Supply Chain Strategy for Super Banana 1

SUPPLY CHAIN STRATEGY FOR SUPER BANANA PRODUCTION AND MARKETING

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Supply Chain Strategy for Super Banana Production and Marketing

Executive summary

In the face of massive technological disruptions and climate change effects, food

production and consumption has become a global concern calling together policy makers,

governments, investors and corporations to work collaboratively. The innovation of a genetically

modified super banana could be a serious breakthrough for many consumers in the global north

and the south equally. A rich source of beta-carotene, the super banana is a useful innovation that

could supplement the nutritional value of foods for multitudes of vulnerable populations.

Moreover, consumers in North America could obtain fresh ripened super banana adjusted into a

diverse array of foods through 3D printing for their daily needs from an elaborately developed

supply chain involving small holder community farmers in Africa. Despite huge challenges and

setbacks in the facilitation of the robust supply chain prototype, effective planning and execution

of the logistical and supply chain insights can lead to an optimized process of production and

consumption of the super fruits and its derivatives.

Processed super banana can be distributed through a robust supply chain for food

processing and the manufacture of highly nutritious substrates for children supplements.

Moreover, the impact of growing bananas helps the environment as their leaves act as carbon

shanks. The stems and leaves can be used in the manufacture of very strong fibers used in the

making of bags and packaging materials. In this project, the capacity to generate employment

and improve the plight of the marginalized rural communities is a critical concern as part of the

social and environmental concern. Banana plantations help improve the environment and the

diverse uses of the fruit will have an immense positive value for the community. Serious research

and genetic engineering went into the development of the super banana and the mere claim and
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politics around genetically modified foods should not be permitted to derail the prospects of

improving the nutritional welfare of multitudes of people deprived the golden vitamins they

require for better health and robust lifestyles. The problem of life threatening vitamin deficiency

could be averted if the prospects of the super banana are raised through the project.

Introduction

Advances in biotechnology and genetic engineering have yielded astounding new

varieties of crops and fruit plants that adjust their nutritional value and resistance for certain

diseases and climatic conditions. Banana is a tropically cultivated fruit but with a huge demand

in most of the developed world where the climatic conditions are not conducive for its

cultivation. This project seeks the advancement of research and supply chain innovations to

cultivate a genetically improved Super Banana variant in the tropical nations where the plant

does well and to facilitate the export of the resulting fruits to the United States and Canada. The

selected nations for the cultivation of the special banana is Kenya and Uganda, where

traditionally, the cultivation of banana fruits is part of the ordinary subsistence practice of the

people and banana is part of the staple food. Its cultivation is well understood culturally and

traditionally among the people of East African nations. The Genetically Modified (GM) super

banana has been the result of concerted efforts in research supported by the Bill and Melinda

Gates Foundation, which has seen its development particularly as a way of boosting nutritional

security of vulnerable populations. Moreover, the two nations of East Africa has good relations

with the United States and Canada and have elaborate trade relations that help improve the

quality of agricultural produce from the region for western markets.

The objective of this writing is to present the viable supply chain modality for a new

super banana product that has undergone some viability studies and consumer piloting to test the
 Supply Chain Strategy for Super Banana 4

overall viability of the product. The paper delves into the challenges and the intrigues, funding

and managerial issues that ought to demonstrate a clear path for going to market with a robustly

new innovation in the global agro-food industry. From its inception, Super Banana has been

lauded as a major scientific breakthrough particularly due to the fact that beta-carotene is largely

scarce in many diets and is singularly responsible for many infant deaths globally. International

supply chains in fresh bananas and fruits are often interrupted by diverse factors like climatic

conditions, travel ban advisory concerns, pandemics, climate change interruptions in the

agricultural practices among communities (Goetz et al., 2022, p. 6). Many developing nations in

the tropics depend on rain fed agriculture. To achieve high levels of resilience and stability,

supermarkets and food distributors have to model new forms of relations and collaborations

among governments, corporate entities, venture capitalists, Non-governmental organization

(NGOs) and communities involved in food production. From small holder firms and community

projects can emerge a suitably diversified food production mechanism that helps feed into the

global supply chains.

The banana stocks and leaves have very strong fiber that can be used in the manufacture

of bags and biodegradable packaging materials. As the economy changes to a green economy,

exploration of diverse organic products and fibers will be a critical concern for startups and

venture capitalists under climate finance initiatives (Leelaphiwat and Chonhenchob, 2020, p. 86).

Multiple innovations yield the opportunity for job creation in many sections of the community.

Animal feeds can also be obtained from the banana stocks and leaves with high fiber content. In

a nutshell, the project viability through the sorted stakeholders and community direct

participation makes the overall impacts of the project astoundingly beneficial. The objective of

the project is therefore to define logistical and supply chain modalities that optimize the overall
 Supply Chain Strategy for Super Banana 5

efficiency and delivers value to the projects investors and stakeholders. The war in Ukraine has

further stifled intentional trade and commerce but the sudden opening up of the African continent

to increased international trade and collaboration is a welcome move. Super banana meanwhile is

expanding its cope in the intentional consumer space despite the negative connotation among

many people about genetically modified foods.

Product Vision

Super Banana is a genetically modified version of a banana streak that produces a fruit

rich in beta-carotene, a precursor for vitamin A. The banana variety that is rich in beta-carotene

is a viable fruit and has been tested for consumption in the United States, which allows for the

processing of the 3D printed concentrate into diverse edible food forms. Across the globe, many

children die in their infancy due to lack of vitamin A and a lot more that survive lead the rest of

their lives blind. A vitamin enriched super banana substrate can be made into any consumable

forms through the advances in food processing and handling. Moreover, the challenge that this

product is better yielding in the tropics is a blessing in disguise because the most problem of

nutritional insecurity occurs in the global south where child mortality rates are highest due to

nutritional deprivations. Secondly, the high yields of the product in the tropics means that

processing and value addition can be undertaken cheaply and the final products shipped in a safe

and durable format for the high end markets in North America and Europe. The 3D printed

version of the banana can be accessible to consumers across the globe because substrates

developed from the fruit can be processed into diverse forms and made available to consumers as

combinations in varied food products. Super banana will have a huge global demand due to the

fact that it could be formed into products targeted at mitigating nutritional vulnerabilities among

deprived populations.
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Super Banana is seldom eaten fresh and ripened because this is not a viable progression

since the consumption of the fruit is not socially and culturally sustainable yet there are diverse

many other adaptations in the 3D printed version for various users. The main channel for the

distribution and consumption of the product is in the 3D printed version of the substrate. Some

end consumers may make plantains out of the substrate and other prefer to eat them in other

forms like pudding, smoothies, and fresh juices, which are also not profitably viable, supply

chain channels. This project looks at the supply chain of the super banana from the perspective

of the 3D printed substrate that utilize derivatives of the genetically modified banana and other

additives to produce diverse forms of vitamin-rich food rations. The processed version could be a

derivative of a great deal of divergent food processing supply chains.

The processed version is a far beneficial supply chain because it enables far greater value

derived from the producer country in terms of value addition (Amanor, 2019, p. 43). The supply

chain then can be diversified as the food substrate becomes useful in multiple new forms of

processing and food development channels. For instance, in the dried form, the substrate can be

used in processing enriched bread, enriched biscuits and ingredients for coking and preparing

varied dishes. The diversification enables many channels of distribution beyond the 3D printed

versions of the fruit since the processed form can embed longer shelf life and ease of handling

during freight and storage. Despite the challenges of the politics of genetically modified foods,

the super banana is poised to be a revolutionary food that will help many people. The huge

investments taken into the research and the dedicated contribution from the scientific community

should not be watered down by the unfounded claims that genetically modified foods will cause

existential harms to mankind.

Recommended Investor(s)
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There are diverse players in the development of agricultural produce from the developing

nations of East Africa for the markets in North America. The United States has its development

collaboration institutions like USAID among other specialized foundations directly involved

funding research and product development for export. The World Bank and the International

Monetary Fund as well as specialized foundations like Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation play a

critical role in helping viable farming initiatives reach wider foreign markets and thereby

improving the balance of trade among the developing nations (Valencia, 2021, p. 11). The

climatic conditions in Kenya and Uganda offer the best opportunity for the cultivation of Super

Banana for export into the United States and Canada. These countries have large fresh water

bodies that make the cultivation of Banana effective and for which high yields can be attained.

Without philanthropic contributions, very little of innovation can see the light of day among the

sectors that seek the greater good of the human community. Governments can invest money set

aside for the climate change mitigation because the project fits well within the World Bank

funded kitty for many nations in the global south.

Investors in the Super Banana project would also involve venture capitalists that target

diversification of their portfolios to include agricultural products that generally have a high value

and expanded supply chains in the high-end market segments. Super banana would be a prime

commodity if modified through manufacturing to produce highly nutritious substrates fabricated

through 3D printing technology to yield highly versatile and higher durability in shelf-life. As

part of the funding shall be chiefly involved in the development of the farming systems and

logistical challenges in the grassroots, the local governments in the regions for the production of

the banana will be engaged in the soliciting budgetary allocation for the agribusiness sector. The

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has played a critical role in providing
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expert support and technical input in the development of agricultural products and supply chains

that impact welfare and food systems globally (Du Plessis, van Eeden and Goedhals-Gerber,

2022, p. 769). In collaboration with the local Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) like

Development Services Resource Centre (DSRC-Kenya) with expertise in food processing, the

synergy among communities to invest in the program can be solicited. The project execution

would thus involve multiple vertical and lateral collaborations and tap into the communal

resource of group participation and coordination to ensure the project is a success.

The local community that brings on board their labor, tools, and land resources are a

critical and often ignored section of investors. The community also avails the communal capital

of affiliations and cooperative synergies that drive the production process. Community is built

around norms and beliefs about hard work and endurance that contributes immensely to the

project outcomes. In retrospect, the community organizations and institutions advance and

prosper in the preponderance of the projects they accomplish. The reciprocal relations between

varied entities that act to inspire progress and excellence in the project benefit the society a great

deal because people find new meaning in their lives and conditions. Such projects also confer

hope and inspiration for the community to advance a many subtle ways.

Supermarket chains in the United Kingdom and in the United States that require the super

banana can also be critical stakeholders because they would be the importers. Nonetheless, their

roles could amplify through initiatives of corporate social responsibility (CSR) for the strategic

reasons of have a keen oversight on the entire process. The established modalities in freight of

fresh vegetables and fruits entail a great deal of other corporate players like cargo fleets like the

British Airways, Etihad, Lufthansa, and other airlines. A close collaboration among all
 Supply Chain Strategy for Super Banana 9

stakeholders is relevant and useful for the effective ratification of the delicate procurement and

logistical program.

Analysis of Impact

Super Banana has a lot of positive ramifications because apart from being super

delicious, the fruit comes with a superfluous bonus of beta-carotene, which is the latent form of

vitamin A. The impact of the cultivation of Super Banana will create employment to farmers and

influence commerce in the selected nations of East Africa. Improved collaboration among

stakeholders and the involvement of both the corporate sector and the public sector in such

projects and joint ventures have the effect of bolstering long-term cooperation in development

among communities. Super banana is relevant for the people in the developing nations as a

primary humanitarian concern in global nutritional insecurity.

i. Triple Bottom-line Analysis

The triple bottom-line analysis is a viable tool for the testing of product viability taking

into consideration vital metrics about the social, environmental and financial aspects of the

project. Financially, the high cost which could be burdensome in the innovation process has been

overcome through the support of the philanthropic institutions supporting the project. The multi-

stakeholder approach also helps address the financial burden that goes in the facilitation of a

massive project yielding better nutritional provisions for the people most deprived (Tort, Vayvay

and Çobanoğlu, 2022, P. 12). The social impacts of super banana is enormous as it alleviates

blindness among children, helps people develop better eyesight and better health outcomes

across their lives. Innovations in finance and the emergence of venture capital enable many noble

ideas to yield fruition. A new process of crowd funding through platforms like Indiegogo helps
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many initiatives generate cash for programs and projects that have real impact when the

communities lack the resources to see them lifted off the ground.

The fair trade regulations govern the projects mostly in the agricultural and mining

sectors among the poor or developing nations. With such regulations gaining traction globally,

there are lesser chances of sweatshop conditions that exploit children and women. Moreover, the

workers involved in the work have better protective clothing and better regulated working

conditions in terms of ergonomics to ensure health outcomes are rational. The overall social

outcome of the project would be progressive because the frits earn substantially in the

international market. The investors like Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation consider the priority

of improving the nutritional security of marginalized population and people often underserved by

public programs. In this regard, the processing of the super banana could focus more on the 3D

printed food substrates for distribution by organizations like UNICEF for the children faced with

malnutrition and other setbacks in unstable communities. Government involvement may also

bolster the humanitarian concerns particularly in a global system increasingly characterized by

crises and disasters.

ii. The Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Management

The Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Management involves the broader

perspectives of a project’s impact and influence on diverse issues that may impact the marketing

and consumption of the product. Banana cultivation has no significant negative effect on the

environment. Contrarily, bananas have broad leaves and the large plantations can be a huge

source of carbon trap thus helping mitigate climate change effects occasioned by fossil fuels. The

initiative thus has a diverse multiple benefits to the environment. Banana plantation also aid in

the conservation of the soil and controls flooding in the event of flash floods that could put
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communities in great jeopardy by checking the speed of water. Malnutrition is a serious

challenge because it affects the health outcomes in subtle ways and everything should be done to

address the problem at the source. Shipping carrots to the deprived communities many not offer

suitable remedies and the need for governments to consider the investment in super banana is an

opportunity worth exploring through a multi-stakeholder approach. In this manner, greater trust

is achievable and the involvement of diverse people at the grassroots helps build resilient

communities and cohesive nations.

The impact of the project on governance is astounding because it brings community

together and engages the people at the grassroots to earn a living by working in their farms with

the support from other stakeholders and investors. Moreover, the supply chain of the super

banana project yields many associated jobs at varied stages. The finances obtained by the

workers help the community to build local institutions and advance their social welfare. Through

such a program, village communities can alleviate absolute poverty and even generate new forms

of investments from the earnings. Since the bananas attract better prices abroad, the country

earns foreign exchange, which improves the balance of trade in favor of the developing nation.

Innovations in cargo handling and freight have made it possible for fresh fruit and vegetables to

be sourced from any part of the globe into the prime markets of North America and Europe

leading to the convergence of balances of trade among nations and hence the forging of a

connected single humanity, which is good for the planet in the face of widening income

disparities. Global governance attains far better appraisals when nations collaborate in trade

through fair trade regulations hence there is no harm to the social and political conditions in the

developing nations.
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The greatest interest in the super banana is the potential to have a major boost in the

supply of fresh nutritious bananas rich in the vital vitamin. A deficiency of the critical vitamin is

a huge problem particularly in the developing world. The World Health Organization (WHO)

experts estimate that between 650,000 and 700,000 children die annually from causes related to

vitamin A deficiency in their diets. In an extrapolation of data, a further 300,000 avoid premature

childhood deaths only to lose their eyesight. By adjusting a few gene components, scientists have

created a banana that yields high value of beta-carotene and could solve the problem of vitamin

A deficiency among the underserved populations worldwide.

As a genetically modified food substrate, the scientific community should take

considerable time and effort to establish the suitability of the product for human consumption

across vast domains of genetic profiles. Although many genetically modified products are in the

public domain as foods, the political intrigue with certain foods raise considerable concerns that

demand a very exhaustive evaluation. Solving the problem of malnutrition should not cultivate

diverse new problems of cancers or other genetic conditions that may go out of hand. The Bill

and Melinda Gates Foundation obtained $10 million funding to the evaluation and piloting of the

product in the United States. As a pilot study, the results should give insights about the often

claimed risks and open the way for widespread adoption of the technology. The odyssey is that

large swaths of the globe face the challenge of malnutrition and it cannot be addressed by the

simple traditional farming practices and the need to look into new technology and genetic

modification is a viable solution.

Conclusions

The process of cultivating super banana, the extraction of the food substrate for the 3D

printed food products and feeding the produce into diversified export programs can come with
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immense challenges since the disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic and the financial meltdown

left the international system in shambles. Nonetheless, project managers and supply chain

professionals grappling with the challenges can model the relevant organizational designs and

produce highly profitable ventures while working with local communities. The super banana

initiative is highly profitable due to the huge market for the fresh cut frits in North America

where the piloting of the products have been conducted. However, overreliance in Latin

America is seen as potentially unviable and the project seeks to develop new production units in

the east African regions of Kenya and Uganda. Fresh cut super banana can be ripened and eaten

but an alternative supply chain might involve the processing of the food substrate and packaging

it for diverse new food channels. For instance, the vitamin A rich food substrate can be fed into

the manufacture of biscuits and bread. They can also be fed into the manufacture of diverse

forms of food additives. A lean and agile organizational design is necessary in this project

because of the incorporation of diverse organizations and large community participation. Banana

stocks and leaves can also feed into new local areas supply chains in the manufacture of strong

fiber products used as packaging materials and the processing of animal feeds.
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References

Amanor, K.S., 2019. Global value chains and agribusiness in Africa: Upgrading or capturing

smallholder production?. Agrarian South: Journal of Political Economy, 8(1-2), pp.30-

63.

Du Plessis, M.J., van Eeden, J. and Goedhals-Gerber, L.L., 2022. Distribution chain diagrams for

fresh fruit supply chains: A baseline for emission assessment. Journal of Transport and

Supply Chain Management, 16, p.769.

Goetz, S.J., Cleary, R., Yi, J., Ge, H. and Gómez, M.I., 2022. Facility locations in the fresh

produce supply chain: An integration of optimization and empirical methods.

International Journal of Production Economics, 249, p.108534.

Leelaphiwat, P. and Chonhenchob, V., 2020. Packaging Technologies for Banana and Banana

Products. Handbook of Banana Production, Postharvest Science, Processing Technology,

and Nutrition, pp.81-98.

Tort, Ö.Ö., Vayvay, Ö. and Çobanoğlu, E., 2022. A systematic review of sustainable fresh fruit

and vegetable supply chains. Sustainability, 14(3), p.1573.

Valencia, I.S., 2021. Effects of Climate Change on Agricultural Commodity Supply Chains:

Assessing the Environmental and Social Impacts.

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Appendix Reflection

Figure 1: Super banana ripe from the farm. (Source: IFAD.org)

Figure II: the beta-carotene molecule. (Source: Dictionary of Molecular Biology)