
Horticulture Innovators
We started the ‘Horticulture Innovators’ podcast series to highlight the societal, economic, and research impact of horticulture and spread awareness about the amazing opportunities that exist to further the mission of sustainability, wellness, and food security. Please share these stories and join our humble efforts so that we can engage and prepare the next generation of horticulture professionals to sustain these amazing industries and keep our farmers economically competitive.
Horticulture Innovators
S2: Episode 2: Haven Baker - Food Forward
Dr. Haven Baker co-founded Pairwise and served as Chief Business Officer from 2017 to 2024. Under his leadership, Pairwise secured $ 110 M+ of funding, completed multiple crop development deals, and launched the first CRISPR product in North America. Haven is the former Senior Vice President / General Manager of Simplot Plant Sciences, where he led the team that launched the innovative, non-browning Innate® potato. He holds a PhD in chemistry from Northeastern University, an MBA from Harvard University, and a BS in biomedical engineering from Yale University. Hailing from central Washington state, Baker describes himself as an “over-educated farm kid.” A lover of the outdoors, Haven enjoys hiking, fishing, and hunting in his native Pacific Northwest. Currently, Baker is forming a new agriculture-focused start-up company.