“Tropic, the pioneering agricultural biotechnology company, has secured regulatory approval in both Japan and Brazil for its world first non‑browning banana variety, unlocking two of the most important fresh‑produce markets globally and marking a significant milestone in the future of sustainable fruit production.

The approvals clear the way for Tropic’s non‑browning banana to be imported, sold, and consumed in both countries, and grown in Brazil – enabling expanded consumer access, new commercial opportunities, and substantial reductions in global food waste.”

From Tropic.

“Scientists from South China Agricultural University and partners have developed a gene-editing tool called CasY7, a high-performance alternative to Cas9 nuclease that is commonly used in CRISPR gene-editing systems. Originally successful in medical trials, this ‘molecular scissors’ has now been optimized for agriculture. By refining its structure and guidance system, researchers significantly boosted its ability to make precise changes to plant DNA.

In large-scale testing across nearly 1,000 plants, the optimized CasY7 system achieved efficiency rates of 87.7% in maize and 82.9% in rice. This makes the tool nearly three times more effective than previous industry standards. It also proved capable of multiplexing, allowing scientists to edit several traits simultaneously.”

From ISAAA.

“Scientists at the Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI) have developed a new cell-based approach to fine-tune plant genes, potentially revolutionizing how crops capture carbon and produce food. In a study published in Nature Biotechnology, the researchers used sorghum leaf cells to simulate thousands of CRISPR edits within the regulatory DNA of photosynthesis genes.

The innovative platform allows scientists to identify exactly where and how to edit DNA to turn the production of key proteins ‘up’ or ‘down’ in the genome of key crops, optimizing the ability to process sunlight and atmospheric carbon.”

From ISAAA.

“The New York State Department of Health today issued updated advice for eating fish caught in waterbodies statewide. The advice provides important health information to New Yorkers who enjoy fishing for food. Declining levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in some lower Hudson River fish mean for the first time in 50 years, anglers and their families can eat some of the fish they catch.”

From New York State Department of Health.