Gene-editing technology is being deployed to safeguard one of the world’s most vital food staples. Pairwise announced on November 3, 2025, that it has licensed its Fulcrum® CRISPR platform to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), a non-profit agricultural research organization. The agreement aims to accelerate the development of rice varieties with higher yields, greater climate resilience, and enhanced nutritional value, including research aimed at supporting healthier diets.

Under the terms of the agreement, IRRI gains nonexclusive rights to use the Fulcrum® suite of technologies, which includes the SHARC™ enzyme system, for research, development, and commercial use in rice. This powerful genome editing capability will allow IRRI scientists to rapidly develop traits that enhance crop productivity, resilience, and nutritional value, complementing IRRI’s ongoing breeding programs. Dr. Inez Slamet-Loedin, Principal Scientist for Biotechnology at IRRI, noted that the partnership “reinforces our commitment to using the latest breeding innovations to deliver results faster” for farmers and consumers around the world.

This partnership with IRRI is the third such agreement for Pairwise with a CGIAR research center, following a 2025 agreement with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and a 2024 partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). 

Published Date: November 6, 2025