Vylor and Rainbow Crops Partner to Accelerate Gene-Edited Corn Trait Development
Vylor, set to become independent from Corteva on 1 October 2026, and Belgian agricultural biotech startup Rainbow Crops have entered a collaboration to develop gene-edited corn traits using AI, multiplex genome editing, precision breeding, and automated phenotyping, targeting improved resilience to heat, drought, and flooding.
Vylor and Rainbow Crops have entered into a collaboration to accelerate the development of novel gene-edited corn traits, combining artificial intelligence (AI), multiplex genome editing, precision breeding, and automated phenotyping, the companies announced on 23 September 2026.
The partnership aims to develop corn hybrids with improved resilience to extreme weather conditions — including heat, drought, and flooding — while also improving how efficiently crops use agricultural inputs.
The collaboration brings together Rainbow Crops' AI-supported Trait Foundry™ platform and Vylor's expertise in advanced seed genetics and gene editing. Rainbow Crops' platform is designed to address complex agronomic characteristics controlled by multiple interacting genes, using AI-based trait discovery alongside multiplex genome editing to allow simultaneous modification of several genes. Automated phenotyping then measures plant characteristics and assesses whether the resulting genetic changes deliver the desired performance.
Mat Muller, head of Vylor Edge, said that multiplex editing permits rapid evaluation of high-performing genetic combinations, characterising the approach as a shift in crop development away from years of trial-and-error breeding toward targeted genetic optimisation.
Giacomo Bastianelli, CEO and co-founder of Rainbow Crops, noted that prior work in corn had validated the platform's capability at scale. Rainbow Crops was founded in 2025 as a spin-off from the VIB–UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology, with a focus on developing climate-resilient, high-performing crop varieties.
Vylor is scheduled to separate from Corteva on 1 October 2026, creating an independent advanced seed and genetics company. The partnership therefore forms part of Vylor's emerging approach to combining its internal research capabilities with external agricultural biotechnology platforms.
The two companies also have a prior financial connection: Corteva previously invested in Rainbow Crops through its Corteva Catalyst platform as part of Rainbow Crops' €9.7 million (US$11.07M) seed financing round, an equity stake described as slated to transition into the Vylor Edge portfolio following the spin-off.
The agreement arrives amid a shifting regulatory landscape in Europe. The European Parliament adopted rules governing the import and cultivation of gene-edited crops across the European Union in June 2026, a development the source article describes as a favourable legislative shift for the sector.
Prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team.
