Glass Pharms and the Advanced Plant Growth Centre at The James Hutton Institute have announced a groundbreaking research program focused on medical cannabis. The project, funded by UKRI’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), aims to standardize the production of medicinal cannabis through the use of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) technologies and the development of new cannabis plant architectures.
The three-year project, set to begin on Tuesday 1 October, 2024, will address the growing need for medicinal cannabis by creating a consistent and high-quality product. Currently, cannabis cultivars vary greatly, resulting in different cannabinoid profiles. The research in Dundee will use CEA technologies to manipulate the environment and optimize plant growth, with the goal of producing a standardized product. This will help the UK maintain its position as the world’s largest producer and exporter of medicinal cannabis.
The plants will be grown to maturity at Glass Pharms’ state-of-the-art 2.4-hectare semi-closed glasshouse facility, which is equipped with advanced sensor technology to track environmental conditions and plant growth. The facility also uses a robotics-based container system to move the plants through different climate zones within the glasshouse, maximizing consistent growth throughout multiple harvests.
Leading the research will be Professor Derek Stewart, Director of the Advanced Plant Growth Centre at The James Hutton Institute. He expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “This is an exciting project for the James Hutton Institute team to be involved with. We will play an important role in furthering pharmaceutical quality of these plants, reinforcing the UK’s importance on the world stage.”
James Duckenfield, CEO of Glass Pharms, also shared his excitement for the collaboration, saying, “We believe that working with the Advanced Plant Growth Centre on this research project will directly lead to better health outcomes for UK patients. The APGC and Glass Pharms’ advanced cultivation facility is the ideal combination to develop and stabilize cannabis cultivars intended for use in medicine.”
The legalization of medical cannabis in the UK in 2018 has made it an increasingly important part of the country’s life sciences research and medicine manufacturing. The research program at The James Hutton Institute and Glass Pharms’ facility will further contribute to this growing industry.
The James Hutton Institute is a leading research organization in the UK, dedicated to the sustainable use of land and natural resources. Its mission is to support economic growth, enhance food security, and drive the development of rural communities through cutting-edge scientific research and innovations. The Advanced Plant Growth Centre is a flagship project at The James Hutton Institute, which has received investment through the Tay Cities Region Deal.
BBSRC, a major funder of world-leading bioscience in the UK, is a part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). It aims to foster connections that enable the UK’s world-class research and innovation system to flourish and create a research culture that is diverse, resilient, and engaged.
Glass Pharms, a UK-based licensed cultivator of cannabis exclusively for the pharmaceutical supply chain, was established to meet patient demand for a dependable supply of high-quality, UK-produced cannabis-based medicines at a fair price. The company uses a talented growing team and a patent-pending continuous cultivation system to produce its innovative products. This system, which uses about 40% of the power compared to traditional indoor growing facilities, is powered by off-grid green energy.
The Tay Cities Region Deal is a partnership between local, Scottish, and UK governments, as well as private, academic, and voluntary sectors. Its goal is to create a smarter and fairer Angus, Dundee, Fife, and Perth & Kinross. For more information on the progress the Deal has made, including securing investment and creating jobs, visit the Annual Performance Report on the Tay Cities Region Deal website.
For more information on the research program, please contact info@glasspharms.com.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.