Agriculture science company Pairwise Plants announced it will lease its new headquarters in 36,000 square feet of Durham’s Golden Belt Campus according to a press release.

“Establishing our headquarters in Durham will allow us to focus on research and development,” said CEO Tom Adams, “as well as growing our business and becoming an active member in the local community.”

Adams formed Pairwise — which produces sustainable crops — in March, which has added 50 employees since its founding. The firm expects to add 30 to 40 positions through the rest of 2018 and 2019.

“Pairwise is focused on improving produce and row crops to address consumer needs for affordable, healthy, convenient and sustainable food,” said Adams. “Our facilities in Durham, the talent we have recruited, and the close proximity to like-minded life science businesses and organizations will help us make this vision a reality.”

Adams is the former vice president of biotechnology at Monsanto, where he worked 20 years.

The Golden Belt Campus is a complex of six rehabilitated textile and tobacco mills originally built in the early 1900s.

LRC Properties purchased parts of the campus throughout 2016 and 2017, anticipating leases from arts organizations and signing a lease with Asheville’s Hi-Wire Brewing in June 2018.

“Durham itself is home to a mix of education, science and art which makes it a great place to build a company,” says Pairwise Chief Business Officer Haven Baker. “We’re excited to establish our presence in a city, and state that thrives on its diversity of growth opportunities.”

Pairwise had been headquartered in San Diego. It raised $25 million in financing earlier this year.