In today’s world, the demand for safe, high-quality food is constantly increasing due to globalization and growing competition. This has led some organizations to become more concerned about the safety and sustainability of food production and promote what we call Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs). These GAPs are a set of rules and recommendations that apply to the way food is produced, processed, and transported. Their goal is to ensure that food is safe, healthy, and environmentally friendly.
In short, these practices seek to make food production more sustainable in environmental, economic, and social terms. This is important because natural resources are limited, and we must use them responsibly to ensure that future generations also have access to quality food.
The implementation of these Good Agricultural Practices not only benefits the environment and society but also provides economic advantages to producers. They can improve the quality of their products, access new markets, and reduce costs, among other benefits.
In 2013, WWF began a project in Colombia and Ecuador to promote sustainable practices in banana production. This project has increased the adoption of GAPs and identified sustainable practices in areas such as natural resource management, water, climate change, and waste management.
This effort has demonstrated that implementing sustainable practices in banana production benefits the entire supply chain, reducing environmental impact and improving the quality of life of those involved in its production and consumption.
The publication “Recommendations for the Implementation of Agricultural Practices to Improve Environmental and Production Conditions in the Banana Sector, Magdalena, Colombia” presents the most notable practices and achievements from nearly ten years of implementation in these countries. We hope that these experiences will serve as a guide for other producers in the banana industry and other sectors seeking to adopt more sustainable practices.
