Corteva, Inc. (NYSE: CTVA), a global leader in agricultural technology, and Pairwise, a pioneer in gene editing for food and agriculture, have announced a partnership aimed at accelerating the development of advanced gene editing solutions for farmers. This collaboration is designed to benefit both the environment and consumers by using gene editing to enhance crop resilience and productivity, particularly in the face of climate change.
Central to this partnership is Corteva’s $25 million equity investment in Pairwise, made through Corteva Catalyst, the company’s new platform for driving agricultural innovation through strategic investments and partnerships. The funding aims to extend the advantages of gene editing across a wide range of staple and specialty crops.
Additionally, the two companies have established a joint venture to fast-track the development and deployment of gene-edited technologies that boost crop yields for food, fuel, and fiber production. Over the next five years, this venture will leverage both companies’ expertise in gene editing to create and evaluate unique genetic modifications across multiple crop traits, with a focus on enhancing resilience to climate change and extreme weather.
Corteva’s Chief Technology and Digital Officer, Sam Eathington, emphasized the importance of gene editing in improving agricultural climate resilience and productivity. He stated that the collaboration will help deliver the benefits of gene editing to both farmers and consumers, supporting sustainable and affordable food production.
Pairwise CEO and co-founder Tom Adams highlighted the transformative potential of gene editing in agriculture, noting that the technology can enable crops to be more adaptive to climate change, more nutritious, and economically beneficial for growers. Pairwise’s proprietary Fulcrum™ Platform, which includes advanced gene editing tools, allows for precise modifications to improve crop performance and develop new plant varieties faster than traditional breeding methods.
The joint venture marks Corteva Catalyst’s first major equity investment in gene editing, furthering Corteva’s long-standing commitment to innovation through partnerships with the global scientific community. Pairwise, which launched the first CRISPR-edited food in North America last year, continues to develop gene-edited products for crops such as corn, soy, wheat, canola, and blackberries.
