The industry came under criticism from the ABC after reports were broadcasted nationally which focused on water quality, including sediment levels, in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.

ABGC Chairman, Doug Phillips, said the banana industry was proud of its achievements in further improving farm practices and its role in minimising the impact that a range of rural and urban land uses has on the reef.

“The ABC reports broadcasted claims that the banana industry is killing the Great Barrier Reef,” he said. “We would like all our stakeholders and industry partners to know that those claims are absolutely refuted by the banana industry and are completely untrue and unsupported.

“The latest scientific research completed as part of the joint Australian and Queensland Government Reef Water Quality Protection Plan shows that a range of land uses impact on the reef.

“To single out the banana industry is unfounded and unfair. In fact the banana industry is at the lower end of the scale for reef impacts in catchment modelling done as part of the research.”

Phillips said the industry would be making further statements to continue to clarify claims being made in the media reports about the banana industry’s environmental record. “It’s important for our industry to address these claims so that there are no misperceptions about the banana industry’s good standing as an environmentally responsible producer.”

Further statements on this issue can be found on the ABGC website.