Increase in protective measures by Del Monte amid looming danger to global banana plantations due to disease pandemics
Fresh Del Monte, a leading banana producer, is taking decisive action to combat the ongoing global banana shortage caused by Black Sigatoka and Fusarium Tropical Race 4 (TR4). The company's strategies span near-term operational optimisation, supply diversification, biosecurity, and long-term research initiatives.
The company is optimising crops and production planning, using research and production flexibility to adjust production windows, utilise nearly all available fruit, and stabilise production to reduce waste. Forecasting tools and data-driven harvesting plans are provided to growers, helping them manage peak production periods and minimise fruit loss.
Geographic diversification is another key strategy. Fresh Del Monte is expanding into currently unplanted areas across Central America and new, geographically diverse territories. This move aims to secure a more stable supply and mitigate concentration risk from TR4 and Black Sigatoka.
Research into TR4-resistant gene-edited banana lines is underway, with field testing expected soon. This long-term solution targets the soil-borne Fusarium TR4 pathogen, considered one of the most aggressive threats to banana production globally.
Stringent biosecurity measures and climate-resilient farming practices are being implemented on Fresh Del Monte's farms to limit disease spread and adapt to shifting climate patterns that increase disease incidence.
Improved logistics and cold chain technology are also part of the company's arsenal. Fresh Del Monte has partnered with logistics firm CMA CGM to shift to containerized transport routes with advanced temperature control, reducing fruit damage and waste, extending shelf life, and improving supply chain resilience.
Pricing adjustments are being made sector-wide to ensure profitability and long-term viability amid rising production and sourcing costs caused by disease impacts.
In addition, Fresh Del Monte's response to Black Sigatoka includes enhancing water management, improving plant distribution methods, and optimising nutrient and fertiliser use. The company is also leveraging pseudostem reserves in new ways to help plants better withstand drought.
Fresh Del Monte is strategically expanding into new, geographically diverse territories, including an active development for banana cultivation in Somalia. The company is also prepared with proven methodologies from its operations in Asia for early detection, containment, and cost-effective disease management of TR4.
However, Costa Rica, a significant banana-producing country, has seen a decline in its export volume this year, with banana production down by 23% as of May 2025. In Colombia and Peru, both Black Sigatoka and TR4 have been reported.
Fresh Del Monte's R&D team is actively trying to find varieties with tolerance to TR4, reflecting the company's commitment to finding long-term solutions to the ongoing banana shortage, which is primarily caused by TR4 and Black Sigatoka, along with the accelerating impacts of climate change.
- Fresh Del Monte's R&D team is also researching gene-edited banana lines that could potentially resist medical-conditions such as Fusarium TR4, demonstrating their commitment to health-and-wellness by ensuring a sustainable banana supply.
- The company's expansion into environmental-science domains, like the active development for banana cultivation in Somalia, showcases its dedication to finding geographically diverse and sustainable solutions to combat the ongoing global banana shortage.
