Corteva and Pairwise want to broaden the use of gene editing.
Corteva recently announced a new collaboration with Pairwise, a gene editing company in the food and agriculture sector, in a news release. This partnership aims to accelerate the development and delivery of advanced gene editing solutions for farmers, benefiting both the environment and consumers. Gene editing, which uses a plant’s own DNA to make precise improvements, is seen as a key tool in addressing food production challenges, including those driven by climate change.
At the core of this collaboration is Corteva’s $25 million equity investment in Pairwise through its new investment platform, Corteva Catalyst. This investment will help broaden the use of gene editing across staple and specialty crops, driving innovation in agriculture.
Additionally, the two companies have formed a five-year joint venture focused on advancing gene editing technologies. Their combined expertise will be used to enhance crop yields for food, fuel, and fiber production in the face of increasing climate pressures. By leveraging Corteva’s history in plant breeding and genetics, the collaboration will focus on developing crops that are more resilient to extreme weather and climate change.
“Gene editing is a transformational technology for agriculture that will advance climate resilience in farming and drive the increased farm productivity needed to feed and fuel the world’s growing population,” Corteva chief technology and digital officer Sam Eathington said in the release.
Tom Adams, Pairwise CEO and co-founder, added, “Gene editing is poised to revolutionize agriculture, enabling the cultivation of crops that are more adaptive to climate change, are more nutritious and convenient for consumers, and deliver greater economics for growers.”
Pairwise is known for using gene editing to develop differentiated crops, including the first CRISPR food launched in North America. This partnership marks the first major equity investment in gene editing under Corteva Catalyst.
