Yelloway One Honored with SEAL Business Sustainability Award for Pioneering Disease-Resistant Innovation
The award recognizes Chiquita’s innovative development of the first disease-resistant banana prototype, advancing sustainability and resilience in global agriculture
Fort Lauderdale, FL – January 31, 2025 – Chiquita, the leading banana company, is proud to announce that it has been awarded the Suitable Innovation Award as part of the 2025 SEAL Business Sustainability Awards for its groundbreaking Yelloway One: a revolutionary disease-resistant banana prototype. This prestigious recognition from The SEAL Awards, which honors programs and initiatives that move the needle on environmental progress, demonstrate leadership and commitment to a sustainable future, celebrates Chiquita’s pioneering efforts to combat global agricultural challenges through innovation and sustainability.
Yelloway One, the first hybrid banana prototype with resistance to both Fusarium Wilt (Tropical Race 4) and Black Leaf Streak Disease (Black Sigatoka), represents a historic leap forward in agricultural innovation. These devastating fungal diseases pose a significant threat to global banana production, costing the industry hundreds of millions annually.
“This recognition from SEAL Awards is a testament to Chiquita’s unwavering commitment to sustainability and innovation,” said Peter Stedman, Chiquita’s Sustainability Director. “Yelloway One reflects our vision for a resilient banana industry that can withstand environmental and disease pressures while supporting farmers and communities globally. We are honored to lead this transformative effort.”
Developed in collaboration with KeyGene, MusaRadix, and Wageningen University and Research (WUR), Yelloway One combines cutting-edge scientific research with advanced breeding technologies to deliver a sustainable solution for banana growers worldwide. The initiative has already produced over 32,000 seeds and 150 successful crosses, laying the foundation for a sustainable banana industry. By leveraging advanced DNA sequencing, genetic analysis, and natural breeding techniques, the initiative has achieved remarkable progress in creating commercially viable, sustainable banana varieties.
“Chiquita’s Yelloway One initiative exemplifies the inventive and impactful solutions that the SEAL Awards were created to celebrate,” said Matt Harney, Founder and Chairperson of SEAL Awards. “Every sector needs to contribute to climate action - we applaud Chiquita’s sustainability leadership and innovation within the agriculture sector.”
By fostering greater diversity in banana cultivation, Yelloway One and future varieties will offer improved resilience and economic opportunities for banana growers worldwide. The innovation behind Yelloway One will also benefit public initiatives, as the intellectual property developed through this project will be made available for the creation of non-export varieties with enhanced disease resistance.
For more information on Chiquita Brands, visit www.chiquita.com, and to learn more about Chiquita's Yelloway One initiative, click here.
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About Chiquita Brands International
Chiquita is a leading global produce company that is committed to providing both consumers and customers across nearly 70 countries with the highest quality of fruit and service, making Chiquita the banana of choice. For more than 150 years, Chiquita has been proudly producing great-tasting, superior quality bananas. The brand creates a positive impact by implementing the principles of sustainability throughout all of its business practices under the “Behind the Blue Sticker” initiative. Chiquita’s iconic Blue Sticker has been the seal of approval for high-quality fruit, and a celebration of fun, but it also represents an unwavering commitment to sustainable farming, biodiversity and giving back to the communities in which the banana plantations operate. Great-tasting and convenient Chiquita bananas are fat-free, and provide a source of potassium, fiber and vitamin B6. To learn more, visit www.chiquita.com.
