Mars licenses Pairwise’s CRISPR platform to advance cacao R&D

Mars has entered into a licensing agreement with Pairwise to use the agricultural biotech firm’s Fulcrum CRISPR gene-editing platform for cacao research and development.

The deal gives Mars access to Fulcrum’s suite of tools, including the SHARC enzyme, which enables precise genetic modifications to enhance desirable traits or reduce undesirable ones. Pairwise says its platform can accelerate breeding timelines compared with conventional methods, allowing traits to be fine-tuned much like adjusting a dimmer switch.

Mars intends to apply the technology to improve cacao productivity and resilience, with a focus on mitigating the effects of climate variability, plant diseases and environmental stresses. The company said the effort supports its broader goal of safeguarding global supply chains for key ingredients.

“At Mars, we believe CRISPR has the potential to improve crops in ways that support and strengthen global supply chains,” said Carl Jones, Plant Sciences Director at Mars. “Our focus is to transparently and responsibly conduct CRISPR research in plant science that helps crops better adapt to climate challenges, disease pressures and resource constraints.”

Pairwise, founded in 2017 and headquartered in Durham, N.C., develops gene-editing tools, enzymes and trait libraries for food and agriculture. “Plant breeding innovation has the potential to help address important agricultural challenges, and we look forward to supporting Mars’ research goals,” said Ian Miller, Pairwise’s chief operating officer.

Financial terms of the licensing agreement were not disclosed.