“What we’re hoping is that it will give us a better understanding about how some of these genes turn on and off, which genes turn on and off, and how we might be able to use those in terms of breeding targets for our program. We are hoping that it will inform some of the targets around things like drought tolerance or nutrient deficiencies by understanding how the plant responded in this high-stress environment. We can look for advantageous traits in plant varieties, which is part of our breeding program.”
Dr. Jon Vaught, CEO of Front Range Biosciences, on the mission his company is leading to send tissue samples of hemp and coffee plants to the International Space Station (ISS). Front Range has partnered with SpaceCells USA Inc. and BioServe Space Technologies at the University of Colorado Boulder to test the impact that growth in zero gravity has on hemp and coffee plants.
Source: Hemp Grower
“Hemp plants contain numerous therapeutic constituents that likely contribute to analgesic responses, including terpenes and flavonoids, which, in theory, work together like members of a symphony, often described as the entourage effect.”
Jegason Diviant, researcher at the University of New Mexico, discussing research he took part in to study the use of hemp oil for pain management. This was the university’s first test with low-THC legal hemp oils, and it showed significant promise. The study found “tenfold” mechanical pain reduction in tests on mice.
“This is probably one of the biggest industry changers we’ve seen in our lifetime.”
Rory Cruise, a farmer in Pleasanton, Neb., and owner of the Sweetwater Hemp Company, speaking about the Nebraska hemp industry after the state expanded access to hemp producer licenses this year. Cruise says he struggled to make profits as a corn and soybean farmer but was able to transition into hemp in 2020. He is now venturing into oil extraction with Sweetwater Hemp and a new $3 million extraction plant.
Source: KETV, the Omaha affiliate of ABC News
“While we had a lot of processors licensed, I don’t think they expected the influx of hemp that we had. They’re doing a great job, but they can only process so much so fast. We realized that we needed another market for the hemp that was grown in Illinois.”
Jeff Cox, bureau chief for medicinal plants at the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDA), commented about IDA’s recently announced “Illinois Department of Agriculture Policy Regarding Hemp and Hemp Derivatives in Medical and Adult-Use Cannabis Products,” which allows licensed hemp growers to sell product to licensed cannabis cultivators for use in medical and adult-use cannabis products.
