Gene-edited banana approved in Japan and Brazil

Biotech company Tropic has secured regulatory approval in both Japan and Brazil for its non‑browning banana variety, which was developed using precision gene editing. The approvals clear the way for the banana to be imported, sold, and consumed in both countries, and grown in Brazil. According to the company, the company now has regulatory determinations, notifications or exemptions for its products in eleven countries – including the USA, Canada and the Philippines – representing 70 per cent of the world’s banana production and 30 per cent of its consumer market. “These approvals represent a major step forward in bringing innovative, waste‑reducing produce to consumers worldwide,” said Gilad Gershon, CEO of Tropic. “Japan and Brazil each play critical roles in the global fruit market, and these decisions reflect growing international confidence in new agricultural technologies designed for modern supply chains.” Tropic’s non‑browning banana is said to extend the product’s ...