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By Agroempresario.com
Tropic, a UK-based plant biotechnology company, is set to introduce non-browning bananas in March 2025 and extended shelf-life bananas by the end of the year. These innovations promise to transform the fruit industry by reducing food waste, opening new export markets, and lowering shipping costs. Additionally, the company is expanding field trials for Cavendish bananas resistant to the devastating fusarium wilt (TR4) fungal disease.
Founded in 2016 by Gilad Gershon and Eyal Maori, Tropic has developed its proprietary Gene Editing Induced Gene Silencing (GEiGS) technology, leveraging natural RNA interference (RNAi) mechanisms in plants to combat threats like fungi and viruses. However, the non-browning and extended shelf-life bananas were created using CRISPR gene editing techniques.
Commercial Cavendish bananas are sterile and lack seeds, making traditional breeding methods ineffective. As a result, researchers must rely on mutagenesis, genetic modification, or gene editing to introduce desirable traits.
According to CEO Gilad Gershon, non-browning bananas retain the same taste, smell, and sweetness profile but resist the oxidative process that causes browning. This trait opens up opportunities in the cut-fruit and prepared food markets, where bananas have traditionally been excluded due to their quick discoloration.
Browning occurs when polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzymes catalyze the oxidation of phenolic compounds, similar to what happens with apples and potatoes when exposed to air. By knocking out the genes responsible for PPO production, Tropic has developed bananas that maintain their fresh appearance for longer.
Regulatory approvals have already been secured in the Philippines, Colombia, Honduras, the U.S., and Canada, with more countries expected to follow.
Tropic’s extended shelf-life bananas will hit the market later in 2025. Currently, bananas are harvested while green and shipped under controlled conditions. However, there are limitations to how far they can travel before ripening begins.
By disabling genes responsible for ethylene production, Tropic has managed to delay ripening by at least 10 days. Ethylene is a plant hormone that triggers ripening by breaking down starch into sugar, softening cell walls, and changing the peel color. The ability to prolong the pre-ripening phase allows bananas to be harvested later, shipped further, and stored longer, significantly reducing packaging and refrigeration costs.
Another groundbreaking project involves combating fusarium wilt (TR4), a fungal disease that has devastated banana crops worldwide. Tropic's GEiGS technology leverages the plant’s natural RNAi system to target and silence specific genes in the invading fungus, offering a promising solution for long-term disease resistance.
Traditional gene knockouts require identifying and disabling a single plant gene responsible for susceptibility, a process that can have unintended consequences. In contrast, GEiGS repurposes non-coding RNA genes to selectively inhibit specific genes within the fungus. This targeted approach enhances resistance while minimizing negative effects on the banana plant itself.
Tropic is already partnering with major banana producers to implement TR4-resistant varieties. The company has been testing resistant strains for over three years and is now expanding field trials across multiple locations. Early results indicate strong resistance to TR4, marking a significant breakthrough for the industry.
Beyond bananas, Tropic has licensed GEiGS technology to agricultural giants like Corteva (corn and soybean disease resistance), British Sugar (sugar beet protection), and Genus (livestock disease prevention).
Tropic’s innovations in non-browning bananas, extended shelf-life bananas, and TR4-resistant varieties are set to redefine the global banana industry. By tackling food waste, export limitations, and devastating crop diseases, the company is paving the way for a more sustainable and profitable future for banana growers and consumers alike.
With regulatory approvals expanding and industry partnerships growing, 2025 could mark a turning point for the banana market—one where gene-edited fruit becomes the new standard for efficiency and resilience.
