A new microbe can be used on food without limits, like water or air

US environmental regulators have removed the need for a safety limit on a new microbe, Pseudomonas oryzihabitans strain SYM23945, when used on food crops. This means farmers can use this specific microbe on all food commodities without worrying about residue levels.

Every new substance used in food production usually needs a "tolerance," which is a maximum allowed residue level. This process is expensive and time-consuming, often blocking new biological products from reaching the market. This exemption means that a new biological pest control or growth promoter can be used as freely as water or air, removing a major hurdle for its adoption. It signals a shift towards faster approval for certain biological products in agriculture.