SUMMERLAND, British Columbia,
Aug. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/
-- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has publicly shared the
final version of Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc.'s (OSF) petition
seeking regulatory approval for Arctic® Fuji apples, a
nonbrowning variety produced through biotechnology.
In an announcement published August 10,
2016, USDA APHIS stated that they have reached a preliminary
decision to extend their determination of nonregulated status to
OSF's nonbrowning Arctic® Fuji variety. In addition to
publishing OSF's petition, APHIS has also shared their Preliminary
Finding of No Significant Impact, and Preliminary Extended
Determination and Plant Pest Risk Assessment. USDA APHIS will
initiate a public comment period in the coming days, during which
time the public is encouraged to submit their input on
Arctic® Fuji apples for APHIS' review.
"We are pleased to see the Arctic® Fuji reach the
next stage of deregulation," said
OSF founder and President Neal
Carter. "Interest in our first two distinctly nonbrowning
varieties, Arctic® Golden and Arctic® Granny,
following their approval in 2015 has shown us that the benefits of
the Arctic Advantage™ are of great interest to the
industry and consumers alike. We are confident we will see a
similar response to Arctic® Fuji, and many more
nonbrowning varieties still to come."
OSF's petition contains data on the introduction and testing of
the nonbrowning trait in Fuji variety apples but differs from the
petition submitted for OSF's initial varieties, Arctic®
Granny and Arctic® Golden, because it is considered an
extension. The nonbrowning trait in OSF's Arctic® Fuji
variety is no longer considered unique in apples, as APHIS has
previously evaluated potential impacts of this trait and how it is
introduced, concluding that these varieties are just as safe for
consumers and the environment as conventional apples.
"Over a decade of real-world field trial experience has assured
us that Arctic® trees have the same growing needs
as conventional trees, and that Arctic® apples are
compositionally and nutritionally comparable to conventional
apples," said Carter. "It's not until an
Arctic® apple is bruised, bitten or cut that the
nonbrowning benefit becomes obvious."
In Arctic® apples, gene silencing is used to
suppress the apple's expression of polyphenol oxidase (PPO), the
enzyme involved in browning when the fruit is bruised, bitten or
cut. This virtually eliminates PPO production, so in turn the fruit
does not brown from superficial damage, but will still show
discoloration from bacterial or fungal infections and rot just like
any apple.
OSF submitted its extended petition for nonregulated status of
the Arctic® Fuji to APHIS in December 2015; APHIS notified the company its
petition was complete in April of this year. OSF is currently
anticipating commercial introduction of Arctic® apple
varieties in fall 2017. "Our main goal is to increase apple
consumption and reduce waste," said Carter. "By removing the 'yuck'
factor, more apples get eaten and fewer get thrown away. It helps
reduce the load on the environment and families' pocket books."
About Okanagan Specialty Fruits®
Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc. (OSF) is a small, dynamic
biotechnology company based in Summerland, British Columbia, Canada. Founded
in 1996, and acquired by Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON) as a
wholly owned subsidiary in April
2015, OSF specializes in developing tree fruit varieties
with novel attributes that benefit fruit producers and consumers
alike. For consumer information, visit www.arcticapples.com;
for information about the company and partnership opportunities,
visit www.okspecialtyfruits.com.
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SOURCE Okanagan Specialty Fruits