Genome editing has the potential to reshape what’s possible in ornamental breeding

Pairwise has announced a licensing agreement with Ball Horticultural Company (Ball), granting Ball access to Pairwise’s Fulcrum genome editing platform. The agreement includes a commercial option that would allow Ball to bring edited ornamental varieties to the global market.

Ball will integrate Fulcrum tools into its research and development pipeline to create ornamental varieties with improved sustainability, performance, and consumer appeal. The license covers a broad range of Ball’s core crop portfolio, including roses, impatiens, petunias, hydrangeas, dianthus, begonias, and more than 40 other ornamental species. It marks the first application of Fulcrum technology in ornamental crops, bringing precision genome editing to a multi-billion-dollar global market.

“Genome editing has the potential to reshape what’s possible in ornamental breeding,” said Jason Jandrew, Chief Research and Development Officer of Ball Horticultural Company. “We’re excited about what the intersection of our deep knowledge of genetics and traditional breeding, coupled with advanced technologies like Fulcrum, can bring to delight our customers and serve our mission to color the world.”

© Ball Horticultural Company

“Pairwise built Fulcrum to empower innovators across all of plant science, and Ball Horticultural Company is exactly the kind of partner we envisioned when we designed the platform for broad applicability,” said Dr. Tom Adams, CEO of Pairwise. “This agreement is a meaningful proof point that Fulcrum’s precision and performance translate across crop systems, from staple crops to ornamental horticulture.”