ANALYSIS Publication Sponsor
Bananamania! Scientist, artist, collector, communicator… how one banana expert is channelling his own passion for the fruit to promote the science behind its future survival. by Mike Knowles @mikefruitnet
F
things I love – movies and toys,
as a breeder and researcher for
etc. So I decided to start the
KeyGene, based at Wageningen in
Bananaman wall of fame as a
The Netherlands, and is probably
tribute to the fruit that changed
best known for his recent work to
the world – as Dan Koeppel would
develop banana plants’ resistance
say – and share it on social media.
to Tropical race 4 – a soil-borne
Now people from around the world
fungus that causes the highly
send me banana items – especially
problematic Panama disease.
drawings and cards. The collection
ernando García-Bastidas is
I like to collect stuff related to
one of the world’s leading banana scientists. He works
coins and banknotes, keyrings,
But plant science is not the
grows every week.
only strand in Fernando’s DNA. He is also an accomplished artist
How do you explain this love of
and frequent collector of banana-
bananas? Is it because of your
related memorabilia. For this,
work, your enjoyment of the fruit
Fruitnet’s first ever Fresh Focus
itself, or something else?
Banana special, he has created the publication’s brilliant front cover
FGB: I like bananas, but I enjoy
illustration, and also agreed to
eating plantains more. For me it
let us view the full extent of his
is a combination of the fact that
marvellous collection.
I like collecting and the passion I have for my work. I love what
Fernando, tell us about your
I do, and in some way I think
collection! How long has it taken
I’m doing something good. My
you to amass all of these items?
banana ‘madness’ helps raise awareness of the critical situation
Fernando García-Bastidas: I have
faced by banana producers, and
FGB: It is going very well. We have
items from 2014, but it started
contributes to solving a problem
sequenced many cultivars to find
in 2018. When I started work at
that can affect millions of people
the resistant ones and at the same
Wageningen University, people
worldwide. Bananas have given me
time those that are closely related
called me Bananaman, Mr Banana,
so much, so why not create a space
to Cavendish. Using a sort of family
or Dr Banana. Suddenly I started
for appreciation and at the same
tree of Cavendish bananas, we
to get banana-related presents
time have a friendly and funny
could develop a new Cavendish-
on special occasions, like T-shirts,
environment in which to work and
like cultivar but this time with
socks, cards, and badges. When I
interact with people.
ancestors that might contain TR4
moved to KeyGene, to my surprise
30
PICTURED—
García’s collection in all its glory at his office in Wageningen Photos: Fernando García-Bastidas / Luuk Wilbers
resistance. We are also looking to
they decorated my office with
How is the battle against disease
use genetic resources found in the
banana posters. It was a nice
going? Are you close to finding a
wild to incorporate more tastes,
beginning and also a trigger.
defence against Panama disease?
aromas, and colours.
fresh focus banana 2021
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18/05/2021 11:37
