In 2024, for the first time, bananas became the most popular fruit consumed in France. The bananas of Guadeloupe and Martinique were also voted France's favorite brand last August. Yet, the French banana sector is going through a major crisis, in terms of plant health and economy. At the Paris International Agricultural Show 2025, producers and their representatives took stock of the situation. It was also an opportunity for a more festive moment with the general public, as the French banana celebrated its 10th anniversary.
Producers at the International Agricultural Show
6,000 tons of bananas discarded each year in Dunkirk
The Union of Banana Producers of Guadeloupe and Martinique (UGPBAN) drew up a rather gloomy balance sheet at its press conference on the 25th of February. Faced with the black pod disease, the French banana sector is struggling to stay afloat. While the disease is present in every production zone in the world, as Pierre Monteux points out, "the tools to combat it have become virtually non-existent. We have gone from 9 authorized curative treatments in 2019 to 3, while producers in the Africa-Caribbean-Pacific zone and Latin America (Ecuador, Colombia) are using around 15. The repercussions on yields and quality are considerable." UGPBAN estimates losses in the field at 20,000 tons every year. "To try and limit the spread of the disease, we cut off the leaves (which constitute the leaf capital). So at harvest time, we end up with a banana plant with just 3 or 4 leaves, compared with 8 or 9 under normal circumstances. The result is that in 2010, we needed 800 to 900 clusters to make a container, whereas today we need between 1,400 and 1,500." Losses are just as great after the journey by boat. "6,000 tons are discarded upon arrival at the port, which represents annual losses of €10 million [10.8 million USD] on arrival at Dunkirk, or the equivalent of 2 ships a year. At 185,000 tons marketed in 2024, the French banana sector is a far cry from the 250,000 tons it produced 10 years ago.
50 farms disappearing between 2024 and 2025
In 2015, Guadeloupe and Martinique had almost 650 growers, but by 2024 there will only be 450, as the banana area is also declining. "Yields are dropping, while production costs are soaring," explains Pierre Monteux. In that case, it is hard to remain competitive with countries that have more active solutions and very low labor costs. "We have gone from €1,000 to €1,500 [1,083 to 1,625 USD] per ton. Although the selling price has risen, it is no longer sufficient," according to Pierre Monteux. As a result, farms are facing mounting financial difficulties. "Between 2024 and 2025, around fifty farms will have disappeared in Guadeloupe and Martinique." UGPBAN therefore took advantage of the Agricultural Show in Paris to reiterate its request to the French government for aid. "If public authorities do not wake up to the situation, the consequences for the sector will be very serious," warned the director of UGPBAN. The situation is also critical for the economy of the two islands, as the banana sector currently represents 8,500 direct and indirect jobs. "We are not asking for money, we are simply asking for the means to be able to produce. Winning back our food sovereignty is on everyone's lips these days, but we are not there yet."
Drone spraying while waiting for NGTs, for biocontrol only
UGPBAN is convinced that the future of the French banana sector lies with NGTs (new genomic techniques) for the creation of in vitro plants tolerant of black spots. With NGTs, fungicides are a thing of the past, especially as banana producers of Guadeloupe and Martinique have "already reduced the use of phytosanitary products (grassing, agroforestry...) on their farms by 83% in 16 years." However, these NGTs are not expected to be used before 2028-2030. In the meantime, growers are banking on another solution for the short term: drone spraying (expected since the ban on aerial spraying in 2014). To this end, a bill tabled by Senator Laurent Duplomb and MP Jean-Luc Fugit has been submitted to Parliament. Adopted by the French National Assembly, it is currently being examined by the Senate's Economic Affairs Committee. "But this is a typical case of over-transposition. The text goes well beyond Community regulations since it only authorizes biocontrol products." This is complete nonsense, according to the director of UGPBAN. "Some of the products excluded from drone spraying are still authorized by land! Biocontrol products, because they do not last very long, require more passes, and it takes an average of 2 weeks to go all the way around a banana plantation. In the end, growers will be forced to continue using ground treatments in addition to aerial spraying."
"We will not fight the battle for the lowest price"
The event in Paris was also an opportunity to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the French banana. Poorly identified by consumers (according to a 2014 study by the CSA institute, only 56% considered bananas from Guadeloupe and Martinique to be French), UGPBAN decided in 2015 to sell bananas in clusters of 3, 4, 5, or 6 and to promote them with a blue, white and red ribbon. The wrapped segment was presented at the Paris International Agricultural Show 2015 and the first sales started two months later. "It is a concept that saved the sector," confides Pierre Monteux. Today, French bananas account for 5% of the market. "Our sales increased by 18% between 2023 and 2024, and we passed the 40,000-ton mark this year". However, the sector still hopes to grow further by reaching 50,000 tons in 2026. "Our aim is to find the niche. There is no reason for us to go into the battle for the top price, as it would destroy value and it would be impossible for us given our production costs. Another avenue for French bananas is the catering sector. "The Egalim law requires bananas to be labeled, and ours is!"
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the banana of Guadeloupe and Martinique has been adorned with a collector's ribbon designed by French artist Jérôme Masi, which has been on display on the shelves since mid-February 2025. A point-of-sale advertising kit will promote the product to the general public. A competition for consumers will also run from March 10th to April 10th in several stores, with the main prize being a one-week trip for two to Guadeloupe or Martinique. The communication extends to digital platforms.
