SilvaBio Newsroom
A Historic Restoration Movement Gaining National Momentum
First Blight-Tolerant American Chestnuts Planted at the White House
On Arbor Day 2026, SilvaBio, the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service gathered in front of the White House to plant two Darling 54 American chestnut trees, marking a defining moment in the restoration of one of America's most ecologically significant species.
USDA Post: American Chestnut Returns To the Nation's Capital
The USDA marks the Arbor Day ceremony at the White House Ellipse — a symbolic and historic planting that brought together federal agencies, conservation partners, and SilvaBio in a shared commitment to restore the American chestnut to its native range after more than a century of absence.
National Park Service Post: The American Chestnut Arbor Day Planting
The National Park Service commemorates Arbor Day with the planting of a Darling 54 American chestnut at the White House Ellipse — a tree carrying the breakthrough science that may finally return an American icon to the forests it once defined.
Four independent studies from Purdue University, the University of New England, and SUNY ESF confirm that Darling 54 transgenic American chestnut trees consistently demonstrate blight tolerance — marking the most comprehensive external validation of the OxO restoration approach to date.
Press Release: 4 Independent Studies Validate Darling Blight Tolerance
Presidential Message On Arbor Day 2026
On the 154th commemoration of Arbor Day, President Donald J. Trump issued a executive proclamation announcing that the Administration proudly planted two American chestnut trees at the White House. The statement called the act an enduring gift of hope and optimism to future generations.
Press Release: Favorable Recommendation Of Darling
For the first time in its multi-year regulatory review, the USDA-APHIS issued a favorable deregulation recommendation for the Darling 54 American chestnut. This July 2025 announcement marked a pivotal step toward returning this keystone species to its 25-state native range.
MIT Technology Review: GMOs Could Reboot Chestnut Trees
A deep dive into the science and ambition behind the American chestnut's return from functional extinction—featuring SilvaBio Co-Founders Michael Bloom and Andrew Serazin and their groundbreaking platform translating the breakthrough behind the Darling from the lab to scalable, real-world application.
FOR PRESS & MEDIA INQUIRIES
Please reach out to:
Sheila Smith, Communications Director
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