b'The Vert Mirabel facility, located in Mirabel, Quebec, is jointly owned by Canopy Growth and partner Les Serres Stphane Bertrand Inc.in regard to access to germplasm and how the market would shape up as the cannabis economy began to evolve. Product shortages were the norm as cannabis stores began opening their doors in October of 2018.Fast-forward to 2020 and Canadian cannabis salesdoubled, according to Brightfield Groups latest Canadian Cannabis Market report, which pegged sales at $2.6 billion last year. Furthermore, the Canadian adult-use cannabis market grew 118% in 2020, dominated by flower. Breeding BreakthroughsAurora recently celebrated a portfolio refresh and launched three new cultivars.Our breeding and genetics program has been a huge suc-cess for us. These three cultivars are the first new genetics that stood out in a couple of years, as weve largely been running withGreg Baute at work at the Aurora cannabis innovation centre in the same portfolio products for the last three years, Pick says. Comox, B.C.We also have cultivars that that are commercially ready that are being trialed by other companies as well, and were talking toAll About the Qualitythose companies about licensing our genetics. Thats a big pieceAs research progresses, so does the industrys knowledge of the for us. science behind the cannabis plant.Auroras cannabis innovation center in Comox, B.C., is the epi- A big majority of our effort right now is focused on creating center of the breeding work that led to the three newly releasedquality products. Thats about chemistry to a large extent, says cultivars. Opened in 2019, the 32,200 square-foot facility is as bigGreg Baute, senior director of breeding and genetics for Aurora.as some commercial production facilities. A lot goes into making a quality cannabis product, Baute Building this breeding facility was a huge investment.notes. Yes, THC plays an important role, but just as key are Staffing it with scientists and breeders is not a small commit- appearance, flavor and aroma. Aurora works with focus groups ment. Every gram of cannabis that we produce here has to beto determine what product qualities appeal most to consumers.destroyed. We have a research licence, meaning we cant use itCannabis is a lot like wine. People consume it for the aroma, for anything else, Pick says. It represents a huge commitmentthe bouquet. We spent a lot of time literally going out and smell-to science and innovation on our part. ing the flowers, looking for those unique profiles.54/ SEEDWORLD.COMOCTOBER 2021'