- The USDA-APHIS has designated Cibus' (CBUS, Financial) Sclerotinia resistance traits in canola as non-regulated, enabling unrestricted development in the U.S.
- These traits, made possible via the Rapid Trait Development System™ (RTDS®), mitigate canola yield losses of 7-15% due to white mold, potentially reducing up to 50% per infected plant.
- The decision aligns with evolving global regulatory frameworks, including recent EU advancements towards gene-edited products' regulation.
Cibus, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBUS), a leader in plant trait development and licensing, has received a significant boost as the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) designated two of its disease resistance trait products for canola as non-regulated. Developed using Cibus' proprietary Rapid Trait Development System™ (RTDS®), these traits involve precise genetic alterations without introducing foreign genetic material.
This USDA-APHIS decision means these products do not fall under the label of "regulated articles" according to 7 CFR Part 340, thereby allowing Cibus to proceed with development in the United States without the usual regulatory hurdles related to transgenic crops. This move represents a major regulatory milestone, underpinning a broader trend towards modernized approaches to precision gene editing.
Cibus' Sclerotinia resistance trait addresses substantial agricultural challenges by offering multiple modes of action against white mold—a fungal pathogen known to impact canola yields significantly. On average, Sclerotinia reduces yield by 7-15%, with the potential for 50% loss in severely infected plants. By deploying these advanced traits, farmers could see improved yields and reduced reliance on fungicides.
The global context further accentuates this development's significance. Regulatory modernization is gaining traction as seen in the European Union, which is advancing legislation to treat certain gene-edited products similarly to conventional varieties. The alignment with these international regulatory frameworks is expected to facilitate the broader commercialization of gene-edited products across global markets.
Beyond canola, Cibus envisages extending these technological benefits to other major crops such as soybeans. Such diversification could amplify the economic impact of their gene editing technologies across various agricultural markets, contributing to enhanced global food production resilience amid challenges like climate change.
