The startup Pairwise is using CRISPR gene-editing technology to rapidly develop designer crops, such as seedless, thornless blackberries and disease-resistant corn, to improve yields and sustainability. If you wanted to create better blackberries, you could try to breed a variety without the seeds that get stuck in your teeth or without the thorns that make the berries hard to pick. While traditional breeding could achieve those goals, it takes decades of work and significant luck. Pairwise is using genomics to solve multiple problems at once, moving at a pace that traditional methods cannot match.
Why CRISPR is changing your produce aisle
The core promise of modern genomics is the introduction of speed and precision. Traditional crop breeding is a glacially slow, haphazard process where scientists make one tweak at a time. Pairwise's approach uses CRISPR to sidestep the unpredictable mutations and inevitable trade-offs of older methods. For instance, if you breed fruit that takes longer to spoil, it often loses flavor. In conventional breeding, if you breed rice that needs less water, it might require more fertilizer.
CRISPR allows scientists to manipulate a single trait alone—by turning it on, off, or fine-tuning its expression. This is a significant shift because:
- Speed: Experts say CRISPR is already at least 95 percent faster than conventional plant breeding.
- Precision: Scientists can isolate a specific trait, like the number of rows of kernels on an ear of corn, and optimize it without affecting the rest of the plant's genetics.
- Stacking: Researchers can "stack" multiple improvements—like heat tolerance, shorter stalks, and more efficient fertilizer use—to create varieties with massive yield advantages in a single generation.
What changes for you by 2030
While these triple-threat berries won't be in US groceries before 2030, the technology is already moving into the market. Pairwise launched its first CRISPR product in the US in 2023, a less bitter mustard green, and has since received more than 50 regulatory approvals for five edited crops across nine countries. One high-yielding blackberry variety is already available in limited quantities in Colombia.
For the average consumer, these changes mean produce that is easier to eat and more environmentally friendly. Pairwise is focusing on traits that make food more pleasant for you to enjoy, rather than just making it more profitable for large-scale agriculture. This includes:
- Better Texture: Seedless berries offer a smoother, softer mouthfeel without the seeds getting stuck in your teeth.
- Resilience: Crops designed to withstand droughts and pests can help stabilize food prices and security in a warming world.
- Sustainability: By growing more food on less land, these technologies offer a path toward reducing deforestation and the use of agri-chemicals.
The roadmap to a more resilient food system
Pairwise has raised more than $160 million to license its technology to the world's largest agribusinesses, including Bayer and Corteva. This partnership model means the technology can be integrated into existing supply chains quickly. Beyond berries, the company is developing peaches without pits and staple crops like cowpea and cassava that can better withstand diseases for smallholder farmers.
The rise of gene-edited food still faces a cultural hurdle. While CRISPR seeds haven't yet faced the same regulatory roadblocks or public hostility as earlier GMOs, the "Frankenfoods" label remains a risk. However, because gene editing is cheaper and faster than traditional GMO development, it may be a more democratic tool for creating a diverse range of fruits and vegetables.
The next step for researchers is to move these crops through pre-commercial grower field trials. As these varieties clear regulatory hurdles, you can expect to see a new generation of produce that is not only more delicious but also grown with a significantly smaller environmental footprint. What specific trait would you want to see "edited" into your favorite fruit next?
