We may not realize is that while many of us eat bananas once in a while in the Western world, the banana is a key source of nutrition in others part of the world. Bananas (and plantains) are one of the most important staple crops upon which many millions rely.

Unfortunately, not all bananas are the same and in some places, bananas are becoming increasingly susceptible to pests. Even more problematic for many who use bananas as their primary source of calories, they are often not very high in nutrients in some specific soil conditions. I went to visit a team of researchers in Australia who are trying to figure out how to deal with the issue.

Our foundation’s work around the world gives me opportunities to meet really smart, visionary people who are doing pioneering work in fields that I might not get a chance to learn much about otherwise. For example, in December Melinda and I went to Cairns, Australia, where James Dale and his team from Queensland University of Technology are doing advanced research on bananas. As odd as that might sound, this research could make a big contribution to public health in a lot of Africa and Asia.

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