JUNE 2019 SEEDWORLD.COM / 49 WhyBreedingCannabis isUnlikeOtherCrop BreedingEfforts(Part1) THE CANNABIS MARKET presents a huge demand for new and exciting products con- taining cannabis ingredients. Producers expect reliable and stable plant varieties to assure their products provide consistent quality. For that, we need to look at the very beginning of the cannabis products supply chain. A breeding program starts with defining a product profile which includes several desired traits that the end product should include in order to be sold commercially and bring value to the market and income to the company. Until five years ago, there were no organized, long-term cannabis breeding programs result- ing from professional planning. This resulted in today’s urgent need for cannabis breeders involved with classical breeding to define initial, basic goals for cannabis breeding programs. Once breeding goals are defined, the second phase is to advance generations and create pedigrees with genetic variation. Breeding goals defines what the product should include. Genetic variation is how we are going to achieve these goals. The breeder needs to prepare plant populations that have the right genes to enable development of desired varieties. For years there was very little effort given to creating genetic variation. Most cannabis varieties being used today lack genetic variation and are actually very similar genetically to one another. Buyers are asking for more. Breeding efforts done by professionals will support the improvement of germplasms used in breed- ing programs and will reduce costs of devel- opment and production. Only professional breeding can provide new genetics that are more consistent with quality ingredients such as yield, cannabinoid production, resistance to diseases, indifference to day length and control over the plant’s sex. Thank you to Dr. Moshe Bar, founder and managing director at Biotagate for sharing his insights about breeding cannabis. INBAR STERN PHENOME NETWORKS VP SALES AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT inbar@phenome-networks.com phenome-networks.com THE STUDENT STRIKES taking place around the globe to protest govern- ment inaction on global warming have put the spotlight on climate change. This recent limelight on climate change is also helping increase the promi- nence of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted by all UN member states in 2015 and provides a blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet now and in the future. The UN has identified 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), which address global challenges we face. Rather than being sacrifices our businesses must make, the UN’s sustain- able development goals are good for business. In fact, companies embracing sustainability initiatives may discover benefits and opportunities they hadn’t even dreamed about. For example, we’re running our business in a better way. We’re realizing resource savings by using less materials, for the com- pact equipment we produce also results in production cost savings. We’re producing less water waste while saving energy and we’re considering the environmental impacts of any changes or innovations to our equipment. These environmental and sustainability considerations make us a more attractive company to do business with as well and to work for, which is so important these days. By committing to the SDGs, you’re putting your company in a good posi- tion for recruitment and retention. For example, we’re making compact equip- ment that requires the smallest resource inputs possible and uses minimal resources and materials to produce end-users’ products (treated seed). Our equipment increases farmers’ yields and we are helping put food on the table. This is a great start in attracting people to our company. The next generation is very aware of what they are eating and how it was produced, and they will demand sustainably-produced products. From its beginnings, our corporate culture has been built on the principles of economy and resource conservation, which continues today. In Europe, we’re running out of power — that’s the next challenge, and we can meet that challenge with sustainable practices. It’s important not to view sustainability as a project but as something we must incorporate into our daily lives. Just think, if one secondary school student is able to initiate a global move- ment to raise awareness about climate change, I wonder what we are capable of as individuals, as corporate entities and as an industry. If you want to take action, visit sustainabledevelopment.un.org. I don’t think one person can do everything, but I believe everybody can do something— and taking action is infectious. SustainabilityIsn’tASacrifice, It’sGoodforBusiness KETTY NILSSON NOROGARD PRESIDENT @NorogardAB ketty@norogard.com norogard.com