Análisis de cadena de valor en productos prioritarios para ecuador y oportunidades de mejora para alcanzar la sostenibilidad : Análisis de la cadena de valor del banano (Musa paradisiaca) en Ecuador y oportunidades de mejora para alcanzar la sostenibilidad.

Abstract

The banana value chain (Musa paradisiaca) has been analyzed in its organic and conventional production, due to its economic and social relevance for Ecuador. The fruit value chain was mapped in its two ways of production and three links: primary production, intermediaries, and exporters. Then, the sustainability of both value chains was compared to through economic, social, and environmental indicators. It was concluded that organic production is more economically sustainable than conventional production in terms of sales price, value created/ha, price variability for the farmer, % fixed price and % contract signed. On the social aspect, organic production is more sustainable than conventional production, due to the higher percentage of permanent workers employed, workers with contracts and greater participation of women. About the environmental aspect, conventional production is less sustainable than organic production, as it generates 79.51% more kg CO2 eq/kg of bananas. To reduce the carbon footprint, proposals have been considered that includes the replacement of synthetic fertilizers with organic fertilizers, the substitution of plastic strapping with organic support materials and the reuse of nun collars, reducing the carbon footprint of conventional production by 10.96% and organic production by 3.28%.