Industrial Hemp Improvement Needs Adequate Seed Resources

In their quest to develop highly productive varieties, plant breeders use valuable traits found in old varieties, farmer's seed and wild species. Gene banks, such as the USDA National Plant Germplasm System provide one-stop shopping for these valuable genetic resources. Because industrial hemp has been a schedule I controlled substance, the USDA gene bank has not been able to maintain seed collections or distribute seed to breeders. But change is in the air, and now is the time to determine what type of seed collection will support the efforts of industrial hemp breeders. Valuable collections may still exist in the U.S., but likely we'll need to turn to our international colleagues to obtain germplasm to rebuild the U.S. seed collection.