In the realm of high-tech greenhouse cultivation, CRISPR gene editing technology emerges as a beacon of innovation, with potential applications extending beyond medical treatments for diseases such as cancer and sickle cell disease. At the forefront, a Research Triangle Park-based company, Pairwise, aims to leverage CRISPR to enhance fruit and vegetable consumption, beginning with the transformation of the mustard green. Recognized for its nutritional value, the mustard green's sharp taste, akin to wasabi or horseradish, stems from an enzyme reaction with saliva. Pairwise's endeavors in its RTP lab have led to the development of a less pungent mustard green variant, employing a methodology akin to natural variations rather than conventional GMO techniques, which often incorporate foreign genes and face regulatory hurdles.
CEO Tom Adams highlights the efficiency of CRISPR in expediting traditional breeding processes, thereby reducing costs and time. This precision in editing plant genomes involves identifying and modifying specific genes responsible for undesirable traits, as elucidated by plant scientist Deepika Chauhan's work on creating a pitless cherry. The process entails the use of proprietary tools for gene identification and editing, followed by the introduction of new traits via a specially designed bacterium, with subsequent growth and evaluation in controlled environments.
The initial public offering of Pairwise's modified mustard greens, under the brand Conscious Greens, tested market acceptance through distribution strategies focusing on direct sales to restaurants and distributors, alongside consumer engagement through free samples at farmers' markets in technologically savvy yet skeptical regions. The positive reception, as indicated by Adams, with 90% approval from taste tests, underscores the potential for CRISPR-edited crops in addressing consumer preferences for healthier, palatable options. In collaboration with Bayer, Pairwise aims to commercialize these greens, contributing to the broader spectrum of gene-edited crops being developed in RTP, including Elo Life Systems' efforts towards a fungus-resistant banana species.
Source: WUNC