AI-powered crop evolution company Avalo has announced the appointment of textile innovation leader Tricia Carey as Chief Commercial Officer. Carey will lead the commercialisation of Avalo’s new low-input cotton, developed for drought-prone regions like the Texas Panhandle.

Carey brings decades of experience to Avalo, having previously introduced transformative fibres such as Tencel and championed circularity initiatives during her tenure at Renewcell. Her new role will see her driving adoption of Avalo’s regionally adapted cotton variety that requires no irrigation and up to 30% less fertiliser – a significant breakthrough for textile sustainability.

“This is an exciting moment for Avalo,” said Carey. “Their machine-learning platform enables us to bring more sustainable and efficient products to market faster than ever, while supporting the farmers at the heart of the system. I’m energised to contribute to Avalo’s vision of sustainable, resilient and equitable agriculture.”

Avalo has spent the past two years collaborating with cotton growers in Texas to develop and test this new variety, offering a much-needed solution for producers facing mounting fertiliser costs and reduced water availability. The crop’s promise is not only in its environmental benefits, but also its potential to reinvigorate agricultural communities and reduce Scope 3 emissions for global brands.

Avalo CEO Brendan Collins praised the appointment: “We’re thrilled to have Tricia on board. Her background in transformative textile technologies and her strategic mindset will help us bring this innovation to scale – and eventually to other industries as well.”

In addition to cotton, Avalo is expanding its efforts into other key commodities, including sugarcane, where it recently partnered with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. The company is also progressing initiatives in rubber, rice, and additional crops facing environmental and market challenges.

Avalo’s proprietary Rapid Evolution Platform uses interpretable machine learning to accelerate crop trait development, enabling faster, more affordable innovation compared to conventional breeding or genetic modification. Founded in 2019 and based in Durham, North Carolina, the company aims to deliver high-yield, low-input crops that can help reshape the future of sustainable agriculture.

www.avalo.ai