THC Industrial Hemp Varieties From Ukraine

Research, Evaluate, Introduce and Multiply Low THC Industrial Hemp Varieties From Ukraine for Development of a Canadian Industrial Hemp Seed Industry

Applicant:
Holly Bencharski
Parkland Industrial Hemp Growers Co-op Limited
Unit C, #21 - 3rd Avenue N.E.
Dauphin, Manitoba  R7N 0Y5  Canada         
Table of Contents:

Background and Objective
Procedure and Project Activities
Results and Discussion
Conclusions



ARDI Project:

#00-361
Total Approved:    $25,000
Date Approved:    June 30, 2000
Project Status:
Completed March, 2002

Background and Objective:

The objective of this project is to investigate and evaluate industrial hemp varieties for the supply of quality, low cost Canadian industrial hemp varieties for the industry as it develops.

Commercial industrial hemp cultivation became legal in Canada in 1998 under regulations administered by Health Canada.

World markets are striving towards a zero tolerance of THC in industrial hemp products.

The PIHG (Parkland Industrial Hemp Growers) Co-op has a potential to be the Canadian world grower and distributor of the varieties from an alliance formed with the Ukraine (Bast Institute) and their breeding program and/or by working towards developing Canadian varieties.

Members of the Parkland Co-op are developing access to superior seed for development of the new and growing industrial hemp markets in Canada. Industrial hemp is a crop diversification opportunity that can lead to a pedigreed seed production system. PIHG Co-op has a business plan for the construction of an industrial hemp fibre processing plant. Financing is being sought for construction to start in the summer of 2002. Manitoba can initially support approximately 20,000 acres of commercial industrial hemp production to support this plant. In 2001, 1,100 acres of commercial hemp were grown in Manitoba to supply existing grain processing facilities in Manitoba (Fresh Hemp Foods and Hemp Oil Canada). PIHG Co-op has also formed an alliance with Biofibre in Wales, U.K. for supplying seed for their facility (approximately 5,000 acres per year).

Seed supply requirements for the industry at present is approximately 522,000 pounds, which represents certified seed production from 1,100 acres. Farm gate value at $2.50 per lb. would be $1.3 million.

Present seed supplies from previous activities from imported seed are available for existing needs and for startup of the new processing facility.

New sources of varieties adapted to Manitoba are required for long term survival of the new and growing industrial hemp industry. Seed and plant types are required specific to the end use (e.g. fibre, crushing, dehulling, etc.)

Procedure and Project Activities:

PIHG Co-op contacted the Bast Institute, Summy Region, Ukraine to develop an alliance for the pedigreed production of Bast Institute varieties.

Pavlo Goloborod'ko, Director of the Institute, visited with the group in 2000. Breeder seed was forwarded for multiplication and evaluation. Negotiations for maintaining and distributing the varieties has been ongoing.

Peter Dragla, MSc, PAg, Chatham, Ontario, Industrial Hemp Breeder, was contracted to carry out the breeding program on three varieties; USO 14, USO 31 and Zolotonoshskaya 11 (Zolo 11) in 2000 and 2001. Breeder seed was maintained in small plots under CSGA (Canadian seed Growers Association) guidelines.

Three growers in the Dauphin area multiplied breeder seed from 2000 under CSGA guidelines in 2001.

Variety comparison trials were also conducted in Dauphin in cooperation with PCDF (Parkland Crop Diversification Foundation) headquartered in Roblin as well with Manitoba Agriculture and Food.

New varieties, Anka and Carmen (developed and licensed by Peter Dragla) were also evaluated in Manitoba for performance.

Varieties were evaluated for grain and fibre yields (Table 1 and Table 2).

Results and Discussion:

Growing Season

The 2000 growing season in Chatham and Dauphin were average for the area. The 2001 growing season in Chatham was hot and dry. The Dauphin location had excess moisture, which delayed seeding for a week. Later in the season, the weather was hot and dry.

All varieties were tested at flowering stage for THC levels (delta-9tetrahydracannabinol). Samples were screened by Peter Dragla for THC and also tested by Meatherall Consulting (accredited forensic and clinical toxicology laboratory) in Winnipeg.

All varieties tested <0.05% THC content as a percent of dried weight. This is the minimum level of testing available and is well below the Health Canada acceptable limit of 0.3% THC.

Roguing

The USO14 variety, breeder seed plot had the most off types that were not consistent with the variety. Approximately 40% of the plants were removed in the first year to maintain variety purity. In year two, the breeder plots were true to variety (5% of plants removed). Breeder plots in 2001 for multiplication required minimal roguing to maintain purity.

The Variety USO 31 was more true to type requiring about 30% of the plants to be removed the first year. In year two, the breeder plots were true to variety similar to the USO 14.

Zolo 11 was the most uniform and consistent requiring removal of 25% off types in year one and less than 5% in year two.

In 2001, breeder seed from 2000 was multiplied in four breeder plots in the Dauphin area. Plot size was 2.5 acres. Varieties were true to type requiring limited roguing to remove males. Production was good averaging 800 lbs. per acre clean grain CSGA inspections and standards were met for foundation status. Foundation seed available for 2002 planting is 2000 pounds. This will plant 130 acres to produce registered status. The varieties will be further multiplied to supply certified grain for plantings in 2003. This will give sufficient seed availability for the initial two years after the fibre plant is established and in production. This will allow for further plant breeding arrangements and efforts to be solidified.

Anka and Carmen varieties were also evaluated. THC levels are low (<0.05% for Anka and 0.08% for Carman). Anka did well in the Manitoba conditions (Table 1) and out yielded the Ukrainian varieties in grain and fibre yields.

Carmen is a later maturing variety and did not produce seed in Manitoba. Fibre yield was high (Table 2). This variety would be suitable as a fibre only variety. Seed production and supply would be a problem in the future, as the industry would have to rely on a long season growing area for seed supply.

This indicates Canadian seed development is required to get varieties adapted to Western Canada growing conditions.

2001 Performance

Table 1 summarizes the grain yields for the Dauphin location. Yields of all varieties were reasonable considering the year was hot and dry with less than normal moisture. No disease or pests were identified as a problem. Plant population was sufficient to out compete weeds.

http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/research/ardi/projects/00-361.html