Mars, Incorporated has licensed Pairwise’s Fulcrum® gene editing tools for cacao research and development. This licensing agreement grants Mars access to Pairwise’s CRISPR tools, including the SHARC™ enzyme. The Pairwise Fulcrum™ platform encompasses gene editing tools, enzymes and trait libraries, enabling precise changes that unlock the plant’s inherent potential. This capability significantly accelerates the development of impactful crop traits compared to traditional breeding methods, allowing for the activation or deactivation of characteristics and fine-tuning traits, much like adjusting a dimmer switch to achieve optimal results.  

Mars aims to develop this advanced plant breeding technology to improve cacao production and effectively tackle agricultural challenges. The ultimate goal is to help address the pressures cacao faces globally from climate variability, plant diseases and environmental stresses. This strategic initiative underscores the potential of this technology to drive meaningful advancements in agriculture.  

“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.”  

“We’re pleased to provide Mars with access to our Fulcrum™ platform for their cacao research and development initiatives,” said Ian Miller, Chief Operating Officer at Pairwise. “Plant breeding innovation has the potential to help address important agricultural challenges, and we look forward to supporting Mars’ research goals.”  

The Pairwise Fulcrum® platform includes gene editing tools, enzymes and trait libraries, enabling precise changes that unlock the plant’s inherent potential to greatly accelerate the development of impactful crop traits compared to traditional breeding methods.

A version of this article was originally posted at Pairwise and is reposted here with permission. Any reposting should credit both the GLP and original article. Find Pairwise on X @PairwisePL