Smith Anderson Advises Pairwise in Its Collaboration With Sun World International To Create First Pitless Cherry

Smith Anderson client Pairwise, a leader in gene editing technology for food and agriculture, has entered into a strategic partnership with Sun World International, a global fruit variety development and licensing company, to pioneer the development of specialty fruit, beginning with the pitless cherry. The joint venture combines Pairwise’s proprietary Fulcrum® platform, already behind the world’s first seedless blackberry, with Sun World’s expertise in fruit breeding, licensing and commercialization.

Under the agreement, Sun World will make strategic investments to fund development and will have exclusive commercial rights to bring the pitless cherry genetics to market. Pairwise will lead research and development efforts, while Sun World will contribute its germplasm, breeding infrastructure and global market access.

Together, the companies are working to deliver groundbreaking innovation that not only enhances convenience and the consumer eating experience but also supports sustainable agriculture by improving yields, reducing waste and strengthening disease resistance. The collaboration is already underway and may expand to additional fruit breeding initiatives.

Smith Anderson attorneys John Therien and Tory Hartmann advised Pairwise in the transaction. The firm has a longstanding relationship with Pairwise, including advising on its collaborations with Corteva, Bayer, Plant Sciences, Inc., and others to develop innovative, gene-edited crops.

About Pairwise

Pairwise is agriculture’s gene editing powerhouse, building a healthier world through partnership and plant innovation. Co-founded by the inventors of CRISPR, Pairwise’s Fulcrum® Platform accelerates the development of climate-resilient, nutritious, and sustainable crops. As trusted partners to global industry leaders and nonprofit institutions, Pairwise helps breeders move faster while transforming food and agriculture for farmers, consumers, and the planet. Founded in 2017 and based in Durham, NC, Pairwise is committed to delivering innovation that makes food easier to grow and better to eat. For more information, visit www.pairwise.com.