Novel opium poppy and hemp varieties for the production of industrial and pharmaceutical bioproducts

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Despite an increased awareness of the importance of crop diversification for the long-term sustainability and success of agriculture in Canada, few plants are cultivated for the production of high-value, metabolite-based bioproducts. Two of the world's most important natural product-producing plants are Papaver somniferum (opium poppy), which accumulates the alkaloids morphine, codeine and thebaine, and Cannabis sativa (marijuana, hemp), which produces psychoactive cannabinoids and is used as a source of high-quality fiber and oil. The domestic market for codeine, morphine and oxycodone, which is derived from thebaine, is in excess of $100 million annually, all of which is currently imported. Canada has a well-established research capacity to support the development of new crops cultivated for the production of valuable bioproducts, such as Pharmaceuticals and fibers. In partnership with Prairie Plant Systems, Inc., (PPS) we will establish genomics resources, state-of-the-art metabolomics technology, based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), and an effective functional genomics initiative, based on induced mutagenesis and TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genomes) for opium poppy and cannabis. This project will aim to identify biosynthetic genes for use in the metabolic engineering of opium poppy to accumulate high-value pharmaceutical alkaloids and to block cannabinoid production in cannabis. The latter will allow for a safe, legal, made-in-Canada cannabis crop to be grown for fibre, oil and food use. The partnership with PPS is crucial since this corporation operates a highly secure, underground plant growth facility licensed for the cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis. The project will be conducted in collaboration with the NRC Plant Biotechnology Institute (PBI) and the Alberta Research Council (ARC), which have the required instrumentation and expertise. The principle investigators are the world authorities on the biosynthesis of alkaloids and cannabinoids in the Papaveraceae and Cannabaceae, respectively. This research will lead to novel germplasm and intellectual property relevant to Canadian industry and agriculture.