It’s critical that we develop our first genome edited hemp seed faster as farmers are in desperate need of crops that repair farming incomes and land

Wednesday, 19 June 2024

A research team developing the UK’s first genome edited hemp seed aims to raise £2m to accelerate the development.

Precision Plants is leading hemp innovation in the UK through the research and development of hemp using genome editing technology, CRISPR-Cas9.

Precision Plants is in its third year of research and has already successfully validated its method to introduce DNA into the hemp genome as well as the process for precise genome editing to improve specific genes in hemp DNA – in order to develop a hemp seed that is stable and grows consistently with certain traits and characteristics ideally suited for UK famers.

Mark Turner, co-founder of Precision Plants commented;

‘’It’s critical that we develop our first genome edited hemp seed faster as farmers are in desperate need of crops that repair farming incomes and land and achieve regenerative agriculture principles developing a superior hemp seed, precision-tailored for UK growing climates with characteristics that optimise hemp for fiber and seed and at the same time improves soil health and sequesters up to 22 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare each year – more than any other crop or woodland, meaning that farmers do not need to set aside land for woodland, peat bogs and salt marshes to suck up carbon dioxide – has to be a priority’

Hertfordshire based Precision Plants is well placed to succeed. The founders have previously researched and developed the UK’s best CBD Oil brand, Bud & Tender giving them unparalleled insight and expertise in hemp. With a forecasted global turnover in excess of £700m by 2040, Innovate UK are providing mentorship along with an illustrious Advisory Board that includes the Chairs of all three UK hemp associations which work closely with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs: Kyle Esplin - Chair, Scottish Hemp Association, Nathaniel Loxley - Chair, British Hemp Association and Varin Marshall - Chair, Northern Ireland Hemp Association.

The Precision Breeding Act became law in March 2023 receiving Royal Assent from the King. The Act enables the development and marketing of gene edited crops in England and is a major step towards modernising crop breeding.

In April this year the Government announced hemp licensing changes to support farmers to grow hemp as the UK’s strategy known as Hemp-30 aims to increase the annual cultivation area by a hundredfold to 80,000 hectares by 2030.

Minister for Crime and Policing, Chris Philp said:

‘This government will always seek to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens placed on businesses so that they can flourish and grow.

The changes outlined today will help farmers and manufacturers in the UK to fully realise the economic potential offered through the safe and legal cultivation of hemp.’

Minister for Farming, Mark Spencer said:

‘Industrial hemp has huge potential across the UK to unlock new revenue streams, expand our bioeconomy without permanently removing land from food production, and bring wider environmental benefits.

The licensing changes announced today recognise industrial hemp as a field-grown agricultural crop and will enable more farmers to add hemp to their crop rotations, sequester carbon, and sell their harvest to the textile and construction industries.’


Turner commented;

‘It’s been a terrible year for weather, fields are flooded everywhere and crops wasted however hemp is incredibly versatile, recovering that land very quickly and providing a very valuable end crop. Farms of all sizes can benefit from farming hemp, from small holdings in Somerset to behemoths like Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm.

The team is now balancing our research work whilst actively seeking the right investment partners’.


Notes to the Editor

For further information please contact Charles

Email: hello@precisionplants.co.uk

Visit: www.precisionplants.co.uk

Follow: Instagram @precisionplants|Facebook @precisionplants

Or, contact Charles on +44 (0)7944 449666

Picture details: On the right: Chief Executive Officer – Charles Clowes. On the left: Mark Turner – Chief Innovation Officer

Free* hemp seed samples will be available to journalists that register to receive a sample once the seeds are ready for distribution.