Fourth Global Banana Conference

12 - 13 March 2024. The World Banana Forum (WBF) facilitated by FAO organized its Fourth Global Conference

• Fourth Global Conference of the World Banana Forum - Agenda
• Fourth Global Conference of the World Banana Forum - Side Events

Three side events took place: 

1. the International Meeting on Gender Equity in the Banana Industry 
2. the Side-event on Fusarium Wilt TR4 
3. the Global Conference on Living Wages and Living Income in the Banana Industry

Recording: http://www.fao.org/webcast/home/en/item/6480/icode/

12/03 Session 1: Setting the Scene and Looking Ahead Towards the Future of the Banana Industry 

Discussion on collaborative activities towards a more sustainable banana industry in the years to come. 

• H.E. Danilo Palacios, Minister of Agriculture, Ecuador 
• Mr. Médi Moungui, Deputy Permanent Representative to FAO, WFP, and IFAD, Permanent Representation of Cameroon 
• Mr. Lieven De La Marche, Permanent Representative to the Rome-based UN Agencies (FAO, WFP and IFAD), Permanent Representation of Belgium 
• Mr. Leonard Mizzi, Head of Unit, EC, DG/INTPA – Sustainable Agri-food systems and Fisheries 
• Mr. Patric Belser, Economist, International Labour Organization (ILO) 
• Ms. Marike de Peña, Chair, the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Fairtrade Small Producers and Workers (CLAC) 
• Mr. Xavier Roussel, Chief Marketing and Sustainability Officer, Dole Food Company 
• Ms. Adela Torres, Coordinator, Coordinating Body of Latin American Banana and Agro-Industrial Unions (COLSIBA) 

12/03 Session 3: Towards a more Sustainable Banana Industry. Achieving a Fairer Distribution of Value 

Setting the scene for the Global Conference on Living Wages and Incomes, considering the relevant forthcoming due diligence legislations and requirements and their impacts on stakeholders along the supply chain and understanding the transversality and importance of distribution of value along the supply chain, what challenges the industry face and what potential solutions can contribute to a more sustainable banana industry. 

• Mr. Victor Prada, WBF Secretariat (FAO) Proposed panelists 
• Mr. Jorge Sauma, General Manager, National Banana Corporation (CORBANA) 
• Mr. Leonard Mizzi, Head of Unit, EC, DG/INTPA – Sustainable Agri-food systems and Fisheries  
• Mr. Jose Antonio Hidalgo, Executive Director, Association of Ecuador Banana Exporters (AEBE) 
• Mr. Felix Strauss, Team Lead Corporate Responsibility, ALDI-SOUTH Group 
• Ms. Lianne Zoeteweij, General manager, Association of Small Producers El Guabo (ASOGUABO) 
• Mr. Cesar Guerra, Sub-coordinator, Coordinating Body of Latin American Banana and Agro-Industrial Unions (COLISBA) 
• Ms. Silvia Campos, Senior Advisor Bananas, Fairtrade International

13/03 Session 6 Fusarium Wilt TR4: Strategies for the Present and Solutions for the Future

• Ms. Raixa Llauger, Agricultural Officer, Subregional Office for Mesoamerica, FAO Proposed panelists 
• Ms. Nancy Villegas, Regional director of Plant Health, International Regional Organization for Plant and Animal Health (OIRSA) 
• Mr. Desaleng Etalo, Professor, Wageningen University and Research, the Netherlands 
• Mr. Ralf Buss, Regional Coordinator of AleR4Ta, German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) 
• Mr. Miguel Dita, Senior Scientist, Alliance Bioversity International – CIAT