THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT PROJECT
Progress Reports
Progress Reports and Updates
2026
Continued regulatory progress, new research partnerships, and multiple scientific publications highlighted another productive period for the American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project. The project advanced breeding and production strategies, demonstrated promising results for the next-generation DarWin line, and extended biotechnology-based conservation research to American elm, ash, American beech, and Ozark chinquapin.
2024
Advances in breeding, restoration, and biotechnology research included the production of more than 11,000 seeds, demonstration of stable transgene expression across multiple generations, and progress in selective breeding efforts. Research on Darling and DarWin chestnuts also expanded alongside conservation initiatives for additional threatened species, including Ozark chinquapin, American elm, and American beech.
2023
Building on more than three decades of research, the project continued to advance regulatory review, secure new funding, and expand institutional capacity for tree restoration science. Following the discovery and correction of a labeling error between the Darling 54 and Darling 58 lines, the project reaffirmed evidence supporting the safety and enhanced blight tolerance of Darling chestnuts while strengthening the scientific foundation for future restoration efforts.
2022
Surpassing its original Ten Thousand Chestnut Challenge goal, the project produced a record 11,700 American chestnut seeds through controlled pollinations while continuing to expand the genetic diversity of restoration populations. The project also entered the final stages of federal regulatory review and began planning for large-scale production and distribution of blight-tolerant American chestnut trees.
2021
A record harvest of more than 5,000 viable nuts marked a major milestone for the project, while controlled pollinations broadened genetic diversity across American chestnut and related Castanea species. Significant progress was also made toward public distribution of Darling American chestnuts through major regulatory submissions to the USDA, EPA, and FDA.
2020
The project expanded its breeding and restoration efforts by producing thousands of genetically diverse outcrossed nuts, developing over one hundred new transgenic lines, and continuing large-scale propagation of blight-tolerant chestnuts. Our team also increased field plantings, expanded research infrastructure, and advanced public outreach and regulatory activities supporting chestnut restoration.