The Magdalena, Cesar, and La Guajira Banana Growers Association (ASBAMA) had a prominent presence at the Fourth Global Conference organised by the FAO in Rome, Italy. The executive president of ASBAMA, José Francisco Zúñiga Cotes, participated in the event, and he was part of two important panels: one on "Small Producers in the Global Banana Industry" and another on "The State of Recent Banana Sproutings". TR4 and Current Actions". 

In these panels, he expressed the challenges that producing countries face when exporting to the European market and the need to guarantee banana crops' environmental and social sustainability in Colombia.

In the panel on Fusarium TR4, a disease considered a significant threat to the banana sector worldwide, the president of ASBAMA highlighted the actions taken by all parties involved. These actions have allowed the fungus to be contained in the departments of La Guajira and Magdalena, becoming a success story demonstrating the effectiveness of joint work between state entities, producers, marketers, and workers in the banana sector.

Zúñiga Cotes also emphasised that banana producers face multiple challenges that affect the profitability of this important agricultural export product in Colombia. Among these challenges are production costs, certifications, fair prices for the fruit, climate change, the risk of diseases such as Fusarium R4T and Black Sigatoka, and the need for generational renewal.

In summary, ASBAMA is committed to sustainable development and improving the living conditions of banana producers in the middle of a complex context.