Speakers
Cannabis genomic variation in the Himalayas
Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands
Robin Van Velzen
Biography
Robin van Velzen is a lecturer at the Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University and Research, in the Netherlands. His research focuses on Cannabis biodiversity, investigating population genomic history and reconstructing the evolution of biosynthetic pathways.
Abstract of lecture
TBA
Published research
Robin Van Velzen
Date
Daniela Vergara
Biography
Dr. Daniela Vergara is an evolutionary biologist, data analyst, educator, scientific writer, and public speaker. In addition to her multiple publications, she founded and directs a non-profit organization, the Agricultural Genomics Foundation (AGF; AgriculturalGenomics.org). AGF aims to make hemp and cannabinoid science available to a broad public. Vergara has been part of the scientific teams at private companies including Steep Hill, Inc. who are a global leader in agricultural testing, and the biotech company Front Range Biosciences.
Dr. Vergara recently joined the Harvest New York Extension Team from Cornell University as an ‘Emerging Crop Specialist’ to help hemp farmers with their crop. Dr. Vergara’s scientific publications include the comparison of the cannabinoids by the federally produced Cannabis to that produced by the private market. These results were featured in news platforms such as The Atlantic, Science, and FiveThirtyEight.
Recently, she published a comparison between the genome of these federally produced varieties to the genome of the varieties found in the private markets. Some of her other scientific publications are a compilation of the existing genomic tools available for Cannabis research that was featured in Science, and the maternally inherited genomes (chloroplast and mitochondria). Vergara has authored these publications along with collaborators from the private sector in the Cannabis industry as well as academics from several institutions worldwide. Through AGF, Vergara educates the public about science, data analysis, statistics, evolutionary biology, and genomics.
Vergara is also an international consultant and policy advisor and has advised companies in the US and Latin America. Additionally, she has worked as an expert witness for multiple legal cases in the US and abroad.
Abstract of lecture
Robin van Velzen is a lecturer at the Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University and Research, in the Netherlands. His research focuses on Cannabis biodiversity, investigating population genomic history and reconstructing the evolution of biosynthetic pathways.
Utilizing Basic Genetic Tools to Uncover Genotype-Phenotype Complexity in Cannabis
Date
Anna Schwabe
Biography
Dr. Anna Schwabe, an expert in Cannabis Science and Education, holds a B.S. in Cellular & Molecular Biology, an M.S. in Biological Sciences with a focus on Plant Population Genetics, and a Ph.D. in Biological Education and Cannabis Genetics. Her award-winning doctoral research, "A multifaceted approach to investigate genetic aspects in Cannabis sativa," has resulted in multiple journal publications. Currently an Associate Professor at the University of Colorado, Dr. Schwabe co-teaches "Modern Cannabis Science" and spearheads a comprehensive Cannabis education program at Shore/420 Organics in New Jersey. A distinguished presenter and published researcher, she is a prominent figure in the Cannabis industry.
Synopsis
Understanding the relationship between genotype and phenotypic expression in Cannabis sativa is just beginning to unfold. The utilization of basic genetic tools, in the absence of federal financial support due to legal restrictions, this research suggests that this relationship may be more intricate than previously realized. We chose reliable and cost-effective de-novo simple sequence repeat markers to explore genetic diversity within strains. Surprisingly, we observed significant phenotypic variation despite identical genetic fingerprints, highlighting the profound impact of environmental factors. This investigation exemplifies how basic genetic methods are effective for examining essential aspects of a valuable yet underexplored plant. Persistent limited research funding, stemming from its illegal status in many parts of the world, underscores the critical nature of these explorations.
Integrating genomic and morphometric approaches to study the diversity of wild cannabis populations
Botanical Institute of Barcelona (IBB, CSIC-CMCNB)
Manica Balant
Biography
Manica Balant is a doctoral student, carrying out her PhD at The Botanical Institute of Barcelona. In her research she is focusing on studying genetic, morphologic, and phytochemical diversity of wild and landrace Cannabis accessions and its traditional uses worldwide.
Synopsis
Cannabis has been used by humans for millennia, which resulted in a complex evolutionary history, involving long distance dispersal, selection and numerous hybridizing events between populations. Combining different approaches can therefore give us a wider view of the unexplored diversity within this species. Phylogenomic and population genomics workflows of over 90 accessions of wild/feral and landrace representatives showed no clear division into species or subspecies but indicated that East Mongolian populations do form a distinct group. The importance of including wild/feral and landrace accessions was also confirmed with our novel morphometric analysis, where many of them displayed distinct leaf shape traits.
Robin Van Velzen
Date
Pablo Romero
Biography
Robin van Velzen is a lecturer at the Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University and Research, in the Netherlands. His research focuses on Cannabis biodiversity, investigating population genomic history and reconstructing the evolution of biosynthetic pathways.
Synopsis
Robin van Velzen is a lecturer at the Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University and Research, in the Netherlands. His research focuses on Cannabis biodiversity, investigating population genomic history and reconstructing the evolution of biosynthetic pathways.
Plant Breeders’ Rights Trials in the Netherlands to protect new cannabis varieties
Naktuinbouw, Team DUS vegetables, ornamentals, agriculture;
CPVO - Community Plant Variety Office
Judith J. Meijles & Lizah van den Engel
Biography
Judith: Graduated in Plant Breeding at Wageningen University in 1992, I worked as a breeder at private breeding companies in ornamental crops and pharmaceutical cannabis. With a passion for innovation in horticultural crops, I am convinced that having a strong IP is important for continuous breeding. I am working at the Variety Testing Department (Naktuinbouw, NL) as technical examiner for Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR) since 2007. At Naktuinbouw I started to examine vegetable crops and later also ornamentals and agricultural crops. Since 2017 I am fortunate to work with cannabis again.
Lizah: With a background in medical and moleculair biology, I have 5 years of experience in performing quality tests for DUS (Distincness, Uniformity, Stability) to obtain registration and/or Plant Breeders' Rights at the Variety Testing Department (Naktuinbouw, NL). In this position, I am specialized in DUS work of a diverse range of vegetable, ornamental and agricultural crops, including cannabis.
Synopsis
Dutch Inspection Service for Horticulture and the organization that assesses the identity, quality and health of propagating material.
Introduction Plant Breeders’ Rights at Naktuinbouw (brief) - By granting exclusive protection to breeders, PBR enables them to recover costs and earn royalties from their innovative contributions. It also fosters collaboration, ensuring a robust system for quality control in the agricultural sector. Naktuinbouw conducted Dutch PBR trials for pharmaceutical cannabis several years ago. However, there was a period with no applications. When companies renewed their interest, they applied at the CPVO (the EU PBR organization) for European PBR. Naktuinbouw had the technical experience and is the only entrusted examination office to perform the PBR trails since 2017.
PBR trials at Naktuinbouw (focus)- Overview of the procedure (incl. licenses, material, trial set up, protocol, collections, cannabinoids testing)
Cannabis DNA database (focus) - its role in DUS
Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands
Bedrocan Internation, The Netherlands
Robin van Velzen
Biography
Robin van Velzen is a lecturer at the Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University and Research, in the Netherlands. His research focuses on Cannabis biodiversity, investigating population genomic history and reconstructing the evolution of biosynthetic pathways.
Abstract
Cannabis genomic diversity among natural populations is largely unexplored. We analyzed available whole-genome sequencing data combined with new data from herbarium specimens from across the species’ native range. Phylogenetic and population genomic analyses show three main chloroplast haplogroups and geographic structuring of nuclear genomic genotypes. We also assessed the functional relevance of natural variation in cannabinoid synthase genes by in-vitro experiments. These reveal a key region that strongly affects enzyme activity.
Genomic diversity of Cannabis across the native range and functional analysis of cannabinoid synthase genes
Utilizing basic genetic tools to uncover genotype-phenotype complexity in Cannabis
University of Colorado, USA
Shore/420 Organics, USA
Anna Schwabe
Biography
Dr. Anna Schwabe, an expert in Cannabis Science and Education, holds a B.S. in Cellular & Molecular Biology, an M.S. in Biological Sciences with a focus on Plant Population Genetics, and a Ph.D. in Biological Education and Cannabis Genetics. Her award-winning doctoral research, "A multifaceted approach to investigate genetic aspects in Cannabis sativa," has resulted in multiple journal publications. Currently an Associate Professor at the University of Colorado, Dr. Schwabe co-teaches "Modern Cannabis Science" and spearheads a comprehensive Cannabis education program at Shore/420 Organics in New Jersey. A distinguished presenter and published researcher, she is a prominent figure in the Cannabis industry.
Abstract
Understanding the relationship between genotype and phenotypic expression in Cannabis sativa is just beginning to unfold. The utilization of basic genetic tools, in the absence of federal financial support due to legal restrictions, this research suggests that this relationship may be more intricate than previously realized. We chose reliable and cost-effective de-novo simple sequence repeat markers to explore genetic diversity within strains. Surprisingly, we observed significant phenotypic variation despite identical genetic fingerprints, highlighting the profound impact of environmental factors. This investigation exemplifies how basic genetic methods are effective for examining essential aspects of a valuable yet underexplored plant. Persistent limited research funding, stemming from its illegal status in many parts of the world, underscores the critical nature of these explorations.
Integrating genomic and morphometric approaches to study the diversity of wild Cannabis populations
Botanical Institute of Barcelona (IBB, CSIC-CMCNB), Spain
Manica Balant
Biography
Manica Balant is a doctoral student, carrying out her PhD at The Botanical Institute of Barcelona. In her research she is focusing on studying genetic, morphologic, and phytochemical diversity of wild and landrace Cannabis accessions and its traditional uses worldwide.
Abstract
Cannabis has been used by humans for millennia, which resulted in a complex evolutionary history, involving long distance dispersal, selection and numerous hybridizing events between populations. Combining different approaches can therefore give us a wider view of the unexplored diversity within this species. Phylogenomic and population genomics workflows of over 90 accessions of wild/feral and landrace representatives showed no clear division into species or subspecies but indicated that East Mongolian populations do form a distinct group. The importance of including wild/feral and landrace accessions was also confirmed with our novel morphometric analysis, where many of them displayed distinct leaf shape traits.
Phenotypic and chemotypic diversity of medicinal Cannabis sativa Chemovars legally cultivated in Colombia
Cannaflos GmbH, Germany
Yesid A. Ramirez
Biography
Dr. Yesid A. Ramirez is a chemist with emphasis in biochemistry graduated with honors from Universidad Icesi (Colombia) and PhD Magna Cum Laude in medicinal chemistry and drug design from the University of Würzburg (Germany). Since 2012, he has worked in the use of Cannabis and cannabinoids as therapeutic agents.
His collaborative research between the University of Würzburg and Universidad Icesi, focuses on the development of photo-pharmacological probes for the study of the endocannabinoid system and in the study of the metabolic diversity of Cannabis chemovars cultivated in Colombia. Currently, he works as Head of Scientific Operations at Cannaflos GmbH.
Abstract
Cannabis sativa is a highly versatile plant with a long history of cultivation and domestication. It produces multiple compounds that exert distinct and valuable therapeutic effects by modulating diverse biological systems, including the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Access to standardized, metabolically diverse, and reproducible Cannabis sativa chemotypes (known as chemovars) is essential for physicians to optimize individualized patient treatment and for industries to conduct drug-discovery campaigns. Using liquid and gas chromatography, we measured 10 cannabinoids and 23 terpenes in 156 Cannabis sativa plants in addition to other phenotypic traits in plants grown in diverse ecological regions in Colombia, South America, a hotspot for global biodiversity. Our statistical analysis (PCA, Games-Howell test, Spearman correlation) on this dataset provides insight on the biological and chemotypic diversity of medicinal Cannabis sativa worldwide, specifically in South America with new emerging markets. Colombia, in particular, is a country with enormous cultivation potential due to its diverse climates with possibilities of a medicinal and recreational national and international trade.
Conference Moderator
Biotech Tricopharming Research, Spain
Luis Matías Hernández
Biography
Luis Matías Hernández, graduated in Biochemistry (University of Navarra, Master in Plant Biotechnology by CIHEAM-Cret) and obtained his PhD in Plant Genetics by the University of Milan and Master in International Health (Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, Scotland). He did his Post-doc
at the Centre for Research in Agrogenomics (CRAG) in Plant Molecular Pharming and is currently the Principal Investigator & founder of Biotech Tricopharming Research which mission is to generate, through cutting-edge R&D activities, revolutionary molecular pharming technologies in order to increase the therapeutic potential of MAPs (Medicinal and Aromatic Plants).
Published research
Plant Breeders’ Rights Trials in the Netherlands to protect new Cannabis varieties
Naktuinbouw, Team DUS vegetables, ornamentals, agriculture, The Netherlands
Judith J. Meijles
& Lizah van den Engel
Biography
Judith: Graduated in Plant Breeding at Wageningen University in 1992, Judith worked as a breeder at private breeding companies in ornamental crops and pharmaceutical cannabis. With a passion for innovation in horticultural crops, she is convinced that having a strong IP is fundamental to continuous breeding. Since 2007, she has been employed at the Variety Testing Department (Naktuinbouw, NL) as technical examiner for Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR). At Naktuinbouw, she examined vegetable, ornamental and agricultural crops. Since 2017, her work has been focused on Cannabis.
Lizah: With a background in medical and moleculair biology, Lizah has 5 years of experience in performing quality tests for DUS (Distincness, Uniformity, Stability) to obtain registration and/or Plant Breeders' Rights at the Variety Testing Department (Naktuinbouw, NL). In this position, she specializes in DUS work of a diverse range of vegetable, ornamental and agricultural crops, including Cannabis.
Abstract
Introduction to Plant Breeders’ Rights at Naktuinbouw; by granting exclusive protection to breeders, PBR enables them to recover costs and earn royalties from their innovative contributions. It also fosters collaboration, ensuring a robust system for quality control in the agricultural sector. Naktuinbouw conducted Dutch PBR trials for pharmaceutical cannabis several years ago. However, there was a period with no applications. When companies renewed their interest, they applied at the CPVO (the EU PBR organization) for European PBR. Naktuinbouw had the technical experience and is the only entrusted examination office to perform the PBR trails since 2017.
Zoom-in 1: PBR trials at Naktuinbouw; overview of the procedure (incl. licenses, material, trial set up, protocol, collections, cannabinoids testing)
Zoom-in 2: Cannabis DNA database and its role in DUS
Cannabis sativa genomic diversity and the cannabinoid genes
Agricultural Genomics Foundation, Cornell Cooperative Extension, USA University of Colorado Boulder, USA
Daniela Vergara
Biography
Dr. Daniela Vergara is an evolutionary biologist, data analyst, educator, scientific writer, and public speaker. In addition to her multiple publications, she founded and directs a non-profit organization, the Agricultural Genomics Foundation (AGF; AgriculturalGenomics.org). AGF aims to make hemp and cannabinoid science available to a broad public. Vergara has been part of the scientific teams at private companies including Steep Hill, Inc. who are a global leader in agricultural testing, and the biotech company Front Range Biosciences. Dr. Vergara recently joined the Harvest New York Extension Team from Cornell University as an ‘Emerging Crop Specialist’ to help hemp farmers with their crops.
Abstract
An insight in the genomic diversity of different lineages within Cannabis sativa, addressing the biochemical pathway regarding cannabinoid production and the genes related to these compounds.
Published research
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The Genomics of Cannabis and Its Close Relatives
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Compromised External Validity: Federally Produced Cannabis Does Not Reflect Legal Markets
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The phytochemical diversity of commercial Cannabis in the United States