Report of the Third Conference of the World Banana Forum 8-9 NOVEMBER 2017, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND REPORT WRITTEN BY THE WORLD BANANA FORUM SECRETARIAT, BASED AT FAO HEADQUARTERS IN ROME Report of the Third Conference of the World Banana Forum Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Rome, 2018 RECOMMENDED CITATION: FAO. 2018. Report of the Third Conference of the World Banana Forum. Rome. 64pp. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. 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All requests for translation and adaptation rights, and for resale and other commercial use rights should be made via www.fao.org/contact-us/licence- request or addressed to [email protected]. FAO information products are available on the FAO website (www.fao.org/publications) and can be purchased through [email protected]. Photo credits Cover: © Paul Lievens, Bananalink Back cover: © FAO/Giulio Napolitano Contents Acronyms and abbreviations ..................................................................................................................v Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................1 1. Opening session .................................................................................................................................2 2. Presentation of the key conclusions from the Multi‑Stakeholder Meeting on Gender Equity in the Banana Industry ..................................................................................................................................................................5 2.1 Women’s employment opportunities ....................................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Women’s empowerment ......................................................................................................................................................... 5 2.3 Gender pay gap ....................................................................................................................................................................... 5 2.4. Health And safety ................................................................................................................................................................... 5 2.5 Sexual harassment and gender-based violence .......................................................................................................................... 6 2.6 Final proposals from the Meeting on Gender Equity .................................................................................................................. 6 3. Session 1: People at work ...............................................................................................................................9 3.1 Speakers and Panellists ............................................................................................................................................................ 9 3.2 Summary of panel discussions ................................................................................................................................................. 9 3.2.1 Health and safety .......................................................................................................................................................... 9 3.2.2 Freedom of association, collective bargaining and social dialogue ................................................................................. 10 3.2.3 Gender equality and non-discrimination ...................................................................................................................... 10 3.3 Panel proposals and recommendations .................................................................................................................................. 10 4. Session 2: Sustainability – the global perspective and challenges in a changing cimate ........................13 4.1 Speakers and Panellists .......................................................................................................................................................... 13 4.2 Summary of panel discussions ............................................................................................................................................... 13 4.2.1 Innovative production systems and agroecological practices ........................................................................................ 14 4.2.2 Water management .................................................................................................................................................... 14 4.2.3 Research, training, human factor ................................................................................................................................. 15 4.2.4 WG01’s Manual for Carbon and Water Footprint Reduction ........................................................................................ 15 4.3 Panel proposals and recommendations .................................................................................................................................. 15 5. Compete & Collaborate: Global Collaboration in the WBF ...........................................................................19 5.1 Speakers and Panellists .......................................................................................................................................................... 19 5.2 Summary of panel discussions ............................................................................................................................................... 19 iii 5.2.1 Living wages ............................................................................................................................................................... 19 5.2.2 Change of pace and collaboration with specific types of stakeholders ......................................................................... 20 5.2.3 Social dialogue ............................................................................................................................................................ 20 5.3 Panel proposals and recommendations .................................................................................................................................. 21 6. Session 3: Managing the risks of Fusarium Wilt TR4 ....................................................................................23 6.1 Speakers and Panellists .......................................................................................................................................................... 23 6.2 Summary of panel discussions ............................................................................................................................................... 23 6.2.1 Fusarium ..................................................................................................................................................................... 24 6.2.2 Prevention and awareness-raising ................................................................................................................................ 24 6.2.3 Current and future tools against spreading ................................................................................................................. 24 6.2.4 Healthy soils and biodiversity in banana plantations ..................................................................................................... 25 6.2.5 Taking action at the national level ................................................................................................................................ 25 6.2.6 Small producers and non-exporting banana-producing countries ................................................................................. 26 6.3 Panel proposals and recommendations .................................................................................................................................. 26 7. Session 4: How to Achieve a Fairer Distribution of Value? ..........................................................................29 7.1 Speakers and Panellists .........................................................................................................................................................