Fresh Del Monte Partners on Biofertilization from Fruit Residue

Fresh Del Monte Produce and Vellsam Materias Bioactivas, a producer of biotechnological solutions, has announced a partnership that will work to maximize the use of Fresh Del Monte’s pineapple residues by way of biofertilizers.

The Fresh Del Monte-led partnership, operating under the name De l’Ora Bio, is announcing this collaboration with the inauguration of a biofertilizer plant in Kenya, marking the initial step in the partnership's biofertilizer production endeavor.

The new biofertilizer plant is close to Fresh Del Monte’s subsidiary in Kenya, Del Monte Kenya Ltd., and will use residues from the company’s pineapple cannery to create different types of biofertilizers for its own use as well as the eventual sale to other growers in Kenya and East African countries.

“Fresh Del Monte is committed to creating a circular economy and is taking active measures to repurpose and reuse its residues,” said Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, Fresh Del Monte’s chairman and chief executive officer. “We see this collaboration as a transformative turning point that has the potential to revolutionize how the agricultural industry farms. De l’Ora embodies our commitment to innovation, environmental stewardship, and pursuing boundaries of what is possible in agriculture.”

The new plant is currently running tests and will be fully operational in June. Del Monte Kenya is the single largest exporter in the country and employs 6,500 Kenya workers directly. With the opening of this plant, the company can further support the local economy and work toward growing its footprint and impact in the region.

Through D l’Ora, the newly formed biofertilizer company, Fresh Del Monte and Almeria-based Vellsam, aim to maximize the use of residue utilization, enhance soil fertility, and meet the rising demand from consumers seeking sustainably grown produce.