Vylor, Rainbow Crops join hands to develop climate-resilient corn using AI and gene editing

Belgium: Vylor, an advanced seed and genetics company, and Belgium-based agtech firm Rainbow Crops have announced a collaboration to accelerate the development of new corn traits using artificial intelligence (AI) and gene-editing technology.

The partnership will focus on developing corn hybrids that can better withstand extreme weather conditions, including heat, drought and flooding, while using agricultural inputs more efficiently and potentially delivering higher yields.

Under the collaboration, the companies will use Rainbow Crops’ AI-supported Trait Foundry platform along with Vylor’s expertise in gene editing and seed genetics. The technology allows scientists to make multiple genetic changes simultaneously and assess how those changes affect plant performance.

Rainbow Crops said its Trait Foundry platform combines AI, multiplex genome editing, precision breeding and automated phenotyping, which involves measuring plant characteristics at high speed and scale. The platform is designed to work on complex traits influenced by multiple genes, such as drought tolerance and plant vigour.

According to the companies, the technology could help accelerate the development of crop traits compared with conventional breeding methods.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Vylor, a global leader in advanced seed and genetics, to explore new opportunities for innovation in corn,” said Giacomo Bastianelli, CEO and co-founder of Rainbow Crops.

Vylor said the collaboration could enable scientists to make hundreds of gene edits at the same time and then validate plant performance through advanced testing facilities and field trials.

The companies are also looking at traits that could improve the efficiency with which crops use agricultural inputs and, ultimately, support higher yields and farmer profitability.

The partnership comes as gene-editing technology gains attention in European agriculture. The European Parliament passed legislation on June 17, 2026, allowing the import and cultivation of certain plants developed through gene-editing technology across the European Union.

Vylor is expected to spin off from Corteva on October 1, 2026. Corteva, through its investment platform Corteva Catalyst, had participated in Rainbow Crops’ € 9.7 million seed financing round. Following the separation, the investment will become part of Vylor Edge, Vylor’s investment platform.

Rainbow Crops was founded in 2025 as a spin-off from the VIB–UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology in Belgium. The company focuses on developing climate-resilient crop varieties through its Trait Foundry technology.

The companies said the current collaboration is aimed at accelerating the development of new corn traits. The technology and traits will still need to undergo development, testing and relevant regulatory processes before any products become available to farmers.