Key Takeaways:
- Pairwise has closed a $40 million Series C funding round, led by Deerfield Management, with new investment from Corteva Inc., along with returning investors Aliment Capital and Leaps by Bayer.
- Funding will be used to scale Pairwise’s product pipeline, including seedless berries and pitless cherries, and further develop its Fulcrum™ Platform for gene editing.
- Pairwise and Corteva have entered a five-year joint venture to accelerate gene editing technologies for climate-resilient crops.
- Pairwise’s Fulcrum™ Platform uses CRISPR tools to enable precise and faster plant breeding, with applications across various crops, including corn, soy, and leafy greens.
Pairwise, a technology company specializing in gene editing for plant breeding, has closed a $40 million Series C funding round. The investment, led by Deerfield Management and joined by new investor Corteva Inc., alongside returning investors Aliment Capital and Leaps by Bayer, will help Pairwise advance its gene editing technology and product pipeline. This funding supports the company’s work in specialty and commodity crops, including the development of seedless berries and pitless cherries.
Scaling Gene Editing for Agriculture
The Series C funding will be used to scale Pairwise’s innovative products and to further develop its Fulcrum™ Platform, which leverages gene editing to address challenges in agriculture. Pairwise recently announced a new seedless blackberry variety and plans to continue developing crops with desirable traits, such as compact architecture and thornless varieties that benefit growers, farm workers, and the environment.
“We are excited to continue developing products that enhance crop production and sustainability through gene editing,” said Tom Adams, Pairwise Co-Founder and CEO. “This funding, coupled with our partnerships, will allow us to deliver on our mission of creating healthier and more resilient food systems.”
Collaborative Ventures with Industry Leaders
In addition to the funding, Pairwise has entered a five-year joint venture with Corteva Inc. to accelerate gene editing in agriculture. The partnership will focus on developing crops that are more resilient to climate conditions, helping farmers adapt to changing environments. Corteva’s investment, made through its Corteva Catalyst platform, highlights the growing role of gene editing in sustainable food production.
Expanding Product Development
Pairwise is at the forefront of using CRISPR technologies to develop new plant varieties with tailored genetic traits. The company’s Fulcrum™ Platform enables precise gene editing, allowing for faster development of crops with improved characteristics, such as increased yield or better resistance to environmental stressors. With this technology, Pairwise has introduced products like a gene-edited mustard green, designed to offer a healthier alternative to traditional salad greens.
Industry Partnerships
Through product development partnerships with Bayer and Corteva, Pairwise has successfully commercialized gene-edited crops. The company’s work includes collaborations to develop short-stature corn and leafy greens with improved traits, aiming to enhance sustainability and yield for farmers. These partnerships and the continued investment from key players in the agricultural sector validate the growing importance of gene editing in addressing global agricultural challenges.
Pairwise Recent News
Discover the company’s profile here.
Grants a License To Solis Agrosciences (2024/06/07)
Pairwise signed a technology licensing agreement with Solis Agrosciences. The agreement allows Solis to access Pairwise’s proprietary Fulcrum™ Platform, which is designed for the research, development, and commercialization of products with differentiated plant genetics. The platform will be used to accelerate scientific breakthroughs and facilitate the commercialization process. Solis plans to use the platform to develop new plant traits, which can then be commercialized through Pairwise. The Fulcrum Platform includes Pairwise-developed gene editing tools for cutting, base, and templated editing, allowing for the tuning of traits. Key technologies that enable the platform include Pairwise’s SHARC™ enzyme, base editing, and REDRAW™ templated editing system. This collaboration aims to drive innovative solutions to global food and climate challenges by leveraging cutting-edge CRISPR tools.
Pairwise Unveils the World’s First Seedless Blackberry (2024/06/05)
Pairwise, a company in genetics-based innovation, has developed the world’s first seedless blackberry using their proprietary Fulcrum™ Platform. This achievement eliminates the hard pits in the berry fruit, creating small, soft seeds. The seedless blackberry offers improved flavor and consistency, making it more appealing to consumers. The company has also developed thornless and compact traits in the same variety, benefiting growers and the environment. Pairwise aims to make these innovations available to the public in the near future, potentially transforming the blackberry market and paving the way for further innovations in agriculture.
Pairwise Enters Exclusive Licensing Agreement with Bayer to Scale CRISPR-Edited Greens (2024/05/29)
Pairwise, known for genetics-based innovation in food and agriculture, has partnered with Bayer to commercialize CRISPR-edited foods. The collaboration aims to develop and scale the innovative product, a leafy greens blend with enhanced flavor created using Pairwise’s Fulcrum™ Platform. The agreement allows Bayer to develop and commercialize ten varieties of Pairwise-edited greens. This partnership is part of Bayer’s open innovation strategy, focusing on genome editing opportunities in fruits and vegetables. Pairwise continues to use CRISPR technology to develop game-changing products in the food and agriculture sectors.
Pairwise Provides Strategic Updates (2024/02/14)
Pairwise is a leading company in health-focused food and agriculture innovation, using CRISPR technology to develop new crop varieties. They are committed to addressing industry challenges and promoting sustainable agricultural practices through strategic partnerships and innovative R&D. Pairwise’s work aims to revolutionize food and agriculture by leveraging CRISPR technology to create consumer-friendly and nutritious products while addressing challenges posed by climate change and a growing global population.
Advances in Plant Breeding with Fulcrum (2024/02/02)
Pairwise’s Fulcrum™ Platform utilizes CRISPR-based tools for precise genetic optimization, which has enabled the development of 27 novel traits in crops like corn, soy, wheat, and canola. The platform is powered by two key technologies: REDRAW™ and SHARC™, which have applications beyond agriculture, including medicine. Pairwise offers licensing opportunities for their CRISPR-based tools, reducing investment requirements and accelerating the speed-to-market for CRISPR-edited products. Their advancements in CRISPR technology have significant implications for the global food system and beyond.
Pairwise Receives Regulatory Exemptions From The USDA (2024/01/29)
Pairwise has made significant strides with nine new USDA regulatory exemptions, bringing their total to 21 in just 15 months. These exemptions support their innovative work in the berry category, particularly in developing seedless, thornless, and higher-yielding black and raspberries. Leveraging CRISPR and gene editing technologies, Pairwise addresses global food challenges and enhances biodiversity in crops. Their progress is further aided by collaborations with major research institutions and a comprehensive three-year genome-wide association study, underscoring their commitment to plant breeding innovation and sustainable agricultural practices.
Pairwise and Bayer Collaborate (2023/08/30)
Pairwise has expanded its collaboration with Bayer to focus on developing short-stature corn to enhance sustainability and resilience in agriculture. This new venture builds on their successful five-year partnership across various crops and leverages Pairwise’s advanced Fulcrum™ platform and proprietary gene-editing tools. The initiative promises to produce more resilient corn with reduced height, protecting against climate-related challenges and increasing crop efficiency. This collaboration, part of Pairwise’s broader efforts in sustainable agriculture innovation, highlights the growing role of gene editing in revolutionizing farming practices for a more sustainable future.
Partners with RSquared Fresh Solutions (2023/08/09)
Pairwise and RSquared Fresh Solutions have partnered to introduce the first CRISPR-edited products to American grocery stores. Conscious Greens salad blends are the first products to be rolled out, offering a blend of colorful, flavorful purple and green leaves that promise to redefine how we perceive nutritious eating. The broad reach of RSquared Fresh Solutions creates opportunities for future expansion and growth, ensuring that the innovative and groundbreaking products from Pairwise find their way into the hands of eager consumers.
Appoints Ryan Bartlett as Chief Technology Officer (2023/07/12)
Pairwise announced the appointment of Ryan Bartlett as its new Chief Technology Officer. With a Ph.D. in genetics and biochemistry, and a background in agricultural R&D and product innovation, Bartlett’s appointment is set to reinforce Pairwise’s growth momentum following its first product launch, Conscious™ Greens. Recently, Pairwise unveiled its flagship product, Conscious™ Greens, into the U.S. foodservice channel. The nutrient-dense salad blend includes greens gene-edited to reduce their wasabi-like pungency. Since its inception five years ago, the company has grown to over 150 employees and anticipates further expansion later this year as it gears up to penetrate the retail market.
Launches Innovative Gene-Editing Fulcrum™ Platform (2023/05/24)
Pairwise has developed the Fulcrum™ Platform, a gene-editing platform based on proprietary CRISPR technology and other custom tools. The technology enables modifications to plant genetics, opening avenues for innovative enterprise-scale applications. Pairwise is planning to apply this approach to its Conscious™ Foods branded products and to its business collaborators’ specialty and commodity crop products. With the Fulcrum platform, Pairwise can make small genetic changes that deliver big product impacts. The company’s recent launch of gene-edited Conscious™ Greens is evidence of its ability to meet complex challenges. Pairwise technologies that bolster the Fulcrum platform include REDRAW™ and SHARC™, permitting precise changes in the genome. Backed by the Fulcrum Platform and the company’s proficiency in over 60 crops, Pairwise is paving the way in genetics-based innovation in plants and plant-based systems.
Introduces First CRISPR-developed Food Product, Conscious™ Greens (2023/05/17)
Pairwise, a food startup, has launched Conscious™ Greens, the first-ever food developed with CRISPR technology in the US. The product is co-branded with Performance Food Group’s Peak Fresh Produce brand and offers unique fresh flavors and twice the nutrition of romaine lettuce. Conscious Greens are nutrient-rich greens with the versatility of lettuce, enhanced using CRISPR technology to make them more palatable for consumers. The product is now available in select restaurants and outlets in the PFG operator network. Conscious Greens will be shipped to US grocery stores later this year as part of an expanded Conscious Foods portfolio of products developed using CRISPR technology.
Pairwise and PHA Partner to Further Healthy Food for Families (2023/04/26)
Pairwise, a biotech company, is partnering with Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) for three years to increase access to healthy, fresh, and affordable food. Pairwise will contribute $75,000 annually to PHA’s Good Food for All program, providing produce to needy families. The partnership will result in 630,000 healthy fruits and vegetables servings provided through PHA’s Good Food for All program. PHA aims to create more and healthier options for families, promoting a healthier lifestyle and better food choices for all.
Image provided by Pairwise
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