Towards a Sustainable Banana Supply Chain in Colombia

This evaluation study, conducted by the Wageningen Economic Research and commissioned by the Rainforest Alliance, compared certified banana farms to similar non-certified farms in the region of Magdalena, one of Colombia’s main banana producing regions.

The research found that wages and working conditions on certified farms are slightly better, that certified farms take more safety precautions regarding pesticide use and worker safety, and that a higher percentage of workers on certified farms perceive the farm’s grievance mechanism as safe. In response to the findings of the study [PDF], the Rainforest Alliance acknowledges that this study may not be representative for the majority of certified banana farms in Colombia, and explains how it will follow up on the main recommendations of the report.