Genome Editing for Consumer Traits in Fresh Produce

Nutritional deficit is the leading mortality risk factor globally. Consumption of fruits and vegetables – the most effective solution to malnutrition – can be limited by low production or high cost in some countries and by poor quality characteristics or inconvenient preparation in others. Americans, for example, consume only half the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables despite widespread availability. Pairwise seeks to address these challenges regionally and globally by making healthy food more convenient, affordable, and sustainable. To fulfill this mission, we have assembled a world class portfolio of CRISPR technologies and a state-of-the-art R&D capability focused on delivering differentiated products to the fresh produce aisle. We have established base editing and cutting tools with industry-leading performance profiles in plants, including editing efficiencies as high as 85%. We are applying these tools for novel consumer traits in cane berries.