WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.— Joining companies like Google and Twitter, Inari was chosen as a 2019 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum on Monday.
Inari, a company recently expanded to West Lafayette developing seeds that improve the economic and environmental realities of production agriculture, was chosen from hundreds of candidates worldwide that are also in the design, development and deployment of new technologies and innovations poised to have a significant impact on business and society, according to a news release. The startup was founded by Flagship Pioneering in 2016.
“We’re excited to welcome Inari to this year’s innovative class of Technology Pioneers,” Fulvia Montresor, head of Technology Pioneers at the World Economic Forum, said in the release. “Inari and its fellow pioneers are leaders in using novel technologies to transform their industries. We see great potential for these next generation companies to shape solutions to global challenges and improve society for years to come.”
Its technologies have been proven at field-level trials with higher-yielding gene-edited tomatoes, and in the lab, with new diversity introduced simultaneously through five natural genes in corn, according to the release. The achievement in corn is a particularly important breakthrough for plant scientists as Inari works to develop crops that offer superior performance while requiring fewer inputs, including chemical fertilizer and water.
This year’s 56-member group of Technology Pioneers was selected by a committee of
academics, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and corporate executives, based on criteria including innovation, potential impact and leadership.
“We are honored and excited to be acknowledged by the Forum,” Inari CEO Ponsi
Trivisvavet said in the release. “The pioneer award is recognition that our technology is seen not only as a game-changer for our industry, but as a way to improve the lives of millions as we work to feed a growing population in the face of environmental concerns. On behalf of the entire Inari team, we look forward to contributing to the Forum’s ongoing discussions about this challenge.”
Inari announced in November 2018 the development of the world’s first Seed Foundry as part of the company’s mission to reintroduce genetic diversity, revolutionize the seed industry and create a food system that is environmentally responsible, promotes better health and is more resilient, marking the Purdue Research Park business complex as its next spot for expansion.
Contact reporter Jillian Ellison at 765-420-5228 or at [email protected].
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