Non-browning banana variety receives regulatory approval in 2 countries

Agricultural biotechnology company Tropic has secured regulatory approval in Japan and Brazil for its non‑browning banana variety.

The approvals clear the way for Tropic’s non‑browning banana to be imported, sold and consumed in both countries, and grown in Brazil, which accounts for 10% of global banana production, according to a news release.

“These approvals represent a major step forward in bringing innovative, waste‑reducing produce to consumers worldwide,” Tropic CEO Gilad Gershon said in the release. “Japan and Brazil each play critical roles in the global fruit market, and these decisions reflect growing international confidence in new agricultural technologies designed for modern supply chains.”

The gene-edited variety from U.K.-based Tropic was already approved for import and consumption in the U.S. The company said the new variety demonstrates 30% less browning within the first 24 hours of peeling without altering taste, smell or texture, with slices remaining firm for up to 48 hours, even when mixed with other fruits like strawberries, melon and kiwi.

Tropic now has regulatory determinations, notifications or exemptions for its banana products in eleven countries, including the USA, Canada and the Philippines. Those regions represent more than 70% of the production market and more than 30% of the consumption market, according to the company.

Launched commercially in 2025, Tropic’s non‑browning banana was the world’s first new banana variety in more than 75 years, according to the release. The company has also commercially launched an extended shelf-life banana variety it says lengthens green life by an additional 12 days — increasing yields, enabling new export routes and reducing transportation waste by up to 50%.

Tropic plans to launch a Panama Disease (TR4)-resistant variety in 2027. The fast-spreading disease is found in more than 20 countries.