Veerle De Schepper is the Head of R&D at Rainbow Crops, an innovative ag-biotech spin-out from the VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology. With extensive expertise spanning genome editing, breeding, GM applications, and agricultural R&D, she oversees the translation of scientific discoveries into real-world, measurable crop outcomes.
At Rainbow Crops, Veerle is guiding the development of the Trait Foundry™ platform. This integrated technology stacks continuously trained AI models, multiplex genome editing, and automated phenotyping to engineer complex traits. Her work is central to the company's mission of accelerating the development of climate-resilient, high-performing crop varieties to support global food security.
Prior to joining Rainbow Crops, Veerle built a strong foundation in commercial agricultural research during different scientific roles at Bayer CropScience, BASF and Inari. She has a deep academic background rooted in ecophysiology and plant systems, having conducted significant research at Ghent University.
Areas of Expertise
? Ag-Biotech R&D: Leading research initiatives in genome editing, GM applications, breeding, and agricultural product development.
? Complex Trait Engineering: Utilizing continuous models and automated screening to develop crops with enhanced climate resilience and input efficiency.
? Plant Physiology & Ecophysiology: Deep foundational expertise in whole-plant functioning, environmental stress responses, and physiological modeling.