As demand for berries sees significant growth, a three-year-old startup aims to change the DNA of these plants to make them more enticing to both consumers and the producers who raise them.

Pairwise, based in North Carolina, is using CRISPR gene-editing technology to change the DNA of blackberries and black raspberries to remove the seeds, improve the plant structure so the fruit is more easily accessible, and remove thorns from the bushes to make harvesting more efficient and safer.

Tom Adams, the co-founder and CEO of Pairwise, said executives noticed that while berry demand was on the rise, there were obstacles deterring many people from consuming and farmers from growing the produce, including the seeds, messiness, a short shelf life and a lack of consistency in flavor and texture.

Pairwise aims to have both berries on store shelves in the middle of this decade, Adams said.

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Pairwise uses CRISPR, a process where it can remove or change the sequence of the genome so a specific trait doesn’t appear or a desired characteristic is more pronounced. Unlike genetic modification where new DNA material is added to the plant.

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Pairwise hopes making these changes will entice adults and children to increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables.

[Editor’s Note: See full press release from Pairwise here]

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