BULGARIAN company CBD Seed Europe has secured a spot in the European Seed Registry for two of their genetics, which they claim deliver record levels of cannabidiol.
While most registered CBD seeds in the European Common Catalog deliver a CBD content of 5% to 6%, the newly registered varieties in the field can reach up to 12%.
The two newly registered varieties are known as “Midwest” and “Northwest,” and will be viable in most latitudes of the continent, the company says.
And as EC limits for THC levels in hemp seeds are set to increase from 0.2% to 0.3%, it says it will be able to develop new strains that have CBD levels “even higher.” “ will raise.
€500,000 investment
Americo Folcarelli, co-founder of CBD Seed Europe, said its success is the result of significant work and investment.
“We are delighted that after two years of trials and research – and an investment of over €500,000 – we have reached the stage where our two CBD-rich seed varieties have been approved for sale in the European Union.
“We believe this opens up a number of unique business opportunities, including exploring joint ventures with other breeders to develop new strains specifically designed for the European market.”
CBD Seeds Europe worked closely with the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) to introduce its new strains.
EIHA Managing Director Lorenza Romanese said: “We are very pleased that EU breeders are finally able to offer EU farmers varieties that are adapted to our climate and richer in CBD – this is what the market has been asking for. “
CBD Seed Europe was founded by Canadian cannabis entrepreneur Mr. Folcarelli and his Bulgarian business partner Ivailo Staninski, with the business being run by Simeon Genov.
In 2021, it is expected to register a turnover of €500,000 and forecasts future annual sales of €4 million due to this new development.
Enormous growth potential
Mr. Folcarelli says he was attracted to the European cannabis and CBD market for its growth potential and after encountering numerous bureaucratic challenges in southern Europe, the company chose Bulgaria.
After two years of testing under the auspices of the Bulgarian Seed Agency, as mandated by EU directives, the two new genetics were officially debuted in the European catalog last month.
As Bulgaria is now home to the company – it was instrumental in founding the Bulgarian Industrial Hemp Association – it plans to establish the world’s first EU-GMP seed and genetics research facility over the next 12 months.
“My vision is that we can create a fully functional and vertically integrated supply chain from genetics to consumer products – so that each product can be traced back to the seeds that started the process.
“This will allow us to create new and better hybrids that will compete with and outperform those being created in other parts of the world,” he said.
The company is keen to work with European partners to support the growth of the industry.
Partnership “Vital‘
He added: “Besides seed registration, we have also worked alongside EIHA with the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture to help them develop regulations and laws so farmers and processors can do their jobs legally and safely.
“Together with our partners and collaborators, we are also working with government agencies in Greece, Italy and Spain to achieve better regulation and transparency at all levels of the supply chain to ensure the end user receives safe and effective products.”
With much imported US biomass yielding CBD levels of up to 15%, this latest development will boost the competitiveness of European industry.
Although Mr Folcarelli claims that some North American biomass does not meet the “required EU GMP standards and should not be allowed in dietary supplements”.
The global cannabis seed market was valued at US$830 million in 2021 and is expected to reach US$1,550 million by 2027
