global banana production – Latin America, Africa, and Asia – delivering consistent, high-quality trial services tailored to regional conditions and market needs. Our global network of experts collaborates closely to share best practices, harmonize methodologies, and apply the latest scientific advancements in plant health, pest control, and crop management. This integrated approach ensures that we remain at the forefront of emerging technologies and industry trends, offering our clients data-driven insights and innovative solutions wherever bananas are grown. By combining local expertise with global standards, SynTech provides reliable support for the development, evaluation, and optimization of crop protection and nutrition strategies across diverse production environments.
Latin America: Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica
SynTech’s trial operations in Latin America span Ecuador, Colombia, and Costa Rica, key banana-exporting nations, offering a comprehensive, regionally anchored research portfolio that addresses both product efficacy and real-world stressors. Ecuador, the world’s largest banana exporter accounting for over a third of international banana sales, houses SynTech Research’s 8.5 ha experimental station and hosts the full spectrum of trials: single leaf, consecutive application, program application, post-harvest simulations, biostimulants, and residue studies. In Colombia, SynTech operates 2 hectares of trial plots dedicated exclusively to banana research. These complement Ecuadorian efforts by reinforcing disease evaluation, efficacy under diverse local conditions, and regulatory alignment. Additionally, in Costa Rica, also among the world’s top banana exporters, SynTech Research offers the full range of banana trials. As part of a coordinated regional approach, post-harvest simulations are conducted in Ecuador and Colombia to assess transport resilience and maintain fruit quality throughout the supply chain. Across all three countries, a consistent disease focus is black Sigatoka, one of the most damaging foliar pathogens in banana production, addressed through structured trials using systemic and preventive treatments under controlled and precisely monitored field conditions.
Africa: Canary Islands
In northwestern Africa, SynTech Research conducts banana research in the Canary Islands, with operations based in Adeje, Tenerife. The work in this region focuses on residue trials under GLP standards, efficacy testing, and post-harvest simulations to support both product development and regulatory requirements. Pest and disease pressures in the Canary Islands reflect many of those found in tropical Africa, making this location strategically important for broader banana research. Key targets include Cosmopolites sordidus (banana weevil), Tetranychus urticae (red spider mite), and Chrysodeixis chalcites (golden twin-spot moth). Additional pest challenges under study include whiteflies (Aleurodicus dispersus and Lecanoideus floccissimus), mealybugs (Dysmicoccus grasii), thrips (Hercinothrips femoralis, Hercinothrips bicinctus, and Thrips florum), and nematodes (Meloidogyne javanica, M. incognita, Pratylenchus goodeyi, and Helicotylenchus multicinctus). Together, these research efforts provide valuable insights for integrated pest management strategies in the Canary Islands and inform practices applicable to banana-growing regions across Africa.
Asia: Philippines
The Philippines ranks second globally after Ecuador in banana exports and is the only Asian country among the world’s top banana exporters. SynTech Research has developed strong capabilities in the Philippines, particularly in supporting the development of early-stage compounds through long-standing collaborations with international sponsors. Its bio-efficacy trials address major banana diseases such as Black Sigatoka, Moko, and Panama Disease. For Black Sigatoka, considered the most damaging and costly banana disease, SynTech conducts both Small Plot Tests and Single Leaf Tests. Effective management of this pathogen in the Philippines requires frequent fungicide applications, with leading producers reporting 50 to 60 spray cycles annually. To mitigate resistance, alternating programs of systemic and contact fungicides are widely adopted, and SynTech has conducted numerous trials to evaluate new active ingredients within these spray programs. Complementing this work, trials on Panama Disease and Moko are carried out both in pots and under field conditions, creating a comprehensive research framework that generates robust data for sponsors while providing reliable guidance for sustainable plantation management.
The Road Ahead: Innovation and Collaboration
As banana production evolves, so too must the tools and strategies used to protect it. SynTech Research is actively exploring emerging technologies such as drone spraying, digital monitoring, and precision agriculture to enhance trial efficiency and data accuracy.
The growing role of biologicals is another frontier where SynTech is investing heavily. By integrating biologicals into trial programs, the company supports the shift toward sustainable crop protection.
The challenges facing banana production are urgent but they are not insurmountable. Through rigorous trials, global collaboration, and a commitment to scientific excellence, SynTech Research is helping shape a more resilient future for banana growers worldwide.
Now more than ever, the industry needs awareness, action, and partnerships. SynTech stands ready to support this journey with data-driven insights, proven methodologies, and a passion for sustainable agriculture.
*FAO’s 2024 Banana Market Review