Massive Uncontrolled Experiment Heading for Our Forests

May 6, 2026

A renewed push to release genetically engineered trees into U.S. forests is gaining momentum—and it should alarm anyone who cares about the future of wild ecosystems.
On April 25, SilvaBio—a company seeking to mass-produce and sell genetically engineered American chestnut trees—issued a press release claiming that its “Darling 54” tree has now been “validated” by four independent studies.

That claim doesn’t hold up

The studies SilvaBio points to are not new breakthroughs. Some date back years. Others come from the very institution that developed the tree and stands to benefit from its approval. The only field data cited involves young trees studied for just a couple of years under controlled conditions.

That is not proof that this tree can survive—or behave safely—in a wild forest.

What we do know is far more concerning

Typical chlorosis, leaf browning and stunting on a Darling GE American Chestnut (Photo Credit: TACF)

The Darling 54 tree has been under scrutiny since 2023 for serious genetic and performance problems. The American Chestnut Foundation—once a leading supporter—walked away from the project after documenting inconsistent disease resistance, poor growth, higher mortality, and a significant genetic defect.

Independent scientists have gone further. One analysis found that these trees “do not function as intended.” Another concluded that it may be impossible to reliably predict the long-term risks of releasing genetically engineered trees into the wild.

And yet, despite all of this, the push to commercialize and distribute these trees is accelerating.

This is not a contained experiment.

These trees are designed to reproduce

Their pollen can travel long distances. Their seeds are spread by wildlife.

If released, their genes could spread through forests for generations.

This is a massive, uncontrolled experiment in our wild forests

Trees are not like crops. They live for decades—sometimes centuries. Once they are released, they cannot be recalled.

So the real question isn’t whether these trees show some short-term response in controlled trials.

The real question is:

What happens when something goes wrong—and we can’t undo it?

More than 170,000 people raised concerns about this project during the USDA’s recent public comment period.

But industry is moving forward anyway—repackaging old data as new progress and framing a risky technology as a ready-made solution.

It isn’t.

This is not restoration.
This is not proven science.

This is a decision with irreversible consequences.

Learn more, explore the evidence, and take action: https://stopgetrees.org/chestnut/