Ecologist criticizes green zone improvements in Macau despite planting of 19 thousand trees

Until the mid-1950s, consumers ate a completely different type of banana than the one known today. The dominant variety on supermarket shelves was Gros Michel—sweeter, creamier, and more fragrant than modern varieties. However, this type of banana no longer exists because it was destroyed by the Fusarium disease, widely known as Panama disease.

This fungal infection kills the plant by occupying its vascular system and blocking the transport of water and minerals necessary for banana survival. The fungus Fusarium oxysporum is highly resistant and can persist in plantation soil for over 20 years; currently, there is no chemical treatment or effective method to eliminate the fungus after an area has been infected.

As an alternative for global consumption, the Cavendish variety emerged (known as nanica in Brazil). Today, this is the most common variety on the market, developed as a response to the disease that wiped out Gros Michel. For about 40 years, Cavendish thrived on plantations supplying much of the world's market due to its resistance to the initial strain of the fungus.

However, the situation began to change in 1990. An aggressive strain of the fungus, known as Tropical Race 4 (R4T), started to develop, which began destroying the Cavendish group. Since then, R4T has spread and attacks banana plantations in many parts of the world. In Brazil, it is currently considered absent, although it is classified as a pest posing an economic and ecological threat.

In addition to the aggressiveness of R4T, there is another problem: bananas are propagated through cloning, which leads to low genetic diversity among different types. While this ensures uniformity of fruit, it also means they are susceptible to the same diseases—if a disease affects one plant, it can affect the entire population of that variety.

Climate change also contributes to the extinction threat. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and climate-related pests negatively affect banana-producing countries, which report crop reductions and loss of agricultural land across the region.

This is because bananas, especially the Cavendish variety, are sensitive fruits. They require a temperature range of 15°C to 35°C for normal development, as well as sufficient water. They are also vulnerable to storms, which can lead to the loss of banana leaves and hinder the plant's photosynthesis process.

According to the Going Bananas report, by 2080, 60% of the best areas for growing bananas could be lost due to climate change. Currently, Asia is the world's largest banana producer, followed by the Americas and Africa—some of the regions most vulnerable to climatic events.

Nevertheless, according to new research, hope for saving bananas still exists. This month, the Yelloway initiative announced the development of a fully fertile Cavendish banana. This means that new, commercially viable, and disease-resistant banana varieties can be created through crossbreeding.

Various approaches also exist worldwide. For example, researchers at the Queensland University of Technology in Australia have created a genetically modified Cavendish variety that provides resistance to TR4. This result, named QCAV-4 variant, has been approved for human consumption in Australia and New Zealand.

In the urban area of Cascavel, located in Western Paraná, the Neva neighborhood's Community Garden has established itself as an important place for food production, social interaction, and community change. This space, which covers 8 thousand square meters donated by the City Hall, operates as a cooperative managed by the residents' association and currently involves three families in growing vegetables, herbs, and medicinal plants.

Each cultivated plot reflects a history of care and dedication, and every planted seed symbolizes a sense of belonging to the community. Community gardens have become relevant by offering multiple benefits: besides aiding food security, they create opportunities for income generation for those dedicated to cultivation. Such areas increase access to fresh produce, stimulate healthier lifestyles, and connect the urban environment with nature.

In the Neva neighborhood, the garden materializes these impacts. It provides residents with access to fresh, high-quality inputs, while also promoting learning and coexistence. Although the land was donated by the City Hall, the daily management and production are the responsibility of the participating families, who work collaboratively. The sown seeds represent the hope of a cohesive community, and part of the harvest is directed towards acts of solidarity.

A dream that became reality

The individuals dedicated to the garden play a fundamental role in cultivating the plants. During activities such as watering, caring for seedlings, and conversing in the plots, they find moments of relaxation, therapy, and sociability. In this daily life of soil and foliage, they build bonds, exchange knowledge, and strengthen a support network that transcends the cultivated products.

The idea for the garden was conceived by Antônio Marcos Gomes Nogueira, stemming from an old desire to revitalize a location that had remained vacant for many years. He recalls that there used to be a garden when he was a child, linked to the Pastoral da Criança, but it was abandoned after the responsible parties left, being neglected for about eight years, turning into weeds and generating problems with trash, insects, and insecurity for the neighborhood.

The motivation to reverse this situation led to the proposal to reactivate the space. Antônio reports that initially, planting corn and cassava was crucial for raising funds and gradually improving infrastructure and working conditions. The space has been operational for approximately nine years.

Production focused on the community

Currently, the site functions as a labor cooperative. Antônio clarifies that, although it is a community garden, it does not aim for profit, but rather to offer affordable prices, with the revenue serving to sustain the working families. They do not sell to large commercial chains; the main objective is to meet the demand of the community itself.

The originator emphasizes that fieldwork requires constant presence. He states that it is necessary to be present daily, including holidays and weekends, and that even on very cold or rainy days, one must go to care for and harvest. Antônio stresses that the difficulties are considerable, especially during winter, which demands greater attention and care.

A significant portion of those involved in the project are retirees, who find in the garden something more than just an extra source of income: a place to socialize and gain well-being. Currently, José Mandrick, a retiree, oversees the garden, coordinating the cultivation, and is assisted by two other families. Among them is Carla Cordeiro da Rosa's family, who started working in the garden a few months ago after being invited by José.

Carla explains that she came to see the place because she is not a resident of the area, coming from Dois Vizinhos. She liked it very much, and soon the opportunity arose to work, as José was alone and invited her and her husband to help. Day-to-day, Carla balances customer service with assistance in cultivation. She takes care of reception, harvesting what is needed, and when possible, assists in the garden, weeding and fertilizing. José harvests in the morning, and she prepares the bunches of chives and green herbs afterward.

Fresh food and accessible price

The impact of the garden extends throughout the community. The space guarantees access to fresh vegetables, generates income for participating families, and allocates part of the surplus production to vulnerable people, reinforcing the project's spirit of solidarity. Antônio summarizes this philosophy by saying: 'We live for others, so serving is a joy.'

Sales follow an accessible price list: each plant costs R$4, while three plants are sold for R$10. This popular price ensures that neighborhood residents can acquire fresh food grown near their homes. Among the most requested vegetables are fast-cycle ones, such as lettuce, which takes about 30 days to harvest. Antônio comments that lettuce is the best seller because people really appreciate it, and that no pesticides are used, making the product more natural.

During winter, cultivation adjusts to lower temperatures, focusing on more resistant and sought-after greens, such as chicory, endive, broccoli, and cauliflower. In summer, leafy greens such as American, loose-leaf, mimosa, frisée, and romaine predominate. The entire production process is done manually, from soil preparation to harvest.

Cleonice Moraes, a frequent customer who works near the garden, shares her experience. She said she had known about the garden for some time but recently started buying regularly. She values the place because the products are fresh and natural, and she knows their origin. The proximity to her work makes it easy, as she stops by to pick up vegetables for the week during her lunch break.

A space that cultivates bonds

The space is not limited to agriculture. In the plots, in the cultivated seedlings, and in the distribution of food, there are narratives of collective effort and dedication. Every interaction between participants and residents reflects a project that unites nature and community.

The Neva neighborhood's Community Garden goes beyond the definition of a mere cultivated plot. It functions as a meeting point, a place of cooperation, and a source of food, income, and fellowship. Even within the urban context, the project demonstrates that it is possible to cultivate the future, harvest transformations, and strengthen interpersonal ties.