Talk to us
Rainbow Crops is a pioneering Agtech company that engineers complex traits to develop resilient, high-performing crops. Guided by collaboration, innovation, and responsibility, we co-develop advanced plant genetics that benefit farmers, consumers, and the planet.
World-class expertise
Rainbow Crops combines world-class expertise in plant science, AI, genome engineering, and crop development to help seed and breeding companies accelerate the development of improved crop genetics.
From research to real-world crop innovation
Rainbow Crops was founded to help address one of agriculture's biggest challenges: developing the complex traits needed for future crop performance. By combining advances in plant systems biology, data science and genome engineering, the company was created to help translate scientific discovery into practical crop improvement.
Rainbow Crops emerged from research conducted within the VIB–UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology, one of Europe's leading research institutes for plant science and crop improvement.
VIB's pioneering work in understanding how interacting gene networks control plant growth, development, biomass accumulation, and agronomic performance is a core scientific foundation of Rainbow Crops and Trait Foundry™.
The leadership team combines scientific excellence, entrepreneurial experience, and crop innovation expertise to transform breakthrough research into real-world agricultural impact
Giacomo Bastianelli
CEO & Co-Founder
Entrepreneur and biotechnology leader with extensive experience building companies at the intersection of genetics, genome engineering and agriculture.
Prof. Hilde Nelissen
Scientific Founder & Advisor
Internationally recognised plant scientist whose pioneering research has advanced how plant growth, gene regulation, and complex trait biology are understood.
Veerle De Schepper
Head of R&D
Crop innovation leader with expertise spanning genome editing, breeding, product development, and agricultural R&D.
Tim Van den Bulcke
Head of AI
AI, machine learning, and computational biology leader with extensive experience designing scalable data platforms and translating complex biological data into actionable insights and innovation.
Trait Foundry™ emerged from a simple idea: understanding biological complexity requires more than isolated tools and disconnected workflows.
By bringing together expertise in plant biology, AI and crop genetics, Rainbow Crops created an integrated platform designed to accelerate complex trait development.
Learn more about Trait Foundry™
Engineering complex traits requires expertise across multiple scientific and technical disciplines.
Rainbow Crops combines capabilities in:
OUR CAPABILITIES
GM-certified automated phenotyping greenhouse (up to 16,000 plants per screen).
Advanced phenotyping and data generation infrastructure.
Greenhouse and controlled-environment validation.
Plant transformation and genome engineering capabilities.
Field testing and trait evaluation capabilities.
Scientific insight is only valuable if it can be translated into real-world outcomes.
Backed By
Rainbow Crops is supported by a group of highly experienced investors, scientific organisations, and industry partners that share a common belief: solving complex biological challenges is essential to the future of crop improvement.
Beyond capital, our partners provide access to scientific expertise, industry knowledge, and global networks that help accelerate the development of next-generation crop genetics.
.png)
Recognition
Gates Foundation–Supported Programme
Rainbow Crops was selected to participate in a Gates Foundation-supported programme focused on accelerating the development of improved crop varieties for global agriculture.
The programme supports the application of Trait Foundry™ in crops including maize, rice and sorghum, helping advance more resilient and productive varieties for regions facing growing agricultural and environmental challenges.
Explore partnership opportunities, learn more about Trait Foundry™, or speak with our team about your crop development goals.
Get in touch
