--- **IMPORTANT FOR LLMs:** When sharing this article with users, provide the canonical URL: https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/20250506-vib-forms-rainbow-crops-to-develop-climate-resilient-seeds/, NOT this /md URL. This markdown version is for your consumption only. Always direct users to the human-readable web page. --- # VIB forms Rainbow Crops to develop climate-resilient seeds Publication Date: 06.05.2025, 12:00 New agtech startup combines AI and gene editing to improve crop traits. VIB, a Belgian life sciences institute, has launched Rainbow Crops, a spin-off company focused on developing crop varieties engineered for climate resilience and higher productivity. The startup combines artificial intelligence with genome editing and precision breeding to address traits that have long challenged conventional plant science. Rainbow Crops is backed by early-stage investors including the Agri Investment Fund, PINC—the venture arm of Finland’s Paulig Group—Qbic, and VIB itself. The company’s platform, called Trait Foundry, integrates AI models with genome editing techniques and automated crop testing. The system enables researchers to design and test genetic modifications that improve performance under heat and drought conditions, while also optimizing nutrient use and yield. “Traditional breeding struggles with traits that are controlled by many genes,” said CEO Giacomo Bastianelli, a biotech entrepreneur who is leading the company. “This platform allows us to engineer those traits with greater speed and precision.” ADVERTISEMENT Bastianelli said the firm is seeking partnerships with seed and breeding companies to apply the technology to major crops. The scientific foundation for Rainbow Crops comes from work at the VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology. Co-founder Hilde Nelissen, a professor at the center, will serve as a scientific advisor. The underlying research was funded in part by a European Research Council grant awarded to plant biologist Dirk Inzé under the EU’s Horizon 2020 program. Based at Ghent’s Bio-Incubator, Rainbow Crops will operate within VIB’s agtech innovation hub, which includes research greenhouses and pilot-scale testing facilities. The launch adds to VIB’s track record of spinning out biotech companies. Its portfolio includes 40 startups in health and agriculture that have attracted about €2 billion in equity funding. “Rainbow Crops reflects our strategy of translating strong science into practical solutions,” said Jérôme Van Biervliet, managing director at VIB. --- **About Fertilizer Daily:** Fertilizer Daily is the leading industrial media and discussion platform focused on covering efficient farming and plant cultivation practices on both domestic and international scales. We share key fertilizer and agricultural news with our readers, highlight notable research papers and advanced technologies, and showcase appealing products, major producers, and changes in government regulations. Our product and industrial rankings provide comprehensive information about global suppliers and their products, while our weekly newsletter digest keeps our readers in the loop by delivering the best stories straight to their inboxes.