Verinomics and Pinnacle Seed Forge Strategic Alliance to Drive Innovation in Leafy Greens
In a significant move aimed at transforming the future of leafy green agriculture, Verinomics, a frontrunner in agricultural genomics and gene editing, and Pinnacle Seed, a leading provider of elite leafy green seed varieties, have entered into a comprehensive five-year strategic partnership. This collaboration is poised to combine advanced genetic technologies with top-tier plant breeding to develop next-generation leafy green varieties tailored for modern agricultural challenges.
The partnership is designed to deliver superior leafy greens that exhibit enhanced disease resistance, improved yield potential, and agronomic traits that are optimized for the realities of both field-level production and supply chain logistics. This initiative directly responds to the pressing challenges faced by growers today—ranging from heightened disease pressures and increasing input costs to tighter labor availability and stricter regulatory demands.
Combining Elite Germplasm and Next-Gen Technology
At the heart of the collaboration lies a powerful synergy between Pinnacle Seed’s extensive germplasm library and deep market experience, and Verinomics’ proprietary technologies in genomic-assisted breeding and precision gene editing. Pinnacle Seed brings decades of experience in leafy green breeding, having built one of the industry’s most extensive and high-performing leafy green portfolios. Meanwhile, Verinomics contributes its cutting-edge Genova™ platform, which leverages genomic data for predictive breeding, and Genesis™, a novel, transgene-free gene editing system.
Together, these capabilities will allow the two companies to accelerate the breeding cycle, improve trait discovery, and precisely target the development of varieties that deliver real-world value to growers, processors, and retailers. Initial commercial varieties featuring improved disease resistance are already in development and are expected to reach the market in 2026.
A Shared Vision for Transformative Innovation
The partnership is anchored by a shared vision to advance the leafy greens sector not just through incremental gains, but through transformational innovation. Both companies recognize that the integration of elite breeding and modern genomic tools is essential to unlocking the next era of breakthroughs in leafy green production.
“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to accelerating innovation in leafy greens,” said Dr. Stephen Dellaporta, founder of Verinomics and a recognized leader in plant genomics. “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.”
Dr. Dellaporta emphasized that the new varieties under development are not just about performance in the lab, but about achieving tangible outcomes in the field. “Growers are dealing with complex conditions—climate variability, pest pressure, rising costs, and changing consumer expectations. Our joint breeding strategy is designed to address these challenges head-on.”
Addressing Critical Challenges in Leafy Green Production
Leafy greens are among the most consumed and economically significant specialty crops globally. However, they are also some of the most vulnerable to production risks. Pathogens such as downy mildew, fusarium wilt, and bacterial leaf spot pose persistent threats that can devastate yields and quality. At the same time, traditional breeding cycles can take years, limiting the pace at which new solutions reach the market.
By applying genomic selection, predictive breeding, and precision gene editing, Verinomics and Pinnacle Seed aim to shorten development timelines and increase the precision of desired trait expression. The new varieties will offer not only stronger disease resistance but also improved shelf life, enhanced nutrition, uniform growth, and better compatibility with automated harvest systems.
“At Pinnacle Seed, we’ve long recognized that the future of leafy green innovation requires both elite genetics and advanced technology,” said Mike Vanoli, CEO of Pinnacle Seed. “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.”
Breeding Philosophy: Integration, Not Replacement
Both companies emphasize that genomic technologies are not intended to replace traditional breeding practices, but to enhance and accelerate them. The philosophy behind the partnership is one of integration—combining the art and science of plant breeding with powerful computational and molecular tools.
“Breeding remains a craft that requires experience, intuition, and real-world testing,” said Vanoli. “But when paired with data-driven genomics and precision editing, the possibilities multiply. It’s not about choosing one method over the other. It’s about using every tool at our disposal to build a better future for agriculture.”
An Invitation to Collaborate and Co-Innovate
As part of their long-term strategy, Verinomics and Pinnacle Seed are inviting forward-thinking stakeholders across the agricultural value chain to engage in the development process. This includes not only growers and processors, but also retailers, foodservice partners, and agricultural researchers who are aligned with the vision of sustainable, tech-enabled crop improvement.
“Open collaboration is key,” said Dellaporta. “We want to work with partners who share our enthusiasm for advancing agriculture in a way that is both scientifically rigorous and commercially viable. From on-farm trials to supply chain integration, this is a shared journey.”
