Food Tech Company Pairwise Partners with PSI to Produce New Varieties of Raspberries and Blackberries

Pairwise, a food tech company, recently announced its collaboration with Plant Sciences, Inc. (PSI), a leading berry breeder and agricultural research company, to transform the berry market in the United States. The partnership will focus on developing new types of black and red raspberries, as well as blackberries.

According to the press release, Pairwise will use its unique gene editing capabilities, and access to critically important germplasm provided by PSI, to improve taste and convenience, as well as increase shelf-life and off-season availability of berries. This collaboration builds on a unique public/private partnership Pairwise and PSI previously established with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and several leading academic institutions to identify diverse, novel types of berries that are not broadly bred for commercial sale today.

Pairwise Chief Business Officer Haven Baker is quoted in the press release: “Berries are one of the fastest growing produce categories in the United States, but this is largely concentrated on just a few varieties. Imagine having dozens of new berry varieties that offer more choice and flavor in healthy food options. By combining Pairwise’s gene editing capabilities and PSI’s germplasm and industry expertise, we will bring better, more sustainable berries to consumers across the country.”

The press release indicates that the initial berries are expected to be available in the next few years. To read the official release, please click here. News of the collaboration was covered by Business Wire and WRAL TechWire, among others.

Smith Anderson attorney and AgTech team co-leader John Therien, along with attorneys Megan Lambert and Irina Oberman-Khagi, advised Pairwise on the collaboration. The AgTech team previously advised Pairwise on its strategic alliance with Monsanto Company and its licensing of groundbreaking DNA base editing technology from Harvard University.

Smith Anderson’s AgTech team is one of nine in the world to be recognized in the Agribusiness chapter of 2020 Chambers Global. The team has extensive experience advising agricultural technology companies in all phases of technology development and commercialization. The team has been active in helping to position North Carolina’s thriving Research Triangle Park region as an internationally recognized center of AgTech innovation.