FuturaGene, the biotechnology subsidiary of Suzano, has announced its submission to Brazil’s National Biosafety Technical Commission (CTNBio) regarding gene-edited eucalyptus, designed to deliver wood that is easier to process industrially.
FuturaGene says it hopes to support ‘more efficient and sustainable’ pulp production by reducing chemical and energy input requirements. The edited eucalyptus was apparently developed using CRISPR-Cas9, a New Breeding Technique (NBT) which enabled a 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.
The company states its gene-edited eucalyptus is 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.
The submission will be reviewed by CTNBio to determine whether the new eucalyptus variety can be classified as equivalent to conventional varieties, and if so, will remove any requirements for further biosafety evaluation in Brazil.
Earlier this year, PAPACKS and Ukrainian Hemp collaborated in April to create a scalable supply chain for certified industrial hemp, aiming to provide a renewable, recyclable alternative to wood-based pulp and plastic. The two companies also announced the establishment of an industrial infrastructure for processing hemp into moulded fibre, pulp, and packaging.
The following month Czech company Myco unveiled its ‘100% plastic free’ biodegradable alternative to polystyrene packaging, made from mushroom mycelium and organic waste. Myco says its production technology enables the company to produce the material at scale, enabling it to compete with established polystyrene packaging in both properties and price.
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