VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — RavenQuest BioMed Inc. (the “Company” or “RavenQuest”) – (CSE:RQB) is pleased to announce it has entered into a landmark research partnership with Montreal’s McGill University, focussed upon three key issues facing the cannabis industry:
- Cannabis Cultivar Recognition & Identification
- Cannabis Plant Stabilization
- Cannabis Cultivation and Yield Improvements
The work will constitute a set of experiments that will increase scientific understanding of Cannabis genetics, breeding and production and expand on existing scientific knowledge related to Cannabis, knowledge which is currently limited due to long-term classification of Cannabis as a controlled substance.
The work will be conducted through collaboration between two McGill laboratories (one focussed on genetics and one on crop yields) and will include the esteemed Dr. Donald Smith, who has patented technologies for improvement of crop yields. When commenting on the project, Dr. Smith stated, “Plants, like humans, always have an associated community of microbes, and it seems certain that the composition of this community affects the overall growth of cannabis plants and also their cannabinoid profile. It will be key to have the correct microbial associations and to be able to beneficially manage their effects on cannabis plants, to produce effective and consistent material.”
In 2018, Canada will become only the second country in the world to legalize recreational cannabis. Safety starts with understanding the genetic/genomic basis of plant productivity and this partnership will contribute to build this knowledge.
Mark Ware, Director of the Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids (CCIC) and Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Anesthesia at McGill University
The work includes a wide range of activities, from genetics to crop productivity and quality assurance, as well as increased cannabinoid concentrations and enhanced yield of Cannabis. The work will also focus on the performance of “Orbital Gardens” and their potentially significant and positive effect on crop yields.
As the medical and retail markets for Cannabis grow, new scientific knowledge needs to be developed especially given the very limited knowledge that exists since Cannabis has been listed as a controlled substance for many decades. Furthermore, industrial Cannabis producers need to develop methods to produce genetically consistent, biologically stable pharmaceutical quality products that will be provided for clinicians conducting medical research trials.
George Robinson, RavenQuest BioMed CEO
Knowledge from this project will help the Company to expand its commercial activities based upon production method advancements, as well as obtain Plant Breeder’s Rights for newly developed cultivars. All knowledge gained through the partnership project will be transferred to the Company for (1) commercial products and (2) use in industrial medical marijuana production systems. This will strengthen the company and promote wider industrial consideration of the “Orbital Garden” system and biocontrol methods for powdery mildew control and regulation of cannabinoid concentrations, both of which are becoming major considerations for regulators and producers as the industry matures.
About RavenQuest BioMed Inc.
RavenQuest BioMed Inc. is a diversified publicly traded cannabis company with divisions focused upon cannabis production, management services & consulting and specialized research & development.
For further details on the Company readers are referred to the Company’s web site (www.rqbglobal.com) and its Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
