The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has reviewed and approved four new GM plants, including pennycress, clementines, peas and potatoes, determining they pose no greater plant pest risk than conventional crops. Here’s what you need to know about their unique traits and implications for U.S. growers.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced its regulatory status review responses for four genetically modified (GM) plants. The approved plants include:
- Pennycress with reduced erucic acid, fiber, glucosinolate levels in seeds, and improved seed shatter resistance, developed by CoverCress Inc.
- Clementine with enhanced lycopene content and antibiotic resistance, developed by GCMBNA Ruby Genetics Inc.
- Garden Pea with seed-based meat protein, developed by Moolec Science.
- Potato with improved drought tolerance, developed by Michigan State University.
After thorough review, APHIS determined these genetically modified plants do not pose increased plant pest risks compared to existing cultivated varieties. While they are exempt from regulation under 7 CFR part 340, they may still require compliance with APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) permits or quarantine protocols. According to APHIS, these GM plants can be grown and bred safely within the U.S., potentially offering new opportunities for the agricultural sector.
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