17 November 2025 News
Enza Zaden licenses Pairwise’s Fulcrum® Platform to accelerate research and advance development of novel crop varieties and sustainable farming practices
Enkhuizen, the Netherlands, and Durham, North Carolina (November 17, 2025) — Enza Zaden, a global leader in vegetable breeding that develops and supplies innovative vegetable seeds for growers worldwide, today announced a strategic agreement to license Pairwise’s Fulcrum® Platform, a suite of precision plant breeding tools.
“At Enza Zaden, our mission is to grant people everywhere access to healthy vegetables by developing high-quality varieties and seeds,” said Jaap Mazereeuw, CEO of Enza Zaden. “This collaboration reflects our commitment to breakthrough plant science and responsible innovation to benefit growers, consumers, and the environment. Pairwise’s Fulcrum® Platform equips us with advanced tools for research, strengthening our ongoing focus on sustainability and creating value for our customers.”
Enza Zaden is currently focused on evaluating gene editing for research purposes in vegetable crops. While the agreement covers both research and potential future commercialization, Enza Zaden has no immediate plans for a commercial launch. Any future commercialization will depend on regulatory developments, market readiness, and company strategy. Enza Zaden supports regulatory developments that enable responsible use of gene editing and will consider commercialization when legislation, market readiness, and company strategy are aligned.
“Enza Zaden has a long tradition of developing innovative vegetable varieties. We’re proud to support them in accelerating the natural potential of crops with cutting-edge tools," said Tom Adams, CEO of Pairwise. "Gene editing is a precise, modern breeding method that complements traditional approaches, enabling breeders to achieve results faster while addressing key challenges like sustainability and disease resistance. Gene editing represents a vital tool for advancing resilient, climate-smart crops that align with sustainable agriculture goals.”
Pairwise’s Fulcrum® Platform is becoming the preferred CRISPR toolbox across the agriculture value chain, proven to work in diverse crop types. By integrating advanced gene editing tools with a strong intellectual property portfolio, the platform enables accelerated agricultural innovation worldwide.
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