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Arcadia Biosciences partners with two companies to introduce its GoodHemp seed line to California growers

Published: 09:25 19 Mar 2020 EDT

Arcadia Biosciences Inc - Arcadia Biosciences Inc in strategic partnership with two companies to introduce its GoodHemp seed line to California growers
California is a key region for US hemp production

Arcadia Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ:RKDA) announced Thursday a new strategic partnership with two companies to introduce its GoodHemp seed line to California growers. 

The company is partnering with Grow West, one of the largest independent marketers of agricultural products in the state, and Buttonwillow Warehouse Company (BWC), a family-owned and operated fertilizer and crop protection products company in central and Southern California.

Under the terms of the agreement, Grow West and BWC will bring their collective grower relationships to Arcadia's GoodHemp Innovation Partners platform -- a select group of growers with exclusive access to Arcadia's team of breeders, geneticists and computation biologists, as well as the company's seed catalog of cutting-edge new hemp varieties.

READ: Arcadia Biosciences wins US patent for yield-improving wheat allele

"With more than 17,000 acres grown in the state last year, and even more planned for 2020, California is a key region for US hemp production," Sarah Reiter, Arcadia's chief commercial officer said in a statement.

"Through this strategic partnership with Grow West and Buttonwillow Warehouse Company, Arcadia gains access to every production acre in the state, including top California cultivators who rely on the crop and pest control advisors of these two companies to make important decisions throughout the growing season. Together, we'll be working closely to ensure those growers understand and leverage the unique benefits of GoodHemp's seed catalog," she added.

Arcadia first introduced GoodHemp, its commercial brand for delivering genetically superior hemp seeds, transplants, flower and extracts, at the American Seed Trade Association CSS & Seed Expo in Chicago.

Since its December launch, GoodHemp has expanded from five seed varieties to 10, primarily focused on compliant CBD production, one of the biggest challenges facing US growers in light of the US Department of Agriculture’s guidelines mandating that states test and dispose of "hot" crops that exceed 0.3% THC. 

In future years, Arcadia said the GoodHemp portfolio is expected to include seed varieties rich in additional cannabinoid extracts, plus grain, protein and fiber hemp types. 

Advising hemp growers

In addition to these valuable grower relationships, the company said Grow West and BWC will extend their collective experience cultivating other crops in California's unique climate to advise its hemp growers on fertility and production practices.

"We've served California growers with uncompromised quality and personal attention to support productivity and profitability for decades," said Lucas Schmidt, chief operations officer at Grow West. "We feel confident that our grower relationships combined with our agricultural expertise will strengthen and enrich Arcadia's already thriving GoodHemp Innovation Partners platform."

Buttonwillow CEO Clay Houchin added: "Hemp is a unique and new exciting territory for both our company and this country, and we believe hemp will be in the crop mix for years to come. Partnering with Arcadia gives us the ability to learn alongside our growers while California is still in the early stages of this industry. We're proud to lend our expertise in crop protection and production to support California's hemp growers through this unique partnership with Arcadia." 

Davis, California-based Arcadia focuses on three strategic crops: wheat, soybeans and hemp. The company's GoodWheat product line, which delivers nutritionally enhanced ingredients such as high fiber resistant starch and reduced gluten wheat varieties, recently made its commercial debut.

Contact the author: patrick@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow him on Twitter @PatrickMGraham

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