It maintains the taste and quality of conventional bananas while offering environmental benefits
UK-based biotech company Tropic has developed a non-browning banana using CRISPR technology, extending freshness and reducing food waste. The innovation, which has received regulatory approval in multiple countries, maintains the taste and quality of conventional bananas while offering environmental benefits.
Tropic, a UK-based biotech company, has developed a non-browning banana variety using CRISPR gene editing technology. This method disables genes responsible for producing polyphenol oxidase, which causes browning when bananas are cut or bruised. The modified bananas maintain the same taste, smell, and sweetness profile as conventional bananas, but the flesh doesn't brown as quickly. This breakthrough is similar to techniques used in Arctic apples, which have been sold in the US since 2017.
Non-browning bananas could significantly reduce food waste, addressing a global issue where 33% of harvested produce never reaches consumers due to short shelf life. Over 60% of exported bananas go to waste before reaching consumers, and approximately 5 billion bananas are thrown away annually in the US alone. The non-browning variety has the potential to reduce food waste and CO2 emissions by more than 25%, equivalent to removing 2 million passenger vehicles from the road each year. This innovation could also open new markets for bananas in prepared fruit products, potentially transforming the fresh-cut industry.
Tropic's non-browning bananas have received regulatory approvals in several countries, including the Philippines, Canada, the USA, Colombia, and Honduras. This marks the first gene-edited product to pass through the country's newly defined regulatory process. Tropic's non-browning bananas could be a game changer for the fresh-cut industry, as they demonstrate a growing acceptance of gene-edited crops and could encourage further investment in innovative agricultural technologies.
Tropic, a UK biotech firm, is launching non-browning bananas with extended shelf life, set to launch by the end of 2025. These bananas have modified ethylene-producing mechanisms, allowing them to stay green longer and potentially be shipped to distant markets like Japan or the Middle East. Tropic is also advancing field trials for Cavendish bananas resistant to the fungal disease Panama tropical race 4. Other promising developments include CRISPR-based gene activation and inhibition techniques, the Cas-CLOVER system, efforts to increase β-carotene content in bananas, and semi-dwarf banana plants for easier harvesting. These advancements, combined with traditional breeding and transgene-free editing strategies, are poised to transform banana cultivation, addressing major industry challenges while improving nutritional value and sustainability.
About the Writer
Jenny, the tech wiz behind Jenny's Online Blog, loves diving deep into the latest technology trends, uncovering hidden gems in the gaming world, and analyzing the newest movies. When she's not glued to her screen, you might find her tinkering with gadgets or obsessing over the latest sci-fi release.What do you think of this blog? Write down at the COMMENT section below.
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