USDA Approval Advances Efforts to Restore the American Chestnut

08/30/2026

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Aug. 31, 2026 — Efforts by researchers at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) to restore the American chestnut tree to the American landscape took a significant leap forward with an approved designation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that ESF’s genetically modified Darling chestnut trees are unlikely to pose a threat to other plants.

ESF’s American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project announced that the USDA Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) has completed its review of blight-tolerant Darling 54 American chestnuts and determined the trees are unlikely to pose a plant pest risk.

While USDA approval does not mean the trees are yet available to the public, it represents a significant regulatory achievement in the restoration process. The decision marks the completion of the first major federal regulatory review for the American chestnut. Researchers view the approval as an important advancement in the long-term effort to return this iconic tree to forests and landscapes where it once played a vital ecological role.

These trees, produced using modern tools of biotechnology, have been undergoing rigorous federal regulatory reviews since January 2020. The first of these agencies, the USDA APHIS evaluated the data submitted and concluded that Darling chestnut trees would not act as a weed or a plant disease carrier.

“This means the trees do not spread in ways that would harm forests, farms, or the environment,” explained Dr. Andrew Newhouse, director of the American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project at ESF. “As a result, the trees are no longer regulated by USDA APHIS.”

Additional reviews need to be completed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) before American chestnuts can be distributed to individuals or used for wider restoration projects. However, this recent decision will be immediately beneficial to researchers.

“Our ‘Darling’ chestnuts are an important step in the big picture of chestnut reintroduction. They tolerate blight better than any other fully American chestnuts we’ve tested, so they can help restore some of the ecological relationships that were lost to this disease,” said Newhouse. “This is also good news for ESF's research toward other threatened trees such as American beech, elm, and ash, all of which may benefit from biotechnological approaches toward restoration.”

“While many food crops and some ornamental plants have completed similar regulatory reviews, this decision marks the first time a forest tree has been approved, and the first time any plant engineered specifically for environmental restoration has reached this milestone,” said Newhouse.

“Research at ESF continues to demonstrate how innovation and science can address some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time,” said ESF President Joanie Mahoney. “The work being done to restore the American chestnut reflects not only academic excellence, but a deep commitment to advancing solutions that strengthen ecosystems and benefit communities for generations to come.”

Researchers emphasize that Darling chestnuts are not a standalone solution. Further improvements, alongside many other restoration strategies and efforts, will be essential for long-term success.

The progress achieved by ESF’s American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project follows decades of work pioneered by visionary ESF professors William Powell and Chuck Maynard.  The continued research has been made possible through strong collaboration and sustained support from partners, including the Research Foundation for SUNY, philanthropic support via the ESF College Foundation, American Chestnut Restoration, Inc., and partnership with like-minded groups including SilvaBio Public Benefit Corporation. Their collective backing has been critical in advancing long-term research, supporting rigorous regulatory review, and enabling the development of innovative approaches like the Darling chestnuts.

“This collaborative effort underscores the importance of continued investment in scientific research to address complex environmental challenges and restore vital ecosystems,” said Newhouse.

About SUNY ESF

The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is dedicated to the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies, and building a sustainable and resilient future through design, policy, and management of the environment and natural resources. Members of the College community share a passion for protecting the health of the planet and a deep commitment to the rigorous application of science to improve the way humans interact with the world. The College offers academic programs ranging from the associate of applied science to the Doctor of Philosophy. ESF students live, study and do research on the main campus in Syracuse, N.Y., and on 25,000 acres of field stations in a variety of ecosystems across the state.