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The use of biotechnology for the improvement of bananas and plantains will, no doubt, contribute to the modernization of their production on a sustainable basis, provided that efforts are directed towards the reduction of environmental hazards and production costs and to the development of new production systems for small farmers. We sincerely hope that the creativity needed, enhanced through worldwide collaboration in the field of biotechnology, will emerge as a very important outcome of this workshop. But we must also bear in mind that a multi-dimensional research approach must include interaction with other disciplines in the biological, economic, and social sciences as well as with those related to policy, services, and marketing environments. We trust that those interested in banana and plantain will find the information in this book useful and stimulating. This book is intended for students, teachers, and banana breeders. We hope that academics throughout the world interested in developing tropical crops will also find useful this book.