Molecular Breeding of Multipurpose Industrial Hemp

Industrial hemp is an exceptional crop for sustainable agriculture, sequestering carbon at up to twice the rate of forestry while acting as a low-input, soil-enhancing break crop in agricultural rotations. While the UK currently cultivates only around 800 hectares of hemp annually, nations like Canada grow over 30,000 hectares—primarily dual-purpose "multipurpose" varieties grown for both fibre and high-value seed. Our laboratory utilises fast-track molecular breeding to deliver elite multipurpose varieties tailored to the food, nutrition, and industrial processing sectors.
Our breeding platform features an established commercial variety alongside high-potential candidates currently advancing through our development pipeline:

• CNAP1HOH (Commercial Variety): This variety features a dramatically altered oil profile, containing nearly 80% oleic acid compared to less than 10% in standard hemp. This high mono-unsaturated profile increases the oil’s thermal stability fivefold, making it exceptionally valuable as a premium cooking oil and a stable feedstock for high-temperature industrial processes. CNAP1HOH holds granted patents in the USA and Canada and is currently on Canada’s List of Approved Cultivars.
• GammaLuxe (Pipeline Candidate): A specialty variety currently in development to accumulate high levels of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). It is designed to provide a robust, high-yielding agronomic alternative to traditionally difficult-to-grow borage crops. Evaluation and scale-up pipelines are ongoing, with UK National List registration trials targeted for 2027.

Current Research & The CHCx3 Project Supported by funding from the CHCx3 (Centre for High Carbon Capture Cropping) project, our current technical work focuses on optimising these multipurpose platforms for UK farmers. We are targeting key agronomic improvements, including the transfer of the high oleic acid trait into a monoecious variety alongside increasing seed size and total crop yield. By growing the market pull and economic value of hemp seed, our goal is to provide farmers with a highly profitable break crop. This serves as a vital stepping stone for establishing long-term supply chain confidence in both hemp fibre and seed-derived products, fully realising the environmental and economic potential of this remarkable crop.

Publications

• Bielecka, M., Kaminski, F., Adams, I., Poulson, H., Sloan, R., Li, Y., Larson, T.R., Winzer, T., Graham, I.A. (2014). Targeted mutation of Δ12 and Δ15 desaturase genes in hemp produce major alterations in seed fatty acid composition including a high oleic hemp oil. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 12: 613-23.