USDA Petition for Darling 54

Public Comment Period

The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) opened a 45-day public comment period for the blight-tolerant Darling 54 American chestnut tree, which ended on July 29, 2025. This marks the final step in APHIS’s regulatory process and is a pivotal moment in efforts to restore this iconic native species.

Thank you to all ACR members and supporters who submitted a brief, positive comment to USDA APHIS in support of ESF’s petition for Darling 54. This was a simple but meaningful way to show that public interest in science-backed restoration remains strong.

Why This Matters

Darling 54 is a genetically engineered American chestnut tree that carries a single gene, oxalate oxidase, to help the tree tolerate chestnut blight, a disease that has decimated the species across its native range. This gene has been studied extensively and has been shown to have no negative environmental effects.

ESF scientists have led this work with great care and transparency, developing the tree through over a decade of rigorous research and field trials. The USDA petition they submitted is the result of a massive scientific and regulatory effort, including more than 3,000 pages of supporting data. Few people realize the depth and professionalism of this work—and ESF deserves our sincere thanks for their stewardship and scientific leadership.

This is not a promise of immediate restoration. Many steps remain. But approval of Darling 54 would be a historic milestone, allowing future generations of diverse, blight-tolerant American chestnuts to take root in our forests once again.

ACR Stands with ESF

American Chestnut Restoration, Inc. (ACR) strongly supports ESF’s work and the responsible use of biotechnology to help return the American chestnut to our forests. We invite our members to stay involved, volunteer with ACR, help spread the word, and show up for this important moment.

If you're not yet an ACR member but believe in science-based restoration, now is the perfect time to join us. Together, we can ensure this effort continues with clarity, transparency, and heart.