Cibus has announced that it has reached significant milestones in developing three new non-GMO traits for canola, which can reportedly increase crop yields and reduce environmental impacts. The traits precisely edit the canola genome to reduce pod shatter, build resistance to white mould (Sclerotinia), and introduce an improved weed control system. The company reported that it has successfully completed field trials of the pod shatter trait, while the white mould and weed management traits have been successful in greenhouse testing and are expected to undergo additional field trials in spring and summer 2020. The traits were developed with Cibus’ proprietary plant gene-editing technologies, known as the Rapid Trait Development System, which edits genes without integrating foreign genetic material.