Latest news with #Fulcrum
CNBC
6 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
Candy giant Mars partners with biotech firm to gene-edit cocoa supply
Candy maker Mars said Wednesday it's partnered with biotech company Pairwise to speed up the development of more resilient cocoa using CRISPR-based gene editing technology. The agreement gives the M&M's maker access to Pairwise's Fulcrum platform, which includes a library of plant traits, and gives Mars the ability to tailor its crops to be stronger and more sustainable. CRISPR is a gene editing tool that makes fast and precise changes to DNA. In farming, it's used to improve crops by targeting different traits like drought and disease resistance. The goal is to create cacao plants — the source of cacao beans, which are then roasted and made into cocoa — that can better withstand disease, heat and other climate-related stresses that can put global chocolate supply at risk. In October, Starbucks invested in two innovation farms in Central America to protect the chain's coffee supply from global warming. The farms develop climate-resilient coffee and test technologies like drones and mechanization. Gene editing allows for faster and more precise trait development than traditional breeding, Pairwise said in a press release. CRISPR has garnered attention in recent years for its applications in health care. In late 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first gene-editing treatment for sickle cell disease. "At Mars, we believe CRISPR has the potential to improve crops in ways that support and strengthen global supply chains," said Carl Jones, Plant Sciences Director at Mars, in the release. Last month, the candy giant announced a $2 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing through 2026. This includes a new $240 million investment for a Nature's Bakery facility in Utah.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Mars and Pairwise Collaborate to Accelerate Cacao Research and Development
Durham, N.C., Aug. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mars, Incorporated has licensed Pairwise's Fulcrum® gene editing tools for cacao research and development. This licensing agreement grants Mars access to Pairwise's CRISPR tools, including the SHARC™ enzyme. The Pairwise Fulcrum platform encompasses gene editing tools, enzymes and trait libraries, enabling precise changes that unlock the plant's inherent potential. This capability significantly accelerates the development of impactful crop traits compared to traditional breeding methods, allowing for the activation or deactivation of characteristics and fine-tuning traits, much like adjusting a dimmer switch to achieve optimal results. Mars aims to develop this advanced plant breeding technology to improve cacao production and effectively tackle agricultural challenges. The ultimate goal is to help address the pressures cacao faces globally from climate variability, plant diseases and environmental stresses. This strategic initiative underscores the potential of this technology to drive meaningful advancements in agriculture. "At Mars, we believe CRISPR has the potential to improve crops in ways that support and strengthen global supply chains," said Carl Jones, Plant Sciences Director at Mars. "Our focus is to transparently and responsibly conduct CRISPR research in plant science that helps crops better adapt to climate challenges, disease pressures and resource constraints." "We're pleased to provide Mars with access to our Fulcrum platform for their cacao research and development initiatives," said Ian Miller, Chief Operating Officer at Pairwise. "Plant breeding innovation has the potential to help address important agricultural challenges, and we look forward to supporting Mars' research goals." The Pairwise Fulcrum platform includes gene editing tools, enzymes and trait libraries, enabling precise changes that unlock the plant's inherent potential to greatly accelerate the development of impactful crop traits compared to traditional breeding methods.### About Pairwise Pairwise is agriculture's gene editing powerhouse, building a healthier world through partnership and plant innovation. Co-founded by the inventors of CRISPR, our Fulcrum® Platform accelerates the development of climate-resilient, nutritious, and sustainable crops. As trusted partners to global industry leaders and nonprofit institutions, we help breeders move faster while transforming food and agriculture for farmers, consumers, and the planet. Founded in 2017 and based in Durham, NC, Pairwise is committed to delivering innovation that makes food easier to grow and better to eat. For more information, visit CONTACT: Communications Pairwise communications@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Cision Canada
15-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Fulcrum Announces Strategic Vision for Agentic AI to Redefine the Future of Fieldwork
New roadmap introduces intelligent, hands-free operations powered by Agentic AI, setting a bold new standard for productivity, safety, and compliance in critical infrastructure industries SAN FRANCISCO, July 15, 2025 /CNW/ -- Fulcrum, the AI-powered field process management and data collection platform, today unveiled its long-term strategic vision for Agentic AI — a groundbreaking approach that will transform fieldwork into a truly hands-free, AI-guided experience. This vision aims to equip field-focused companies with the platform they need to proactively meet the challenges of surging demand, grid reliability and resiliency, a transitioning workforce, regulatory pressure, and workforce productivity — all while improving operational efficiency, productivity, and safety. We're building trusted agents that intelligently support fieldworkers in their processes. --Jim Grady, CEO of Fulcrum. Post this Building on its proven track record of innovation, including the recent launch of Audio FastFill for voice-powered data collection and its AI-powered field platform, Fulcrum's Agentic AI strategy outlines a future where fieldworkers are supported by an intelligent partner that proactively offers real-time context, answers questions, and delivers predictive guidance. "We're not just building tools, we're building trusted agents that intelligently support fieldworkers in their processes," said Jim Grady, CEO of Fulcrum. "Agentic AI represents a leap forward for how work gets done in the field-oriented industries, from the field to the boardroom. Our strategy will help our customers move faster, streamline workflows, and make smarter decisions at scale." Agentic AI: From Intelligent Inputs to Hands-Free Operations Fulcrum's Agentic AI vision will roll out in strategic phases, culminating in a fully immersive, intelligent fieldwork experience. Each milestone is designed to leverage and enhance Fulcrum's core strengths in geospatial intelligence, enterprise integration, and rigorous field process management. The roadmap includes five key innovation areas: Smarter data collection: Audio FastFill: Available now, this feature uses AI to contextualize a field worker's speech and transform it into the data inputs needed for a specific workflow. Photo FastFill: Coming later this year, this feature will use AI-based photo analysis to automate the capture of many data points at once from nameplates or objects. Instant data insights: Fulcrum will use AI to process natural-language questions for office- or field-based workers and instantly deliver appropriate graph, report, or speech-based answers, reducing reliance on code, "BI tools," and static dashboards. In-field quality assurance and anomaly detection: Fulcrum will use AI and the massive amounts of data collected in Fulcrum to spot inconsistencies, detect problems, and suggest remediation, reducing quality issues and repeat visits. Interactive and guided workflows: Fulcrum's AI agents will evolve to offer proactive, situation-specific guidance to field teams. Drawing from previous data, enterprise systems such as geospatial information systems (GIS) and enterprise asset management (EAM), and historical knowledge, it will act as an expert guide for every task. Fully hands-free interaction: The culmination of this vision is a true heads-up, hands-free experience. Field personnel will interact with spatially-aware data overlays through voice commands, creating an unprecedented level of safety and efficiency from start to finish. This innovation roadmap will empower field teams to execute complex workflows with greater accuracy and safety. For business leaders, it will unlock new opportunities to optimize resources, reduce operational downtime, and ensure audit-ready compliance across the enterprise. Transforming Operations with AI That Thinks Ahead With Agentic AI, Fulcrum is solving mission-critical problems, particularly in the electrical and water utility industries: Proactively surfaces hazards and ensures adherence to protocols to protect frontline workers Improves maintenance and response through predictive guidance and real-time system integration Reduces downtime and extends asset life with context-driven decision support Ensures data integrity and traceability for streamlined audits and compliance By acting as a real-time system of record for field intelligence and leveraging enterprise-wide data, Fulcrum is uniquely equipped to serve as the central nervous system of AI-powered field operations. "The need for intelligent, AI-driven field solutions has never been greater as companies work to modernize infrastructure, manage an evolving workforce, and respond quickly for day-to-day work as well as disaster recovery," said John Villali, research director, IDC Energy Insights. "Agentic AI strategies offer the opportunity to enhance field productivity, improve worker safety, and deliver more resilient, efficient field operations." Built on a Proven Foundation Fulcrum's success stems from more than a decade of commitment to rigorous field processes and geospatial expertise. As organizations face labor shortages, escalating regulations, and rising operational demands, Fulcrum's AI-first platform provides the stability and innovation to lead the next generation of field transformation. "Fulcrum's AI vision directly addresses the real-world challenges faced by innovative, field-centric organizations like ours," said John Ross, chief information officer of structural engineering and asset management firm Exo. "Their proactive approach to hands-free guidance and intelligent automation resonates deeply with our efforts to empower our frontline teams in demanding conditions. To learn more about Fulcrum's Agentic AI strategy and its impact on the future of fieldwork, visit Fulcrum is pioneering a new category as an AI-powered field process management and data collection platform, bridging frontline teams with enterprise systems to streamline operations and improve decision-making. It replaces the complexity of disconnected field apps that are bolted-on to office systems with the Fulcrum field platform. Fulcrum enables real-time, geospatially accurate data capture, intelligent guidance, and continuous process improvement. Trusted by nearly 3,000 organizations in utilities, environmental, and infrastructure, Fulcrum integrates advanced GIS and AI capabilities to eliminate inefficiencies caused by disconnected tools and outdated workflows. Learn more at
New Straits Times
24-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
NST Leader: Time for planters to grow local talent
TECHNICAL and vocational education and training (TVET) for locals in the plantation sector is an idea whose time has come for a country that has been trying to reduce dependency on migrant workers. But some industry players are refusing to invest in training locals in TVET or to hire trained graduates, opting instead to employ foreign workers because they cost less to employ. And perhaps easier to exploit. The extent of such exploitation is depicted in a 2021 report by the International Organisation for Migration, a United Nations body. The going rate for TVET graduates is between RM2,500 and RM3,500, depending on their level of training. For a sector whose manpower cost is between 30 and 40 per cent, training and employing TVET graduates may be too much of an erosion into some planters' profits. Some are not even wanting to pay the minimum wage — RM1,700 since Feb 1. Even at the previous minimum wage of RM1,500, there were many who chose to pay less, according to an analysis published on June 3 in Fulcrum, a publication of Singapore's Yusof Ishak Institute. Very often, victims are undocumented migrant workers, of whom Malaysia "hosts" as many as documented workers, if not more. More on this later. Little wonder, the attrition rate is high. Though there are no official figures published about the attrition rate in the sector, anecdotal evidence from interviews conducted by non-governmental organisations point to many choosing not to renew their contracts. This may be due to visa-related issues, but they are certainly not the only ones. Low pay, even below the legal limit, for a dirty and dangerous job, is no enticement to continue. Employers used to complain about Malaysians not wanting to do "dirty and dangerous" jobs, but with foreign workers, too, not wanting them, that lament is as good as an old wives' tale. Plantation owners who do not align themselves with the government's goal to train locals to reduce the number of migrant workers may enjoy short term profits, but they are taking the industry to a bad place. And worse, they are hampering Malaysia's efforts to escape the middle-income trap. Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani is right in saying that plantation companies seeking to hire foreign workers must first provide TVET training to Malaysian youths. Planters must see the forest, not just the trees. Developing local talent is a more sustainable option compared with a continued reliance on migrant labour. Two companies — Sime Darby Bhd and FGV Holdings Bhd — are leading the way. Others which have not done so will do well to follow their lead. For sure, local talent can't supply all of Malaysia's labour needs. There will always be a need for foreign workers in some sectors. But our industry players' migrant workers "addiction" is more of want than need, meaning they can easily replace them with local talent, if they so desire. Media reports say there are two million documented foreign workers in Malaysia, spread over many industries. Add to this an estimated three to four million undocumented workers, then we have a developing danger.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fulcrum Therapeutics to Present at Upcoming Medical Meetings
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fulcrum Therapeutics, Inc.® (the 'Company') (Nasdaq: FULC), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing small molecules to improve the lives of patients with genetically defined rare diseases, today announced upcoming presentations at the 5th Global Congress on Sickle Cell Disease and the 2025 European Hematology Association Congress. The Company's presentations are listed below. Following congress publication, copies of the presentations will be available in the "Publications & Presentations" section of the Company's website at 5th Global Congress on Sickle Cell Disease, Abuja, Nigeria, June 3-6, 2025: Poster Presentation: Preclinical and Early Clinical Results of Pociredir, a Novel, Oral, Potent Fetal Hemoglobin Inducer for the Treatment of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) (Presentation ID: 103, Tuesday, June 4) Poster Presentation: A Phase 1b, Open-Label, Multiple-Dose Study Evaluating Safety, Pharmacokinetics (PK), and Pharmacodynamics (PD) of Pociredir in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD): Trial Design (Presentation ID: 101, Tuesday, June 4) 2025 European Hematology Association Congress, Milan, Italy, June 12-15, 2025 Poster Presentation: Pharmacokinetics (PK), Pharmacodynamics (PD), and Safety of the Novel Oral Fetal Hemoglobin (HBF) Inducer Pociredir in Healthy Adults in a Phase 1 study (PF1170 – Friday, June 13) Poster Presentation: Pociredir, a Potent and Selective EED Inhibitor for the Treatment of Sickle Cell Disease, Induces Target Engagement and Gene Expression Changes that are Specific and Reversible in Wild-Type Mice (PS2175 – Saturday, June 14) About Fulcrum TherapeuticsFulcrum Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing small molecules to improve the lives of patients with genetically defined rare diseases in areas of high unmet medical need. Fulcrum's lead clinical program is pociredir, a small molecule designed to increase expression of fetal hemoglobin for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD). Fulcrum uses proprietary technology to identify drug targets that can modulate gene expression to treat the known root cause of gene mis-expression. For more information, visit and follow us on Twitter/X (@FulcrumTx) and LinkedIn. About PociredirPociredir is an investigational oral small-molecule inhibitor of Embryonic Ectoderm Development (EED) that was discovered using Fulcrum's proprietary discovery technology. Inhibition of EED leads to potent downregulation of key fetal globin repressors, including BCL11A, thereby causing an increase in fetal hemoglobin (HbF). Pociredir is being developed for the treatment of SCD. Initial data in SCD demonstrated proof-of-concept and achieved absolute levels of HbF increases associated with potential overall patient benefit. In clinical trials conducted prior to the clinical hold, which was lifted by the FDA in August 2023, pociredir was generally well-tolerated in people with SCD with up to three months of exposure, with no serious treatment-related adverse events reported. Pociredir has been granted FDA Fast Track designation and Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of SCD. To learn more about these trials please visit About Sickle Cell DiseaseSickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder of the red blood cells caused by a mutation in the HBB gene. This gene encodes a protein that is a key component of hemoglobin, a protein complex whose function is to transport oxygen in the body. The result of the mutation is less efficient oxygen transport and the formation of red blood cells that have a sickle shape. These sickle shaped cells are much less flexible than healthy cells and can block blood vessels or rupture cells. People with SCD typically suffer from serious clinical consequences, which may include anemia, pain, infections, stroke, heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, kidney failure, liver disease, and reduced life expectancy. Contact:Kevin GardnerLifeSci Advisors, LLCkgardner@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
