Plantation systems

• Plantation systems:

  • large-scale corps e.g. Latin America operate with intensive farming methods
  • use high levels of agrochemicals to max yield

  Risks:

  • env degradation
  • health risks
• Plantation systems - poor labour conditions:

  • low wages
  • long hours 'child labour
  • exploitative
  • gender discrimination
  • poor health and safety protections
• Plantation systems - disease:

  • Cavendish is a monoculture crop so lacks genetic diversity > highly susceptible to disease outbreaks
  • Fusarium Wilt Tropical Race 4 (TR4) is a fungal disease that targets cavendish
  • Asia, Africa and Latin America affected
  • scientists exploring genetic modification and hybrid varieties but regulatory and consumer acceptance challenges