This article highlights the ongoing efforts of a group of professionals dedicated to combating diseases threatening the banana and plantain industries in Ecuador. Recently, they mobilized to Calceta, Manabí, specifically to the Escuela Superior Tecnológica Agropecuaria Manuel Feliz López, and subsequently to El Carmen, the world capital of plantain. The visits were organized in partnership with the Federación Nacional de Productores de Plátano, known as Fenaprope, where they gathered substantial support to develop financial and political proposals aimed at reinforcing research initiatives. Given the crucial economic contribution of musaceous crops to the country, there is an urgent need for resource allocation to secure their future.

Moreover, these expeditions served not only as a platform to share initiatives but also as a valuable learning opportunity. Participants were able to gain insights directly from agricultural practices, particularly from a remark made by an engineering professor from Espam. This exchange is indicative of the collaborative nature of this undertaking, emphasizing the importance of integrating academic knowledge with practical experiences in creating effective strategies for crop disease management. Overall, the situation underscores the critical role that various stakeholders, including academia and agricultural unions, play in addressing such significant agricultural challenges in Ecuador.