The latest hemp genetics news and research updates on US breeding and genomics supporting the development of adapted hemp seed varieties.

NWG AMPLIFY® SBIR Grant Project

By |2024-05-08T09:51:45-06:00May 6th, 2024|Categories: blog, news|

New West Genetics aims to contribute solutions to agriculture’s climate challenges, and the NWG AMPLIFY SBIR grant project will enable just that. Since 2014, NWG has revolutionized the industrial hemp industry by leveraging traditional genome-enabled plant breeding approaches and launching certified, US-bred commercial seed varieties and hybrids. This project is a testament to NWG’s commitment to innovation, aiming to significantly enhance grain yields and fiber quality of industrial hemp, thereby offering a sustainable alternative to traditional crops like soybeans. At the heart of NWG's approach is the utilization of existing genetics and their vast gene bank to develop improved hemp hybrids with significantly higher yields. By focusing on hybrid planting seeds, NWG aims to more than double the grain yields compared to existing genetics, bringing them on par with current soybean yields. This genetic innovation not only promises to enhance the economic viability of hemp but also offers a new cropping and rotation option for U.S. farmers, alongside providing food manufacturers with a cost-effective and nutritious ingredient. Hemp grain, renowned for its high lipid content and balanced amino acid profile, is considered a superfood. It surpasses soy in lipid content and offers a rich source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Beyond its nutritional value, hemp stalks, composed of bast and hurd fibers, hold significant market value for producing textiles, bio-plastics, and other sustainable materials. The dual-purpose production of grain and stalk from the same crop underscores hemp's versatility and potential as a sustainable agricultural resource. The [...]

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Hemp Seed Meal Achieves Monumental Milestone on Path to Federal Approval

By |2024-01-24T09:44:40-06:00January 24th, 2024|Categories: news, press release|

Hemp Feed Coalition (HFC) a 501(c)(3) dedicated to obtaining federal approval for the use of hemp grain products in animal feed, is pleased to announce a landmark achievement with the tentative approval of Hemp Seed Meal (HSM) for Laying Hens at the recent Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Mid-Year Meeting.  With the FDA-Center for Veterinary Medicine’s (FDA-CVM’s) recommendation for approval, the Ingredient Definition Committee approved the HSM tentative definition on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, with no opposition. This will go before AAFCO’s Board and members for final approval, and then be adopted into the Official Publication later this year. This historic milestone has been more than three years in the making and will allow processors to formulate with HSM in the diets of laying hens as a source of protein and fat at an inclusion of no more than 20%. To see the ingredient definition in its entirety, please visit hempfeedcoalition.org/applications. This hemp grain derivative is a highly nutritious ingredient with a wide range of essential vitamins, minerals, healthy oils, and a complete protein profile. Research confirms the nutrition profile and functionality of hemp feed resemble that of soy and canola while alleviating concerns about its suitability as an ingredient. Evidence also shows increased value over typical feed sources, with significant improvement in egg quality as HSM concentration increases in the hen’s diet. Notably, hemp-fed hens lay eggs enriched with essential fatty acids such as ALA, DHA, and GLA, and increased amounts of Lutein which are known promotors [...]

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NWG Named Top Independent Seed Company

By |2023-07-13T08:43:57-06:00June 28th, 2023|Categories: news|

New West Genetics named a Top Independent Seed Company by AgriBusiness Review. The agriculture industry is facing many challenges due to climate change and a growing population. Hemp is a crop that offers superior sustainability advantages over traditional commercial crops, while possessing competitive protein, fiber, and oil profiles to serve the same markets. New West Genetics leverages a blend of expertise in traditional breeding techniques and modern genomics to create hybrids and varieties that offer uniformity, superior yields and ongoing adaptation to new regions. Our groundbreaking hybrid trait AMPLIFY™ provides yields competitive with soy, thus enabling competitive price points to serve the fiber, feed, fuel, and foods markets. Another key advantage of this trait is that it can be crossed with varieties across the globe, essentially doubling yields and improving vigor. AMPLIFY, with a commercial release next season, is just one example of our non-GMO cutting-edge traits to be released over the next few years. Breeding must be market-driven and customer responsive. In collaboration with clients, we create improved products based on data-driven processes. We are proud that these customer-centric and innovative methods have paved the way for a sound hemp industry, and a competitive rotational option for the agriculture industry. Full Article on AgriBusiness Review Top Seed Companies Seed Edition NWG Profile

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HudsonAlpha and New West Genetics collaborate on USDA-NIFA grant

By |2023-06-14T13:19:37-06:00June 7th, 2023|Categories: news, press release|

Faculty Investigator Alex Harkess’ laboratory at HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, and their collaborators New West Genetics, were recently awarded a three-year, $650,000 United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) grant that aims to unlock the full potential of industrial hemp, a versatile plant used for centuries as a source of industrial fiber, seed oil, food, and medicine. In our changing climate, there is a growing need for more adapted and sustainable crops. Industrial hemp is a promising candidate for sustainable fiber, protein, and oil because it has a deep, massive root structure that sequesters more carbon than typical row crops, requires lower inputs, and has greater drought and pest resistance. Hemp plants are also interesting from a biological standpoint because they have separate male and female sexes. Among the two, female hemp plants possess greater commercial value due to their higher biomass production and exclusive ability to yield seeds that are rich in beneficial lipids and proteins. As a result, hemp breeders strive to achieve a substantial proportion of female plants thriving in their cultivated areas. This emphasis on maximizing female hemp plants aligns with the broader objective of harnessing the crop's sustainable qualities to thrive in our changing climate. HudsonAlpha Faculty Investigator Alex Harkess, PhD, and his lab are experts at studying the genetic basis of sex in plants. Through this USDA-NIFA grant, Harkess and his lab will build several high-quality hemp genomes and use them to identify and analyze the hemp sex chromosome [...]

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NWG Awarded Grant from OEDIT’s Advanced Industries Accelerator Program

By |2023-06-14T13:24:03-06:00May 23rd, 2023|Categories: blog, news|

New West Genetics has been awarded a grant as part of the Advanced Industries Accelerator Programs! We are honored to be among the Colorado startups and researchers selected to receive this award for our groundbreaking work. New West is committed to addressing the challenges facing agriculture through hemp. The grant award, administered by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), underscores our commitment to pushing the boundaries of scientific innovation. Specifically, this grant will play a pivotal role in propelling our commercialization efforts for AMPLIFY™ to new heights. Our newest genetic technology, AMPLIFY, a genetic hybrid and gender skew trait is being produced on Colorado soil this season in preparation for commercial launch. The hybrid vigor and gender skew doubles grain and flower yield, as well as greatly increases the uniformity of stalks in the field. This dramatic yield increase and uniformity allows hemp grain to compete with the likes of soy and cotton, opening the door to adoption for food, feed, fiber, and sustainable fuels markets. AMPLIFY will revolutionize the hemp industry. We are grateful for the opportunity to further our mission. We would like to express our gratitude to the state of Colorado, our Governor for his focus on innovation through the private sector, and the Advanced Industries Accelerator Programs of OEDIT for their trust in our team and our work. Moreover, we would like to extend our appreciation to all of our NWG team members whose dedication and hard work made this achievement possible. Their [...]

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Planting Density & NWG Fiber Varieties

By |2023-05-09T04:38:08-06:00May 9th, 2023|Categories: news|

This 2023 season, NWG will enter trials that asses fiber quality across varieties for various applications. Many unknowns still exist in fiber specifications and genetic performance across varieties, but what we do know is that NWG varieties are compliant, harvestable, and more uniform than most.   Another recent study out of Turkey, Optimizing plant density for fiber and seed production in industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), looked at hemp planting densities and their relation to stem diameter and fiber quality - there is high variation within the genetics.   “Stem diameter was significantly altered by cultivars…The highest stem diameter was noted under 100 and 150 plants m−2 planting densities, whereas planting at 250 plants m−2 resulted in the lowest values.” (The trial planting densities range from 400k - 1M plants/ac.)   NWG is constantly improving and adapting genetics to US environments- we have a rich pipeline that is responsive to market needs. NWG varieties can be planted at lower densities, and due to well-bred genetics, the stalk diameter remains low. This translates to less seed needed per acre, rendering a competitive price point/acre.   In the right latitude, NWG varieties flower in a timely manner, lowering seed production costs, and keeping seed production in the US, adding value and know-how to our US supply chain. Seed production costs to commercial yield calculations should be assessed in every model. We value working with and understanding processor models. There are many models out there; we’re always happy to discuss and see if NWG [...]

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Pre-emergent Herbicide Labeled for Hemp

By |2023-05-13T01:25:35-06:00May 3rd, 2023|Categories: blog, news|

Pre-emergent Herbicide Labeled for Hemp The New West Genetics Agronomy team advises that hemp now has a labeled pre-emergent herbicide available. Hemp producers can benefit from soil-applied residual weed control, providing a head start for the hemp crop to reach canopy and suppress weeds. “This effort included extensive trial work with private cooperators and universities and IR-4’s work in Hemp, Stevia, and crop group expansion. This registration also marks the first U.S. tolerance of a herbicide for use in hemp.”

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Indoor AgTech: Demonstrating Solutions for the Future of Farming

By |2023-04-26T02:16:48-06:00April 11th, 2023|Categories: news|

New West Genetics conducted additional research on their hemp genetics at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center with the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2). This project allowed NWG to evaluate traits for best root systems for soil carbon sequestration. “Understanding underlying genomic traits enables breeders to quickly forward lines, in this case to select lines that are better able to respond to climate change,” CEO of New West Genetics Wendy Mosher. Full Article: Indoor AgTech: Demonstrating Solutions for the Future of Farming  

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