U of G, AAFC researchers collaborate with SEF for berry challenge trials

Jun 20, 2025

A team of renowned researchers from the University of Guelph and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) will be conducting trials at the Center for Horticulture Innovation (SEF) for the next phase of the Weston Family Foundation’s Homegrown Innovation Challenge.

In a recent LinkedIn post, CHI shared news of their collaboration with the team, which includes Dr. Youbin Zheng and his team at the University of Guelph, and AAFC’s Xiuming Hao, Jason Lanoue, PhD, and Quade Digweed.

“As part of this initiative, we’re proud to host the trial at our facility—where cutting-edge research and real-world growing expertise come together to drive the future of sustainable horticulture,” SEF said in the post.

“Together, we aim to demonstrate scalable technologies that strengthen food security and transform controlled environment agriculture in Canada.”

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Video: Democratizing Gene Editing - Pairwise’s Vision for the Future of Agriculture

Pairwise has built its business around an idea that runs counter to how many companies approach innovation: make transformative technology easier to access.

In this Seed World interview, CEO Tom Adams discusses why broader access to gene editing could speed crop improvement, expand innovation opportunities and help agriculture address emerging challenges. He explains why Pairwise believes no single company can solve all of agriculture's problems alone—and why making advanced breeding technologies available to more organizations could accelerate progress across the industry.

The conversation explores how consumer trust influences technology adoption, why innovations like pitless cherries and seedless blackberries matter beyond convenience, and how future crop improvements could help address labor shortages, automation, harvest efficiency and other production challenges. Adams also shares his perspective on what the industry may be underestimating about the next wave of gene editing innovation.

Watch the full interview to hear why Pairwise believes agriculture is approaching an important inflection point for gene editing, and why the pace of innovation over the next decade could surprise the industry.

Topics Covered:

o Democratizing agricultural innovation

o Consumer trust and technology adoption

o The business case for sharing innovation

o Expanding innovation beyond major crops

o Next-generation breeding technologies