From the USC Viterbi Magazine: Fighting Fire with… Bananas?

| June 8, 2021 

Based on computer models, Barath Raghavan says the humble banana could prevent wildfire spread—and turn a tidy profit for local communities

In the fight against wildfires, we may have an unlikely ally: banana trees. According to Barath Raghavan, a USC Viterbi assistant professor of computer science, banana orchards could provide crucial wildfire protection for high-risk communities while turning a profit. Working with Michael Kantar, an agriculture expert at the University of Hawaii, Raghavan’s team ran computer models and found that banana orchards could slow or stop the spread of wildfire entering a neighborhood.

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Published on June 8th, 2021

Last updated on May 16th, 2024

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