Rainbow Crops is an agtech company using an AI-powered technology platform that combines multiplex genome editing and precision breeding to develop crop varieties that are both climate resilient and optimized for yield and other key traits. The investment – PINC’s third in 2025 - supports Paulig’s aim to develop a food system that enables the well-being of people and the planet.
Rainbow Crops, a spin-off from leading research institute VIB, has an integrated platform called Trait Foundry™. The platform, which combines advanced AI, genome editing, precision breeding, and automated plant analysis, enables the improvement of several crop traits at once by generating and testing carefully designed genetic variations.
The company is led by serial biotech entrepreneur Giacomo Bastianelli, who is joining as Co-founder and CEO of Rainbow Crops. “When I first met with the VIB scientists behind the technology, I was impressed by the results, which revealed a transformative approach to engineering complex traits,” commented Giacomo Bastianelli. “We’re forging partnerships with seed and breeding companies to co-develop next-generation crop genetics that tackle the challenges of tomorrow’s agri-food systems.”
The company is targeting key agronomic traits such as drought tolerance, heat resilience and input efficiency – critical traits in the face of climate change that have long been difficult to improve through traditional plant breeding. The platform is designed to work across a wide range of species and early tests in corn have shown that it can scale effectively and meet real-world market needs.
“We are excited about the broad potential of the platform, and also that the first POC is in corn, which is one of Paulig’s top three crops used extensively in both corn chips and tortillas for brands such as Santa Maria, Poco Loco and Zanuy”, explains Marika King, Director of PINC. “Rainbow Crops is built on a solid scientific foundation and has amazing collaborations in the making. It is also part of an impressive ecosystem with VIB and a great set of early investors, so we are more than happy to support this journey”.
Rainbow Crops is a spin-out from VIB, a leading life sciences research institute based in Belgium. The company is backed in addition by a strong syndicate of early-stage investors, including PINC, Agri Investment Fund (AIF) and Qbic.
For more information, please contact:
Margit Ülem
Communications Manager, Paulig
margit.ylem@paulig.com
+372 5904 8554
About PINC
PINC is Paulig’s venture arm for investments in early-stage startups in and around the future of food. PINC aims to help Paulig renew itself and prosper, as well as contribute to a tastier and more sustainable planet.
About Paulig
Paulig is an international food and beverage company, growing a new, sustainable food culture – one that is good for both people and the planet. Paulig provides all things tasty: Tex Mex, Snacks, coffees, World Foods and spices. The company's brands are Paulig, Santa Maria, Risenta, Poco Loco, Conimex and Zanuy. Paulig also manufactures products for its private label and industry customers. In 2024, the company’s sales amounted to approximately EUR 1.2 billion. Paulig was founded in 1876 and is 100% owned by the Paulig family. The company has 2,400 passionate employees in 13 different countries working on our purpose For a life full of flavour.
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 simultaneous enhancement of multiple complex agronomic traits such as yield, input efficiency, and stress resilience. Founded in 2025 as a spin-off from the VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology, Rainbow Crops builds on research supported by an ERC Advanced Grant and benefits from strategic infrastructure at VIB, including the VIB Agro-Incubator. The company collaborates with seed and breeding partners to co-develop advanced plant genetics tailored for sustainable agriculture and global food security. Learn more at www.rainbowcrops.com
