Extended shelf-life banana by Tropic Biosciences: status and timeline

Milestones

No announced next step

Commercial launch2025Complete.

How it works

1 part

Ripening delay

Slower ethylene production

Gene edits reduce ethylene gas, the hormone that triggers ripening, so fruit stays firmer longer in transit.

Spec sheet

Spec	Extended shelf-life banana
Transport waste reduction	Up to 50% less waste^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

About Tropic Biosciences

The team behind Extended shelf-life banana

Tropic Biosciences

Gene-edited crops, tropical agriculture, CRISPR bananas

Tropic Biosciences develops gene-edited crop varieties to improve tropical agriculture. Its first product is a non-browning banana that extends shelf life and reduces food waste. The company also works on disease-resistant varieties to address challenges like Panama disease.

Founded 2016 in Norwich, England; raised $178M in seven rounds through 2026.
Non-browning banana launched 2025; approved in 11 countries including US, Canada, Philippines, Japan, Brazil.
Panama disease-resistant banana planned for 2027.

tropic.bio (opens tropic.bio)Company profile →

Founded: 201610 yrs
Headquarters: United Kingdom
Status: Private
Valuation: $875MprivateMar 2026
Raised: $179M4 rounds
Last round: Series C II · $105MMar 2026
Works in: AgricultureGene-edited crops
Coverage: 2 programs · 4 updateslatest 10 Apr 2026checked 10 Oct
Lead investors: ForbionCorteva CatalystBlue HorizonTemasekPontifax AgTechFive Seasons Ventures
Partners: TIME Magazine (opens time.com)
Investors: Agri-tech investment community
People: Gilad M. Gershon (opens tropic.bio)Founder & CEODr. Eyal Maori (opens tropic.bio)Chief Scientific Officer