Partnership With Pairwise Targets Climate-Resilient Crops
Mars, the maker of M&M’s and Snickers, has entered a strategic partnership with agricultural biotech firm Pairwise to accelerate the development of climate-resilient cacao plants. The collaboration leverages Pairwise’s Fulcrum platform and CRISPR gene-editing technology to address growing threats to the global cocoa supply.
By accessing Pairwise’s library of plant traits, Mars gains tools to improve cacao plants’ resistance to heat, disease, and other climate-related stressors that jeopardize chocolate production worldwide. The initiative reflects the confectionery giant’s broader push toward sustainable agriculture and supply chain resilience.
CRISPR Offers Precision and Speed for Crop Innovation
CRISPR is a powerful gene-editing method that enables scientists to modify DNA with precision and efficiency. In agriculture, this technology is being used to develop crops that mature faster, withstand environmental pressure, and resist pests or disease—all essential traits as climate change reshapes global farming.
Pairwise emphasized that gene editing offers a faster alternative to traditional crop breeding, allowing for more targeted improvements. In this case, CRISPR will help tailor cacao plants to better endure rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns, issues already impacting cocoa production regions in West Africa and Latin America.
Food Industry Turns to Innovation Amid Supply Risks
Mars is not alone in investing in climate-smart agriculture. In a similar move last year, Starbucks backed two innovation farms in Central America aimed at developing more resilient coffee plants. These farms are experimenting with mechanization, drones, and new plant varieties to counteract climate-related threats.
For Mars, securing its cocoa supply is a top priority. The company’s recent efforts to enhance sustainability also include a $2 billion commitment to U.S. manufacturing through 2026. Part of that funding will support a $240 million expansion for Nature’s Bakery in Utah, reinforcing its domestic production footprint.
Gene Editing Expands Beyond Health Care
While CRISPR has made headlines for its role in revolutionary medical treatments—such as the FDA’s approval of a gene-edited therapy for sickle cell disease in 2023—it’s increasingly seen as a game-changer in food production. Mars hopes its application to agriculture will set a precedent for using biotechnology to create more sustainable food systems.
“CRISPR has the potential to improve crops in ways that support and strengthen global supply chains,” said Carl Jones, Plant Sciences Director at Mars, in a company statement.
As climate volatility continues to challenge the global food industry, partnerships like Mars and Pairwise may shape the future of agricultural innovation—one cocoa bean at a time.
