British biotechnology has achieved what seemed impossible: a banana that resists oxidation. Using CRISPR technology, the company Tropic has created a variety that maintains its bright yellow color for longer, directly tackling global food waste and carbon emissions in a hopeful leap for sustainable agriculture.

We have all experienced it: you peel a banana or slice it for a fruit salad, and within minutes, it begins to turn brown. Now, the British company Tropic has potentially found the ultimate solution using the cutting-edge gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9.

What is CRISPR-Cas9?

Unlike traditional GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) that often introduce DNA from foreign species, CRISPR acts like "molecular scissors." It allows scientists to precisely edit the organism's own DNA. In this case, they focused on reducing the production of the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzyme, which is directly responsible for the fruit oxidizing when it comes into contact with oxygen.

The Impact: These bananas can maintain their fresh appearance and yellow color for one to two additional days after being peeled, a timeframe that extends even further if kept refrigerated.

Less Waste, More Planet

This innovation is far from being just aesthetic. According to data from the British government, approximately 1.4 million edible bananas were discarded daily in the UK simply due to spots or bruising. Gilad Gershon, CEO of Tropic, suggests that this breakthrough could potentially reduce more than 9 million tons of CO2 emissions annually across the export market.

Feature Technical Detail
Technology CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing
Modification Reduction of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzyme
Benefit Delayed oxidation (1 to 2 extra days)
Environmental Impact Reduction of 9M tons of CO2/year

The Journey to the Shelves

The commercial rollout is already underway. The UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has already approved the marketing notification under the edited plant law currently in effect in England since November 2025.

To reach British supermarkets, the only remaining step is the final evaluation by the UK Food Standards Agency. Meanwhile, the company already has the green light to operate in other key international markets:

Brazil
Japan
Philippines

Source: IMAGO