In this episode of the World Bank Group's Trade Tips podcast, we learn why the world's most popular fruit is facing a devastating disease, and how diseases can be prevented from spreading across borders.We hear from a trader in Mozambique and academics in South Africa about the challenges, and from the World Bank's Shane Sela, on possible solutions.Listen now! Tell us what you think of our podcast here.Featured VoicesGladys Tazan, manager of banana farm: Jacaranda, Mozambique: “We fought with the disease and lost the farm.”Diane Mostert and Altus Viljoen, University of Stellenbosch: “It is incredible how this disease has come into Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. So it is happening, and it’s usually because of human mistakes.”Shane Sela, Senior Trade Facilitation Specialist (SPS), World Bank Group: “It’s preventing these organisms from moving across borders that’s so important.”Timestamps[00:01] Welcome and Introduction[01:22] Bananas and blight: The history of the disease[02:53] The impact on a banana farm in Mozambique[06:27] Banana blight and global trade: The perspective from South Africa[07:49] How measures at borders can keep the disease out of new countries[09:28] To Washington, DC to find out more[09:43] What does SPS mean?[10:43] How climate change has impacted SPS issues[11:17] Fall armyworm[12:32] Balancing trade and risk[12:56] Closing and thanks for listening!Presenter and Producer: Sarah TreanorExecutive Producer: Marisa Zawacki ***This podcast was created by the World Bank Group with funding from the Trade Facilitation Support Program (TFSP). The TFSP is funded by nine donor partners: Australia, Canada, the European Commission, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, and the United Kingdom. This initiative provides assistance to countries seeking to align their trade practices with the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA).***ABOUT THE TRADE TIPS PODCASTThis Trade Tips podcast tackles the big issues in the world of trade and explores solutions. In this new podcast from the World Bank Group, we take you on a journey around the globe – from Vanuatu to Ghana, Jamaica to Nepal, London to Washington, DC. Through conversations with traders who are being affected by key issues like climate change, digitization, gender – and experts offering cutting-edge solutions – we highlight why trade matters and how it can be made more efficient. Don't miss an episode!
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