I chose to read The Future of Bananas to take part in this blog tour and received a copy from the author. This does not alter my review in any way.
I have never given much thought to bananas. In fact, I’d go so far as to say I’ve taken them for granted. Did you know they’re seedless? It seems obvious once you stop to think about it, but I’d never considered how they reproduce. Nor had I ever imagined that their very existence could be under threat. Yet the world’s most widely consumed fruit is facing a possible extinction. That single fact was enough to make me pick up The Future of Bananas, and it opened my eyes.
Before reading this book, I had no idea that almost all the bananas eaten in the West belong to a single variety: the Cavendish. Our dependence on this one variety has come at a cost. Decades of selection and our migration have left it dangerously vulnerable to disease and the effects of climate change.
The Future of Bananas is a fascinating read, and I would encourage anyone with even a passing interest in food, science or the environment to give it a try. It’s not a long book, but it is packed with information, covering everything from the history of the banana industry to the challenges it faces today and the work being done to secure its future.
Professor James Dale is clearly one of the world’s leading experts on bananas. His team has developed the first genetically modified banana approved for commercial production, and he makes a compelling case that genetic modification may be essential if we are to preserve this remarkable fruit. As the book also explains, however, genetically modified crops remain controversial, and regulations vary widely from one country to another.
Although the book is rich in scientific detail, it never feels inaccessible. I’m no scientist, yet I found Dale’s explanations of the research and technological advances clear, engaging and easy to follow. I finished the book with a much greater appreciation of a fruit I’d always taken for granted—and a new understanding of just how uncertain its future may be.
I’m sure this book is available from wherever you buy your books but here are a couple of links to get you started:
Thanks Georgia, the future of our food is so important.
It really is and I learned so much reading this book.