New variety of gene-edited eucalyptus produces wood that is easier to process industrially, reducing chemical and energy input requirements for pulp production
FuturaGene, the biotechnology subsidiary of the world’s largest pulp supplier, Suzano, has formally submitted its first consultation letter to Brazil’s National Biosafety Technical Commission (CTNBio) regarding gene-edited eucalyptus.
This marks the world’s first regulatory submission for gene-edited eucalyptus, made in accordance with CTNBio’s Normative Resolution No. 16 (RN 16), which contains provisions for regulatory exemption for certain types of gene editing. This includes circumstances where gene-edited crops do not contain foreign DNA, where they can be exempted from the regulatory process for genetically modified organisms (GMO) and treated in a similar way to conventional plants.
FuturaGene’s innovation is designed to deliver wood that is easier to process industrially, supporting more efficient and sustainable pulp production by reducing chemical and energy input requirements. It was developed using CRISPR-Cas9, a New Breeding Technique (NBT), which enabled a highly precise single-gene edit in the eucalyptus, with no DNA introduced from other species, mimicking a change that could also occur in nature or be achieved through conventional breeding.
Dr. Stanley Hirsch, CEO of FuturaGene said: “This is a milestone moment for tree farming and pulp production. At FuturaGene our mission is to harness cutting-edge science responsibly, to help to address climate change and its impacts, and meet the rising global demand for bio-based products while protecting nature. We want to ensure that each new generation of eucalyptus advances sustainability and efficiency in our use of land and resources. This world-first gene edited eucalyptus complements our existing knowledge base and technology portfolio. By embracing the full range of available biotechnology tools, including genetic modification and gene editing, we are creating better trees that will create a better industry.”
FuturaGene is a pioneer in eucalyptus biotechnology, having already obtained 11 approvals for genetically modified (GM) eucalyptus from CTNBio, with traits including yield enhancement, herbicide tolerance, and insect resistance. The submission will be now reviewed by CTNBio to determine whether this new eucalyptus variety can be classified as equivalent to conventional varieties, and if so, will remove any requirements for further biosafety evaluation in Brazil.
