In a concerted effort to tackle persistent challenges in leafy green production, Verinomics and Pinnacle Seed have announced a strategic partnership centered on the development of high-performance leafy green varieties. This five-year collaboration will focus on deploying elite plant genetics and transgene-free gene editing to create leafy green varieties with improved disease resistance, higher yields, and enhanced agronomic profiles.
The alliance comes at a time when producers face increasing disease pressure, labor shortages, and input cost volatility. With the commercial release of the initial varieties scheduled for 2026, this partnership aims to streamline the process of delivering improved plant traits from laboratory to field.
Integration of Genomic Tools with Germplasm Expertise
The collaboration combines Verinomics’ proprietary genomic-assisted breeding platform, Genova, and its transgene-free gene editing technology, Genesis, with Pinnacle Seed’s deep catalog of elite leafy green germplasm and market experience. The integration of these complementary strengths is intended to accelerate the pace of breeding innovation and provide tangible improvements in field performance and post-harvest handling.
Verinomics brings advanced scientific capabilities in genomics and gene editing that enable the identification and deployment of high-value traits. Pinnacle Seed contributes a portfolio of time-tested varieties and a well-established understanding of grower and market needs, creating a partnership that spans the entire value chain from genetics to commercialization.
Focus on Disease Resistance and Operational Efficiency
The joint development program will target multiple pain points for producers, including plant vulnerability to pathogens, crop management complexity, and inconsistent yields. New leafy green varieties emerging from this partnership will be designed to thrive under current production constraints, offering growers greater predictability and reduced operational burden from field to processing.
By prioritizing disease resistance and yield stability, the collaboration is also expected to create downstream benefits for processors and retailers, including improved shelf-life and uniformity. These traits will support a more resilient and efficient leafy green supply chain, especially as production systems adapt to evolving climate conditions and regulatory environments.
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Dr Stephen Dellaporta, Founder of Verinomics, emphasized the shared mission to deliver tangible advancements in leafy green crop development.
“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to accelerating innovation in leafy greens. By joining forces, we’re creating an innovation engine that can rapidly identify, develop, and deploy high-value traits, getting improved varieties into growers’ hands faster than ever before.”
Mike Vanoli, CEO of Pinnacle Seed, highlighted how the integration of Verinomics’ technologies enhances Pinnacle’s breeding capabilities.
“At Pinnacle Seed, we’ve long recognized that the future of leafy green innovation requires both elite genetics and advanced technology. Partnering with Verinomics has transformed our breeding capabilities to complement our germplasm expertise. Together, we’re developing varieties that don’t just incrementally improve on existing options — they fundamentally change what’s possible in leafy green production.”
Genomics as a Complement to Traditional Breeding
The partnership is grounded in the belief that genomic technologies do not replace traditional breeding methods but act as a powerful complement. By integrating advanced genetic tools with elite germplasm and proven breeding strategies, the two companies aim to deliver breakthroughs that would be unattainable through either approach in isolation.
This philosophy underscores the partnership’s broader vision, to create a unified breeding framework where data-driven insights guide the selection and refinement of traits while maintaining the agronomic rigor and field-proven reliability expected by commercial growers.
Industry Engagement and Future Milestones
Verinomics and Pinnacle Seed are inviting growers, processors, and retailers to engage with the partnership as part of a collaborative approach to leafy green innovation. Stakeholders interested in evaluating or trialing new varieties will have opportunities to participate in field testing and provide feedback as development progresses.
Updates on the performance of trial varieties, commercial readiness, and availability are expected throughout 2025 and 2026. These milestones will mark key phases in the rollout of new leafy green offerings that reflect the combined strengths of genomics, breeding, and market insight.
