Two Canadian plant companies form JV to supply 12 million hemp clones from tissue culture

Hemp growers will have more young plant options to choose from as a result of a new joint venture between Vancouver-based plant company 3 Rivers Biotech and JRT Nurseries, a plant grower with locations in Aldergrove, British Columbia, and Lynden, Washington.

The two companies will work together to produce and supply hemp plants grown from tissue culture to the rapidly expanding hemp market, according to a joint statement this week.

As a condition of the agreement, JRT Nurseries will provide full, exclusive access to its 14,000-square-foot tissue culture lab and 40,000 square feet of propagation greenhouses in Mount Vernon, Washington, to offer up to 12 million plants per year.

3 Rivers will provide hemp varieties sourced through breeder partnerships, manage hemp-related operations and propagate hemp clones from tissue culture to market and sell to hemp farmers.

The joint venture has secured initial funding, “despite the current economic chaos,” said 3 Rivers CEO Robert Allen in a statement.

“With a healthy treasury and wise, prudent management we see this venture as being successful in both the near and far term.”