As 2025 starts, where does CRISPR stand in transforming agriculture? The Innovative Genomics Institute has provided a snapshot of the state of the art, and (despite the wait for new European regulations), things are moving forward. Let’s take a closer look.

As shown in the image, the year begins with some products already cleared for commercialization, including GABA-enriched tomatoes, waxy corn, and two fast-growing fish in Japan, as well as Pairwise’s salad mix and GreenVenus‘ romaine lettuce in the United States.

A growing number of fascinating products are being developed in the lab. My personal favorite is the avocado that doesn’t brown, ensuring guacamole stays bright green for much longer. Other innovations are progressing through different phases of development. Among the gene-edited plants ready for field testing, one noteworthy example is teff, a cereal native to Ethiopia, which has been modified to reduce losses caused by lodging.

Looking toward the next phase, bananas resistant to browning are nearing commercialization in the Philippines. Meanwhile, in the United States, two upcoming innovations are sparking curiosity: heat-tolerant short-haired cattle and non-psychoactive cannabis.