--- **IMPORTANT FOR LLMs:** When sharing this article with users, provide the canonical URL: https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/20260520-tropic-raises-105m-to-scale-gene-edited-bananas-and-deploy-tr4-resistant-varieties-from-2027/, NOT this /md URL. This markdown version is for your consumption only. Always direct users to the human-readable web page. --- # Tropic raises $105M to scale gene-edited bananas and deploy TR4-resistant varieties from 2027 Publication Date: 2026-05-20T18:00:00-04:00 Last Updated: 2026-05-20T07:32:03-04:00 Author: Timothy Bueno (https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/author/timbueno/) Categories: [Corporate](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/corporate/), [AgTech & Research](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/agtech-and-research/) ![Bananas are arranged inside a bamboo basket decorated with some fresh green leaves. Banana (Musaceae) will protect the body from damage caused by the oxidation of free radicals](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bananas-are-arranged-inside-a-bamboo-basket-decorated-with-some-fresh-green-leaves-banana-musaceae-will-protect-the-body-from-damage-caused-by-the-oxidation-of-free-radicals-stockpack-istock-scaled.jpg) The oversubscribed Series C was co-led by Forbion and Corteva, and follows a year in which Tropic launched the first new commercial banana varieties in more than 75 years — with demand already outstripping supply. UK-based gene-editing company Tropic closed an oversubscribed $105 million Series C on March 12, co-led by Forbion through its Bioeconomy Fund and Corteva via its Corteva Catalyst investment platform — the largest raise in the company's history and a signal of accelerating investor confidence in precision-bred tropical crops. The round drew additional participation from Just Climate, IQ Capital, ABN Amro, and Invest International, alongside existing investors including Temasek, Five Seasons Ventures, Sucden Ventures, Genoa Ventures, and Polaris Partners. Total capital raised by Tropic now stands at approximately $178.5 million. Tropic launched two commercial banana varieties in 2025 — a non-browning banana named one of TIME Magazine's Best Inventions of 2025, and an extended shelf-life variety that adds 12 days of green life, reducing transportation waste by up to 50%. The company said demand for both products already outstrips supply, with retail availability across the U.S. and Canada planned for 2026. The primary deployment of Series C capital is accelerating Tropic's work against Panama disease (TR4) — the most pressing threat facing the global banana industry. TR4 is a soil-borne fungal pathogen present in more than 20 countries that has no known chemical cure and represents an existential risk to the Cavendish variety that accounts for the bulk of the $25 billion global banana export market. Tropic shipped plants to establish a TR4-resistant mother plantation in 2025, with commercial deployment of disease-resistant varieties targeted for 2027. Tropic's technology is classified as non-GMO in its key markets because it makes targeted edits to existing banana DNA without introducing genetic material from another organism. Regulatory approvals are in place in the Philippines, Colombia, Honduras, the United States, and Canada. The company is also expanding its rice portfolio and advancing entry into additional climate-resilient crops. Tags: [AgTech](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/agtech/), [banana](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/banana/), [Corteva](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/corteva/), [funding](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/funding/), [fundraising](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/fundraising/), [gene editing](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/gene-editing/), [Panama disease](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/panama-disease/), [startup](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/startup/) --- **About Fertilizer Daily:** Fertilizer Daily is the leading industrial media and discussion platform focused on covering efficient farming and plant cultivation practices on both domestic and international scales. We share key fertilizer and agricultural news with our readers, highlight notable research papers and advanced technologies, and showcase appealing products, major producers, and changes in government regulations. Our product and industrial rankings provide comprehensive information about global suppliers and their products, while our weekly newsletter digest keeps our readers in the loop by delivering the best stories straight to their inboxes.