Clemson University scientists have secured a $1.2 million Gates Foundation grant to develop innovative hydroponic technology that could transform banana production across Africa while benefiting South Carolina farmers.
Led by horticulture professor Jeffrey Adelberg, the project aims to create a cost-effective system for producing disease-free banana starter plants using nutrient-rich solutions instead of soil. Bananas, the world's largest non-seed crop, are particularly vulnerable to pests and diseases that threaten food security for millions of African households who depend on them as dietary staples.
The research team is partnering with Nigeria's International Institute of Tropical Agriculture to implement the technology in Tanzania and Uganda, where reduced banana yields directly impact food availability and prices.
"For millions of households that rely on these banana types as daily staples, reduced yields from pests and disease and climate stresses directly threaten food security," said International Institute of Tropical Agriculture scientist Delphine Amah.
The innovation promises local benefits for South Carolina. Once perfected for African bananas, researchers will adapt the hydroponic propagation system for South Carolina crops including strawberries and sweet potatoes, potentially opening new opportunities for the state's farmers and strengthening agricultural resilience on both continents.
