Once again, the resilient Colombian banana sector has expressed concern over excessive certifications and the low international price of this fruit, which threaten agricultural production. The Association of Banana Growers of Colombia (Augura) announced that European retail markets continue to lower the cost of bananas through promotions, a fact that, according to the union, demonstrates a lack of interest in the efforts being made by the agro-industry to comply with the policies and certifications required in European territory.

According to Emerson Aguirre Medina, President of Augura, we are reaching the point of selling a "plasticised banana" due to the saturation of sustainability seals and certifications demanded internationally. "We are seeing an increase in costs not recognised by the market that have become a constant challenge for banana producers," said the union leader. Aguirre emphasised the urgent need to unify the regulatory criteria" to guarantee the sustainable production of the product and a genuine shared responsibility through a fair price that recognises inflation and wage increases. He added that the sector's reality is framed in an ecosystem in which international markets have yet to realise through price the rise in production costs, the country's economic indicators, and the country's similar values for the banana for almost ten years.

"They demand in an accelerated way more standards and sustainability requirements that represent a risk for economic stability and job creation in the producing areas of Colombia," he pointed out. An example of "his is the complaint made by the banana unions of Latin America, where they identified Eurospin, an Italian retailer, publishing offers of 0.85 euros per kilogram of Rainforest Alliance-certified bananas from the region. According to the sectors, these discounts have historically made the banana remain a fruit whose price does not evolve proportionally compared to other fruits of the same category, leading to its losing its value. "We have to break this vicious cycle that starts from the consumer and will not allow our product to be valued according to the effort it takes to produce a sustainable banana," they indicated.

Another point "of constant concern for the banana sector is the heavy rains witnessed in Urabá Antioqueño. During this month, about a million plantations have been lost in this region of the country due to the heavy rains and gales that are felt strongly during the rainy season. According to the union, this situation affects fruit exports due to flooding in thousands of hectares so that the economic impact will be felt this month and in June.