UK biotech firm Tropic to launch non-browning bananas in March, extended shelf-life bananas by year-end

UK-based plant biotechnology company Tropic is preparing to launch non-browning bananas in March, followed by bananas with extended shelf-life by the end of the year. These developments aim to expand the cut fruit market, reduce food waste, open new export opportunities, and lower shipping expenses.

After 12 hours, Tropic's non-browning banana stays fresh. On the left, a conventional Cavendish banana and on the right, a variety developed by Tropic that stays fresh after cutting. Image credit: Tropic

Additionally, Tropic is broadening field trials for Cavendish bananas resistant to fusarium wilt (TR4), a fungal disease affecting crops globally.

Founded in 2016 by Gilad Gershon and Eyal Maori, Tropic is recognized for its Gene Editing Induced Gene Silencing (GEiGS) technology. This technology utilizes RNA interference (RNAi) in plants to counteract threats from fungi and viruses. However, the non-browning and extended shelf-life bananas are developed using CRISPR gene editing techniques.

Cavendish bananas, being sterile and seedless, are propagated asexually via cloning, complicating traditional genetic variation methods. Researchers resort to inducing genetic variations through mutagenesis, genetic modification, somaclonal variation, or gene editing.

According to Gershon, the non-browning bananas maintain the same taste and sweetness, but the flesh browns less quickly, facilitating their inclusion in fruit salads and cut fruit products. Browning is catalyzed by polyphenol oxidase, an enzyme that oxidizes phenolic compounds, similar to processes in apples and potatoes.

Tropic has received regulatory approvals for these bananas in the Philippines, Colombia, Honduras, the USA, and Canada, with more approvals expected.

The extended shelf-life bananas are set to enter the market later this year. Gershon explained that bananas are harvested green to prolong their pre-ripened state during shipping. By knocking out genes responsible for ethylene production, bananas can remain greener longer, enabling later harvests and extended shipping durations, thus reducing packaging and transportation costs.

Regarding fusarium wilt resistance, Tropic employs its GEiGS technology to harness the banana plant's RNAi capabilities to target fungal genes. This involves editing non-coding genes to repurpose them for inhibiting genes in the fungus.

Tropic is collaborating with major banana companies on its TR4 technology. Field trials have shown promising resistance results, with more trials planned in various locations. This RNAi approach is not classified as GMO, easing regulatory challenges.

Tropic has also licensed its GEiGS technology to companies like Corteva, British Sugar, and Genus for applications in crops and livestock. The company has raised approximately $80 million and continues to generate revenue through partnerships.

Source: AgFunderNews