Vylor and Rainbow Crops Partner to Accelerate Development of Novel Gene-Edited Corn Traits

JOHNSTON, Iowa and GHENT, Belgium, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Vylor, the advanced seed and genetics company that will spin off from Corteva on October 1, 2026, and Rainbow Crops, a Belgium-based spin off from VIB, have announced a collaboration to advance new corn traits using artificial intelligence (AI) and multiplex gene editing, which enables scientists to edit multiple genes in a cell simultaneously.

Through the collaboration, both companies will use Rainbow Crops' AI-supported Trait Foundry^™ technology to accelerate the development of corn hybrids that are more resilient to extreme weather, such as heat, drought, and floods. Rainbow Crops' platform will support Vylor's industry-leading expertise in gene editing. The companies expect the collaboration to deliver complex agronomic traits that use inputs more efficiently and, ultimately, increase yield to support farmer profitability.

"Rainbow Crops' AI-enabled multiplex gene editing capabilities will allow us to make hundreds of gene edits simultaneously, while validating performance in state-of-the-art phenotyping facilities as well as through field trials," said Mat Muller, who will lead Vylor Edge, Vylor's investment platform. "Genome editing is set to reimagine agriculture by creating plants that can withstand critical challenges, including disease and extreme weather. This partnership further cements Vylor's leadership in this emerging science by leveraging Rainbow Crops' proprietary, cutting-edge technology."

Rainbow Crops' Trait Foundry^™ combines AI, multiplex genome editing, precision breeding, and automated phenotyping (high-throughput measurement of plant characteristics) to design, generate, and validate improved crop genetics faster and more precisely than traditional breeding approaches allow. The platform is designed to address traits controlled by multiple interacting genes, such as drought tolerance and plant vigor.

"Our early work in corn has been an important proof point for Rainbow Crops and has shown the potential of our Trait Foundry platform to accelerate the development of complex traits," said Giacomo Bastianelli, CEO and co-founder of Rainbow Crops. "We are thrilled to collaborate with Vylor, a global leader in advanced seed and genetics, to explore new opportunities for innovation in corn."

The collaboration comes at a pivotal moment for plant innovation in Europe, following the European Parliament's passage, on 17 June 2026, of legislation that allows plants developed through gene editing to be imported and cultivated across the European Union.

Corteva, through its Corteva Catalyst investment platform, participated in Rainbow Crops recently closed €9.7 million seed financing round. Upon the company's separation, this investment will become a part of the Vylor Edge portfolio.

About Vylor 

Vylor is an advanced seed and genetics company that has, for more than a century, been focused on delivering groundbreaking innovation to farmers. Anchored in the agriculture industry's most elite germplasm and transformative biotech, Vylor leverages its scientific expertise to deliver next generation technology to help farmers around the world boost yields. With its expertise in advanced science, leading routes-to-market and an expanding licensing business, Vylor drives value and delivers growth for farmers, customers and shareholders – and in doing so, helps feed, fuel and clothe the world. More information at vylor.com.

About Rainbow Crops

Rainbow Crops is a next-generation agtech company developing climate-resilient, high-performing crop varieties through its proprietary Trait Foundry^™ platform. By integrating multiplex genome editing, artificial intelligence, precision breeding, and automated phenotyping, Rainbow Crops enables the systematic engineering of complex agronomic traits. The company collaborates with seed and breeding partners to advance sustainable agriculture and global food security. Founded in 2025 as a spin-off from the VIB–UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology, Rainbow Crops builds on years of publicly supported research and operates within VIB's advanced research infrastructure.

Learn more at www.rainbowcrops.com 

Cautionary Statement

This release contains certain estimates and forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and may be identified by their use of words like "may," "expects," "will," "aims," "believes," "intends," or other words of similar meaning. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the proposed spin-off of Vylor from Corteva (including its expected timing and completion), the parties' expectations related to regulatory matters, product development and commercialization, the Vylor-Rainbow Crops collaboration and its anticipated benefits, and the parties' product offerings and financial or sustainability performance, are forward-looking statements. No obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable law, is hereby undertaken and any such obligation is specifically disclaimed. A detailed discussion of some of the significant risks and uncertainties which may cause results and events to differ materially from such forward-looking statements or other estimates is included in the "Risk Factors" sections of Corteva's Annual Report on Form 10-K, and as modified by subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and Vylor's Registration Statement on Form 10.

SOURCE Corteva Agriscience