Tropic’s non-browning gene-edited banana cleared for production in the Philippines

Tropic’s non-browning banana received a non-GMO exemption decision from Philippines Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry. This is the first gene-edited product to go through the Philippine’s newly defined gene editing regulatory determination process. With this determination the Tropic non-browning can be freely imported and propagated in the Philippines.

″The Philippines government has implemented a science-based, transparent, and efficient process for assessing the safety of gene-edited plants.  This is exactly the type of system that encourages companies like Tropic to invest in innovative technologies to develop sustainable solutions for Filipino farmers.″

Tropic’s Chief Technology Officer Dr. Ofir Meir

Tropic's non-browning bananas have the potential to significantly reduce food waste and CO2 emissions along the supply chain by more than 25%, as over 60% of exported bananas go to waste before reaching the consumer. This innovative product can support a reduction in CO2 emissions equivalent to removing 2 million passenger vehicles from the road each year.

Tropic plans to introduce several important products in the Philippines over the next decade, starting with the non-browning banana. The Philippines is the top producer and exporter of bananas in Southeast Asia, but its global market share has decreased due to the prevalence of Panama disease Tropic Race 4, which threatens 80% of global banana production. Tropic is using gene editing technology to develop disease-resistant bananas that can solve for Panama Disease Tropical Race 4. The clear and predictable regulatory framework for gene-edited products established by the Filipino government will encourage investment and R&D in the country’s banana sector.