Several studies have shown that banana peels have the potential to partially replace corn as an energy source in chicken feed. Their inclusion at levels of up to 18% in layer diets has even been reported to have no negative effect on production performance or egg quality.

In both broiler and layer farming, feed costs remain the largest expense in production, accounting for approximately 65–70% of total production costs. Dependence on cereal-based feed ingredients, particularly corn and its derivatives, also makes the industry vulnerable to price fluctuations. Rising demand for corn for human food and biofuel, combined with competition for land use and the impacts of climate change, continues to drive feed prices upward. This situation not only puts pressure on farmers’ margins but may also affect poultry product prices at the consumer level.

These conditions have encouraged efforts to identify alternative feed ingredients that are more affordable, readily available, and sustainable. One option that has begun to receive increasing attention is banana plant waste, particularly banana peels (Musa paradisiaca). This waste is abundantly available from traditional markets and banana-processing industries. It contains starch, protein, fat, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals that have the potential to be utilized as raw materials for poultry feed.

Why Bananas?

Before discussing their benefits in greater depth, it is important to note that bananas have long been recognized as a versatile crop because almost every part of the plant, from roots to leaves, can be utilized. Nevertheless, waste still accumulates from this superfood, particularly banana peels. The amount is considerable, with approximately 2.9 million tons of banana peels becoming waste every year.

To reduce the amount of this organic material ending up as waste, various utilization innovations have frequently been explored, including processing it into high-fiber food products, biofuel, animal feed, and environmentally friendly handicrafts. Although this is not a new discovery, the utilization of banana peel waste has yet to be maximized in practice. This also presents an opportunity for the animal feed sector to continue advancing its knowledge in the search for the most efficient alternative feed ingredients to reduce production costs.

Based on previous research compiled in the literature, dried banana peels have been found to be usable at levels of up to 18% in layer diets without reducing production performance or egg quality, provided they undergo processing to reduce their antinutritional properties. Several other studies have also reported that banana peel meal has the potential to replace part of the corn as an energy source in chicken feed.

However, the issue is not limited to banana peels as a waste-management concern. Improving poultry productivity must also be taken into consideration. Therefore, in this study, the authors analyzed various publications examining banana-based feed as a new environmentally friendly and cost-effective feed source for the poultry industry, including the utilization of banana peels, banana leaves, and fermented bananas.

Fermented banana products were included in the review because previous reports have indicated that fermentation can improve the nutritional quality and bioactive compounds of banana plants, thereby increasing their potential as an alternative feed ingredient. Nevertheless, there are currently no definitive recommendations regarding the optimal inclusion level of each part of the banana plant in poultry diets. Further research is therefore needed to establish its effectiveness and safety on an industrial scale.

The information used in this review was obtained from various reputable scientific databases, including SpringerLink, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. Articles were selected rigorously, with only English-language publications that had undergone peer review and were published from 2012 onward included, with the exception of two articles published in 2006 that were considered still relevant. Conference proceedings, books, and book chapters were not included in the review.

Banana Plants as Poultry Feed

As we know, bananas are among the oldest cultivated crops in the world and have been utilized by humans for approximately 10,000 years, not only as a food source but also for their various functional potential. Almost every part of the banana plant can be utilized, from leaves rich in fiber, tannins, polyphenols, and flavonoids—which are widely used as food wrappers and in traditional medicine—to the pseudostem, which represents the largest biomass component of the plant.

This article is an excerpt from the Research section of the September 2026 edition of Poultry Indonesia magazine. Read the full article in the September 2026 edition of Poultry Indonesia magazine. For subscriptions or further information, contact us via WhatsApp or email sirkulasipoultry@gmail.com.

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