Cannabis Orchards has received two grants, totaling $600,305, from the AgriScience Program by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP). These funds will support Cannabis Orchards' projects aimed at the genetic improvement of industrial hemp and the advancement of minor cannabinoid research.
The first grant of $404,305 from the AgriScience Program supports the project titled "Minor Cannabinoids, Major Advancements: Polyploidization and Enrichment of Cannabinoid Hemp," with a total project cost of $808,610. This project aims to develop seedless triploid hemp lines for cannabidiol (CBD) and minor cannabinoids such as cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabichromene (CBC). Despite their therapeutic potential, minor cannabinoids remain rare in the market. By developing novel triploid hemp lines, Cannabis Orchards seeks to create new markets and maximize yields and profits for hemp farmers, providing them with enhanced minor cannabinoid hemp varieties capable of delivering novel cannabinoid profiles. These advancements will support the cannabinoid industry, enabling the production and supply of minor cannabinoids to both extractors and researchers, fueling commercialization opportunities in the recreational and medical markets, as well as research into therapeutic development.
Dr. Jamie Ghossein, CEO of Cannabis Orchards, commented, "The potential of minor cannabinoids in therapeutic applications is vast, yet they remain underutilized due to their scarcity. Our research and development efforts are dedicated to unlocking this potential, ultimately providing more effective treatment options for a variety of conditions and opening new commercialization opportunities for farmers and the Canadian cannabinoid industry."
The second grant of $196,000 from NRC IRAP supports the project titled "Polyploidization for the Genetic Improvement of Industrial Hemp," with a total project cost of $392,000. This project focuses on developing triploid hemp varieties through polyploidization, a process that creates plants with multiple sets of chromosomes. The primary objectives are to produce triploid hemp varieties and characterize their fertility and growth parameters. These advancements aim to enhance desirable traits in industrial hemp, such as increased biomass yield and cannabinoid content, while reducing the risk of unwanted cross-pollination by rendering plants infertile.
Dr. Ghossein added, "This grant from NRC IRAP is a significant endorsement of our cutting-edge research in polyploidy and hemp trait development. Our project will enable the development of seedless triploid hemp varieties, ensuring higher yields and more consistent quality for farmers and cannabinoid processors. By preventing unwanted pollination and enhancing desirable traits, we are paving the way for the next generation of industrial hemp genetics by maximizing yields for farmers and providing high-quality cannabinoid inputs to processors."
Both projects commenced in early 2024 and will conclude by 2026, involving key activities such as minor cannabinoid hemp breeding, polyploidy experiments, fertility assessment, and field studies for characterization of physical traits and cannabinoid yields.
For more information:
Cannabis Orchards Inc.
2469 Bedell road, Kemptville, Ontario
[email protected]