FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Chiquita has announced a major advancement in banana innovation with the completion of the Yelloway banana pan-genome, a foundational scientific breakthrough designed to accelerate the development of disease-resistant and climate-resilient banana varieties.

Advancing Banana Genetics Through Yelloway

Developed through Yelloway B.V., an innovation joint venture between Chiquita and KeyGene, ("Yelloway") the banana pan-genome provides a comprehensive view of banana genetic diversity. By capturing the full range of naturally occurring variation, the pan-genome enables more precise research, supports biodiversity preservation, and strengthens long-term breeding efforts aimed at protecting the future of bananas.

Yelloway was created to unlock banana genetic diversity and advance classical breeding, supported by advanced genomic technologies. The pan-genome was developed by Yelloway using Oxford Nanopore sequencing technology, in collaboration with partners across the banana value chain, including Innocent Drinks, which provided match funding through its Farmer Innovation Fund.

Responding to Global Disease and Climate Challenges

The completion of the pan-genome comes at a critical moment for the global banana industry. As Fusarium wilt Tropical Race 4 (TR4) continues to spread and Black Sigatoka drives more than $100 million in annual protective costs, the ability to identify and deploy resilient genetic traits faster and more accurately has become increasingly essential.

Covering the genetic diversity of Musa acuminata—the species underpinning widely recognized banana varieties such as Gros Michel and Cavendish—the pan-genome allows Yelloway to move beyond broad genetic exploration toward targeted breeding decisions. This approach accelerates the development of banana varieties that are more resilient to disease, better suited to a changing climate, and aligned with consumer expectations.

Expert Perspectives on a Scientific Milestone

Professor Gert Kema, board member of Yelloway and emeritus professor of phytopathology at Wageningen University, said the pan-genome provides researchers with a new level of insight. "Imagine the genome as a landscape. To reach your destination, you need a map. Until now, we were driving mainly on highways, enough to reach major cities. But to reach every village, you need GPS coordinates, secondary roads, and sometimes unpaved tracks. The banana pan-genome provides that high-resolution map, allowing us to fully explore the entire genomic landscape of banana."

Fernando Garcia-Bastidas, Head of the Yelloway Banana Breeding Program, emphasized its impact, stating, "The banana pan-genome allows us to analyze, select, and deploy the most relevant genetic material. It dramatically accelerates the development of improved banana varieties resistant to major threats such as TR4 and Black Sigatoka, diseases that endanger the banana as we know it today."

Peter Stedman, Sustainability Director at Chiquita, also commented, "When we launched Yelloway, we knew the knowledge generated would extend far beyond a single organization. Completing the banana pan-genome is a landmark achievement that demonstrates the value of collaboration across the supply chain and has the potential to advance banana research and breeding worldwide."

Global Dialogue at Fruit Logistica in Berlin

Chiquita shared insights from this work during Fruit Logistica in Berlin, where Stedman participated in the event's Sustainability Panel, highlighting the role of science-based innovation and cross-industry collaboration in building a more resilient banana supply chain.

Supporting Industry-Wide Collaboration

As part of its commitment to shared progress, Yelloway will provide academic researchers with access to the banana pan-genome through a dedicated web portal, supporting collaboration and continued advancement in banana breeding and research.

Topeka, KS—The , aleading food manufacturing companywith a portfolio of popular brands across coffee, pet, and snacking, and its subsidiary Big Heart Pet Brands, Inc.aremaking a significant investment inthe Topeka region through an expansionof its manufacturing facilityto supportits workforce and continued growth of the business. The project includes a capital investment of $17.8 million in real property and $2.7 million in equipment, positioning Topeka as a hub for advanced food production and innovation.

“We are excited to continue to expand our operations in Topekato support the consumers who count on our beloved brands, including Meow Mix and Milk-Bone,and the dedicated workforce that worksdiligentlyto continue to deliver thesehigh-qualityproducts,” said Luke Livingston,Director, Operations, The J.M. Smucker Co.“Our facility hasbeen part of the Topeka community for more than55years and this investment represents our commitment to continueto grow together.”  To accelerate this growth, the Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO) board of Topeka and Shawnee County has approved economic development incentives totaling $383,000, aimed at supporting the company’s long-term success and strengthening the local economy.

“This significant investment by anindustry leaderin Smuckerrepresents a major step forward for Topeka’s manufacturing sector,” said Rhiannon Friedman, President of GO Topeka. “This investmentenhances our industrial base and creates further opportunities for sustained economic growthand we’re proud to partner with a company that shares our vision for a thriving community.”

also recently announced a $34 million expansion, creating 60 jobs and further cementing Topeka’s reputation as a hub for advanced food production and innovation. Together, these investments reflect sustained momentum in the region’s food manufacturing sector and its growing importance within the broader supply chain. 

That growth is being reinforced by the upcoming launch of LINK Innovation, which will provide dedicated space and programming to support product development, commercialization and access to capital for food and beverage companies. Structured to connect established manufacturers with emerging brands and investors, LINK Innovation adds another layer to Topeka’s coordinated ecosystem, strengthening the pipeline from production to innovation to scale.

Atlanta, GA (February 12, 2026) - AMMEGA Group, global provider of belting solutions for conveying and power transmission, announced the expanded availability of a next-generation detectable conveyor belt engineered to help food manufacturers reduce contamination risks and reinforce quality control standards. Designed to improve X-ray and metal detection sensitivity without compromising performance, Dectyl XMD is purpose-built for confectionery, bakery, snack, meat and poultry, and prepared foods environments where compliance and product integrity are non-negotiable.

At a time when food processors face increasing pressure to safeguard production lines from foreign body contamination, Dectyl XMD delivers a clear operational advantage. Its detectable formulation helps ensure that any belt fragments can be identified early in the process, helping reduce waste, prevent recalls, and protect brand reputation. To ensure detection performance across various food industry subsegments and amid varying production conditions, AMMEGA provides Dectyl XMD Test Cards that allow manufacturers to test and validate the minimum detectable size of Dectyl belt fragments within their own food processing line.   

“Food safety is one of the strongest drivers in the market today. Dectyl XMD was designed to give our customers confidence in compliance, in inspection accuracy, and in the consistency of their product output,” said Bobby Bauman, Director - Global Product Line Management, Conveyor Belting at AMMEGA. “It reflects our commitment to providing solutions that are not only high-performing but also aligned with contemporary safety expectations.” 

Through its leading brands, Ammeraal Beltech and Megadyne, AMMEGA continues to meet food safety and performance needs with a range of conveying and power transmission belts. Dectyl XMD aligns seamlessly with AMMEGA’s broader hygienic conveying portfolio, including and , the new Megadyne belts engineered specifically for food processing environments, made with food-contact approved materials to support clean, compliant, and reliable production. Megadyne’s synchronous belts set a new standard for ultra-high performance belts allowing for reduced envelope size and extended life in power transmission applications in food processing.

Together, AMMEGA’s leading brands offer comprehensive solutions toolkit to: 

• Improve food safety and traceability
• Reduce unplanned downtime tied to belt wear or contamination events
• Extend belt life and lower total cost of ownership
• Enhance consistency and quality across high-volume production lines 

“AMMEGA is committed to delivering conveying solutions that support safer, smarter, and more efficient production,” Bauman added. “Whether customers are modernizing existing lines or designing new operations, our portfolio provides the performance and assurance they need to meet global food safety standards.” 

Dectyl XMD, Megaliner XMD, Megalinear FC and Megasync^TM Titanium belts are available now through AMMEGA and authorized distribution partners. For more information, and consultation on the best fit for manufacturing applications, please visit and

TORONTO, Feb. 12, 2026 /CNW/ - Armstrong Cheese, voted Canada's Most Trusted Brand in the Cheddar Cheese Category*, has introduced a new High in Protein Marble Cheddar Cheese — an innovation that has already earned them the 2026 Product of the Year in the Cheese Category by Kantar.**

Rather than asking Canadians to rethink their meals, Armstrong's new High in Protein cheese offers a familiar, craveable way to boost protein through a food Canadians already know and love. 

"With Armstrong High in Protein Marble Cheddar Cheese, we set out to deliver the great taste Canadians expect from Armstrong Cheese with the protein they are increasingly seeking," said Tina Galluccio, Director of Marketing, Saputo Canada. "Being recognized as Product of the Year is something we are incredibly proud of, because it reflects how strongly this product is resonating with Canadians and how naturally it fits into everyday meals and snacks."

Proudly Canadian, Armstrong High in Protein cheese is lower in fat and high in protein, delivering the signature melt, stretch, and flavour for which Armstrong is renowned, without compromising the taste Canadians love.

The recognition as 2026 Product of the Year in the Cheese Category reinforces Armstrong's continued focus on innovation that resonates with Canadian shoppers.

Armstrong High in Protein Marble Cheddar Cheese is now available at major grocery retailers across Canada in cheese sticks, shredded cheese, and block formats.

*Armstrong Cheese was voted Most Trusted Brand in the Cheddar Cheese category (tie) based on Canadian consumer research conducted by BrandSpark.

** The Kantar Product of the Year designation is determined through a quantitative study using a nationally representative survey of 4,000 Canadian consumers, who vote on products across defined categories.