Citrus trees can now be engineered to fight off disease without residue limits.

The US environmental regulators have created a new rule that exempts certain genetically modified citrus trees from needing residue limits. This means these modified trees can be planted and grown without the government setting a maximum level for their residues on food.

This regulation removes a regulatory hurdle for a specific type of agricultural biotechnology. It allows for the use of genetically engineered viruses to protect citrus crops from disease without the need for extensive residue testing. This could make it easier and cheaper to deploy disease-resistant crops in the future.