The Philippines' Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) has issued Certificates of Non-Coverage for new banana varieties, TRB011001 and TRB011002, confirming they are not genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Developed by Tropic Biosciences using CRISPR-Cas9 technology, these bananas exhibit reduced browning, aiming to lower food waste and CO2 emissions. The certification, granted on June 21, 2024, follows the submission of scientific evidence by the product developer and adheres to the Technical Consultation for Evaluation and Determination procedure outlined in DA Memorandum Circular No. 08 s. 2022.
This move also aligns with previous approvals for other gene-edited crops, including another reduced browning banana variant by Tropic in 2023 and Sanatech Seed's Sicilian Rouge tomato. These certifications permit the importation and cultivation of these crops within the Philippines.
Source: geneticliteracyproject.org