Partnership to explore creating biofertilizers from pineapple residue

A partnership between Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. and a Spanish biotechnological solutions company will explore maximizing pineapple residue using biofertilizers.

Fresh Del Monte and Vellsam Materias Bioactivas have formed biofertilizer company De l’Ora. Its initial step will be the opening of a new biofertilizer plant close to the location of Fresh Del Monte’s subsidiary, Del Monte Kenya Ltd.

The plant will use residues from the company’s pineapple cannery to create different types of biofertilizers for its use and eventual sale to other growers in Kenya and other East African countries, according to a news release.

Biofertilizers are natural fertilizers that use microbes to help promote plant growth by increasing the supply of essential nutrients, improving soil texture and yield, and providing a more sustainable option to traditional fertilizers.

“Fresh Del Monte is committed to creating a circular economy and is taking active measures to repurpose and reuse its residues,” Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, Fresh Del Monte chair and CEO, said in the release. “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.”

Estimates show that the global biofertilizers market size will expand to around $9.1 billion by 2032, according to Precedence Research. The expected growth is attributed to increasing awareness about sustainable agriculture practices, rising demand for organic food products and government initiatives promoting biofertilizer usage.

The new plant is currently running tests and will be fully operational in June, according to the release. Del Monte Kenya, which already employs 6,500 Kenyan workers, is the single largest exporter in the country, according to the company.