Industrial banana plantations are dedicated to export markets. They are intensive monocultures that require land, irrigation and high levels of fertilizer. These characteristics are deleterious to biodiversity, soil fertility and water quality. In South America, banana monocultures are responsible for deforestation, soil erosion, soil fertility losses and water pollution (Harari, 2005). As bananas are particularly susceptible to disease (Black Sigatoka: black leaf streak), nematodes (with subsequent viruses), pests (banana weevil) and fungi, they require high levels of pesticides and fungicides (Astorga, 1998), resulting in water contamination, fish mortality in waterways surrounding banana plantations, and health and fertility problems in workers (Harari, 2005).
Conventional breeding programs and genetic engineering programs aim at creating fungi/pest/disease-resistant cultivars that do not require pesticides. Genetically modified bananas are currently under development but not yet on the market (as of 2012).
In less industrial conditions, banana may be intercropped with legumes or other crops, thus enhancing land productivity and returns to smallholders. Intercropping may improve banana pests and disease control (Ouma, 2009).