Tropic acquires Rahan Meristem to scale gene-edited banana varieties globally
The acquisition of Rahan Meristem adds propagation capacity, operational expertise, and a presence across major production regions.
GLOBAL – Agricultural technology firm Tropic has acquired Rahan Meristem, a banana plant propagation company with operations across Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East, to accelerate the global distribution of advanced gene-edited banana varieties to address Panama disease and fruit waste.
The acquisition provides Tropic with plant production and distribution capacity in major banana-exporting regions and supports the commercial rollout of its banana varieties by integrating variety development, propagation, and grower supply.
Bananas are among the world’s most important agricultural crops, with more than 20 million tonnes exported annually. Commercial production relies largely on the Cavendish variety, leaving growers exposed to disease pressure and threats, including Panama disease TR4, a soil-borne fungus that has devastated plantations across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Using gene-editing and breeding technologies, Tropic has developed banana varieties that retain the agronomic and consumer characteristics of Cavendish bananas while incorporating traits such as disease resistance, reduced browning, extended shelf life, and higher yields.
The company says these varieties are intended to support productivity and reduce waste across the supply chain. Extended shelf life reduces post-harvest losses during long-distance shipping, while disease resistance minimizes crop losses and reliance on chemical treatments.
Following its recent US$105 million Series C funding round and the launch of new banana varieties, Tropic is focused on increasing production and grower adoption. The acquisition of Rahan Meristem adds propagation capacity, operational expertise, and a presence across major production regions.
By combining Tropic’s gene-editing pipeline with Rahan’s propagation operations and grower network, the company aims to develop, propagate, and distribute banana varieties on a commercial scale. Rahan’s existing relationships with growers in major banana-producing regions provide Tropic with routes to market for its varieties.
Tropic CEO Gilad Gershon said, “Welcoming Rahan and its team into Tropic creates a joint business with the operational scale and global reach to deliver banana innovations to growers worldwide. Together, we can help growers improve resilience and productivity while delivering better-quality fruit and reduced waste for consumers and supply chains.”
Therefore, this partnership bridges the gap between laboratory development and commercial farming, particularly in major banana-exporting regions across Latin America and Asia.
Ultimately, this business move aims to stabilize the global banana supply by replacing vulnerable plants with more resilient, productive alternatives. The collaboration positions Tropic to lead the transformation of banana production through advanced genetics and large-scale propagation networks.
Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
