Delaware-based US chemical giant DuPont and Caribou Biosciences of California, a leading developer of CRISPR-Cas technologies for genome editing, have signed an agreement to cross-license their respective patent portfolios. The chemical producer also has taken a minority equity stake in Caribou to strengthen the working relationship.

Under the deal, financial terms of which have not been disclosed, DuPont will receive exclusive intellectual property rights for CRISPR-Cas technology applications in major row crops and non-exclusive rights in other agricultural and industrial bioscience applications.

The alliance foresees a multi-year research collaboration, with scientists from the two sides focused on enhancing the breadth, versatility and efficiency of the core CRISPR-Cas toolkit.

The technology is said to be capable of making exact changes to the DNA of most organisms. In plants, this editing capability can be applied to promote drought tolerance and disease resistance to protect plant health and increase crop yields. It also can provide direct consumer benefits like the removal of food allergens and the improvement of the nutrient composition of plant-derived oils.

“DuPont intends to lead in the application of CRISPR-Cas technology to improve agricultural productivity and enhance food security, said executive vice president, James C. Borel. He added that CRISPR-Cas could harbor significant potential to advance plant breeding and expand the range of agricultural solutions available to farmers. The first related products could be brought to market in the next five to 10 years, Borel suggested.