451: The Latest In Plant Gene Editing with Pairwise COO

Why It Matters

Pairwise’s royalty‑linked licensing of CRISPR‑edited fruit varieties could fast‑track high‑value crop innovation while aligning farmer profitability with biotech returns, reshaping the produce market landscape.

Key Takeaways

• Pairwise uses CRISPR to create seedless blackberries, pitless cherries.
• Company licenses varieties, earning royalties tied to fruit sales.
• Partnerships with PSG, SunWorld, Corteva, and Buyer fund R&D.
• Focus on yield gains via higher plant density and consumer appeal.
• Industry momentum highlighted by Tropic’s $100 million funding round.

Summary

The Modern Acre podcast featured Ian Miller, COO of Pairwise, outlining the company’s CRISPR‑based gene‑editing platform that is delivering seedless blackberries and pitless cherries. Miller emphasized that Pairwise does not sell seeds directly; instead it licenses the proprietary varieties and collects royalties on fruit sales, mirroring traditional breeding business models while adding a precision‑editing edge. Key insights included a laser‑focused value proposition—higher yields through denser planting, improved consumer convenience, and reduced agronomic inputs. Partnerships with breeding specialist PSG, grape‑breeder SunWorld, and ag‑input giants Corteva and Buyer provide both funding and market pathways, allowing Pairwise to stay capital‑efficient in a tight funding environment. The firm also highlighted tangible performance: its compact blackberry variety can triple plant density, delivering 50%+ yield gains per acre. Miller noted the broader industry shift, calling recent $100 million financing for rival Tropic a “signal that these products are coming to market.” He described the sector as a “rising tide that will lift all boats,” underscoring that CRISPR will democratize innovation beyond corn and soy into specialty fruits. The implications are clear: Pairwise’s royalty‑based licensing reduces risk for growers, while its IP protection safeguards investor capital. If the yield and consumer‑appeal claims hold, the model could accelerate adoption of gene‑edited crops across high‑value produce, reshaping supply chains and offering new revenue streams for both biotech firms and growers.

Original Description

Tim (https://www.linkedin.com/in/timnuss/) and Tyler (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-nuss/) talk with Ian Miller (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-miller/) about the latest in the plant gene editing sector, including recent funding rounds, new traits, and more.

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This episode is presented by Yield Energy (https://yieldenergy.com) . Yield for Growers. (https://yieldenergy.com/growers)

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Links

• Pairwise - https://www.pairwise.com

• Farmer Mode Hats - https://farmermode.com