Protecting Banana Crops Sustainably: SynTech Research’s Global Network in Action

By SynTech Research Group|3 December 2025

SynTech Research Group continues its long-standing commitment to protecting banana production through advanced crop protection trials across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Photo: SRG Banana Trials in Costa Rica.

Banana crops, a cornerstone of global food security and trade, are facing increasing threats from climate volatility and aggressive diseases. In response, SynTech Research Group continues its long-standing commitment to protecting banana production through advanced crop protection trials across Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

According to preliminary estimates from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), bananas and other major tropical fruits generated over USD 122 billion in revenues in 2024, supporting millions of producers worldwide. Export leaders like Ecuador, Colombia, and Costa Rica are well-positioned to benefit from rising demand if they can overcome the biological and environmental challenges threatening crop health.

A Growing Industry Under Pressure

Despite promising growth, the global banana trade was disrupted in 2024 by adverse weather and the spread of plant pests and diseases. These threats are not seasonal anomalies; they are persistent and evolving risks that can devastate harvests, destabilize supply chains, and impact livelihoods.

Among the most pressing concerns are:

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  • Black Sigatoka (Pseudocercospora fijiensis): A foliar fungal disease that reduces photosynthesis, causes premature ripening, and lowers fruit quality. It spreads rapidly in humid climates and requires strategic fungicide rotation to manage resistance.
  • Thrips (Thrips palmi, Frankliniella spp.): Tiny insects that scar banana skins, reducing market value – especially in export markets with strict appearance standards.
  • Moko Disease (Ralstonia solanacearum): A bacterial infection that causes irreversible wilting and plant death. It spreads through contaminated tools, insects, and planting material, making containment difficult.

SynTech’s Scientific Response

SynTech Research is addressing these challenges through rigorous, science-driven trials that combine agronomic expertise with advanced technology. All trials are conducted under Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards, ensuring regulatory compliance and reproducibility.

“Banana growers face unprecedented challenges. Our mission is to provide science-backed solutions that protect crops, livelihoods, and the future of sustainable agriculture,” said Jasper Barnes, Global Business Development Director and Regional Director of Asia Pacific at SynTech Research Group.

Global Reach for a Global Crop

In Latin America, SynTech Research operates in three of the region’s leading banana-exporting nations: Ecuador, Colombia, and Costa Rica. Ecuador, which accounts for over a third of global banana exports, is home to SynTech’s 8.5-hectare experimental station. This facility hosts a full spectrum of trials, including disease efficacy studies, biostimulant evaluations, and post-harvest simulations that mimic transportation conditions. In Colombia and Costa Rica, SynTech complements these efforts with targeted trials focused on managing Black Sigatoka and assessing fruit resilience during transport. All trials are designed to reflect real-world stressors and are tailored to the unique agronomic conditions of each country.

In Africa, SynTech’s banana research is centered in the Canary Islands, specifically in Adeje, Tenerife. This strategic location allows the company to conduct residue trials under GLP standards, efficacy testing, and post-harvest simulations that support both product development and regulatory compliance. The pest and disease pressures observed in the Canary Islands mirror those found across tropical Africa, making the research highly applicable to broader regional challenges. Key targets include banana weevil, red spider mite, golden twin-spot moth, whiteflies, mealybugs, thrips, and nematodes. These trials contribute valuable insights to integrated pest management strategies across the continent.

In Asia, SynTech has established strong capabilities in the Philippines, the world’s second-largest banana exporter. The company supports early-stage compound development through long-standing collaborations with international sponsors. Trials in the Philippines focus on major banana diseases such as Black Sigatoka, Moko, and Panama Disease.

Innovation and Collaboration

SynTech is investing in emerging technologies such as drone spraying, digital monitoring, and precision agriculture to enhance trial efficiency and data accuracy. The company is also expanding its work with biologicals, supporting the shift toward sustainable crop protection.

Through global collaboration, rigorous trials, and a commitment to scientific excellence, SynTech Research is helping shape a more resilient future for banana growers worldwide.

SynTech Research Group is a leading global agricultural CRO, offering comprehensive efficacy research, regulatory, environmental and market support services to agrochemical, biostimulant, biocontrol and seed companies. With more than 600 specialists in over 40 countries, it operates from state-of-the-art infrastructures. More than 25 years of experience underline SynTech's role in the development, registration and positioning of products on the market, based on a commitment to exceptional results for customers. For more information, See all author stories here.