Startup Pairwise works on new varieties of leafy greens and berries
Pairwise, a U.S.-based startup that is working to improve the quality of fruits and vegetables, has received $90 million in funding. The company uses CRISPR technology, which can be used to produce products with a longer shelf life, increase yields and taste characteristics of fruits.
Pontifax, a food and agricultural technology fund, Temasek and Leaps by Bayer were the startup’s main investors. In addition, Deerfield Management, which is already a partner in the startup, increased its share of the investment.
Pairwise has launched new varieties of fruits and vegetables on the market; their main feature is a long shelf life. In addition, they are resistant to various weather conditions, and it is possible to harvest several harvests during the year.
According to representatives of the startup, their technology opens up great prospects for fruit and vegetable production. Thanks to the extended shelf life, retailers can significantly reduce costs and avoid large amounts of waste.
At the moment, Pairwise is breeding new types of leafy greens and developing varieties of various berries and cherries. The company’s specialists face the task of neutralizing bitterness from greens, cherry pits and berries. New leafy varieties should appear on the market next year, other developments need more time, as the process of fruiting of bushes and trees takes a certain period. Improved blackberries are planned to be available in 2023 and cherries a little later.
Another important achievement for the agricultural industry from the startup is a unique platform that can be used to develop and analyze traits and characteristics of crops. The program functions on the principles of gene editing, and has been licensed by a number of reputable organizations.
CRISPR technology makes it possible to improve certain qualities of fruits and vegetables much more effectively than with traditional breeding mechanisms. In addition, the Pairwise approach is cheaper, reducing the cost of production for farmers and buyers alike.
The UN pays special attention to fruits and vegetables. Its division that deals with food and agriculture implements programs aimed at finding new solutions to increase the production of these products. An important point is the safety of consumption of fruits, as well as the search for opportunities to improve their quality.
There is a huge food problem in the world right now, and new scientific approaches can help solve it. Therefore, startups like Pairwise have tremendous promise and importance for the agricultural sector. In addition, increasing the shelf life of fruits or their resistance to disease will increase farmers’ and retailers’ revenues.
