More Australian seed banks are investing in cannabis seed cultivars

Today, hardy cannabis seed cultivars that have been selected for growing in Australia, are being used to provide output for medicinal cannabis production plants nationwide, building additional jobs across Australia’s agricultural sector.

But why have Aussie farmers and seed banks turned to cannabis cultivation?

And what growth can our agricultural sector anticipate with these budding investments in cannabis?

Australia’s in a unique position to invest in sustainable cannabis

Australia’s agricultural sector has been growing from strength to strength amidst changing climatic conditions and consumer behaviours worldwide.

Our prime exports of meats and livestock, wheat, canola, cotton, and other grain cereals has been generating billions of dollars for the Australian agricultural sector annually.

However, changing regulations surrounding commercial cannabis cultivation across NSW, QLD, VIC, and ACT, have paved the way for the development of medicinal cannabis plants in otherwise untenable or non-arable environments in regional Australia.

As cannabis seeds can grow in a variety of soil conditions and growing environments (i.e. outdoor or indoor using hydroponic technologies), cannabis farming can actually be more accessible for some agribusinesses over cattle and livestock farming, which typically requires greater amounts of water and energy, and grain farming, which demands larger parcels of arable land.

In this regard, Australia’s growing medicinal cannabis industry is helping fill the gaps of our national agricultural sector, ensuring sustained growth and job creation that we can expect to enjoy as cannabis regulations continue to be developed.

Types of cannabis seed cultivars being grown in Australia

Today, there is a wide range of sturdy sativa, indica and hybrid cannabis seed cultivars that are being cultivated in Australian medicinal cannabis facilities.

Here are some of the most commonly cultivated seed cultivars that are also being added to Australian seed banks:

Northern Lights – ID

An indica-dominant strain, the Northern Lights cannabis strain has been specifically cultivated to relax the mind and body, making it an ideal natural remedy for headaches and migraines, arthritis, and other forms of chronic muscle and joint pain.

The calming effects of Northern Lights also makes this cultivar beneficial for attention deficit disorders, insomnia, and other mental health diagnoses.

The high demand for this strain in the context of medicinal applications and its suitability for indoor propagation, makes Northern Lights one of the most potent cannabis strain cultivars for the Australian market.

Blue Dream – SD

A sativa-dominant hybrid, the Blue Dream strain was originally developed to deliver tranquillity and swift pain relief without mental fogginess or sedative effects.

This balance makes Blue Dream ideal for daytime medicinal use for patients seeking physical pain management or symptom relief from mental health concerns like ADD, ADHD, anxiety, and depression.

Originally developed as an outdoor crop in California, Blue Dream as a cannabis seed cultivar thrives in more arid Australian growing conditions, making Blue Dream an ideal investment for open-air cannabis farming across regional areas.

White Widow – True Hybrid

Whilst White Widow is technically regarded as a sativa dominant, there’s an estimated 60/40 split between sativa and indica elements in this strain, making it a true balanced hybrid.

The dynamic mind and body effects of this balance for users ultimately provides an energising or stimulating cerebral impact alongside a full body sense of calm.

Being a cross between a Brazilian sativa and a crystal resin-heavy South Indian indica, the genetic robustness of White Widow makes it a vital evolutionary point in the ongoing development of cannabis seed cultivars for global commercial use.

In fact, since being developed in the 1990s, White Widow has also been used to develop newer strains Blue Widow, White Russian and other balanced hybrids with tailored variations in mind and body effects.

Industry analysts have asserted that preserving the genetic makeup of White Widow and other true balanced hybrids is essential for maintaining the diversity of the Cannabaceae plant family.

This makes the original White Widow strain an essential cannabis seed cultivar to add to our seed banks in Australia.

Low THC Cannabis L – Industrial Hemp

Alongside the cultivation of medicinal cannabis, some farms in Victoria are also growing industrial hemp. ‘Industrial hemp’ refers to cultivars of the genus Cannabis L that have very low levels (no more than 1.0%) of the psychoactive chemical compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

This unique crop actually maintains versatile applications, from being used to develop sustainable fibres and construction materials to traditional alternatives like cotton (which requires more water to cultivate than hemp) and burnt clay bricks (which typically boast poorer thermal performance than hempcrete bricks, and also require more energy to produce).

Can we expect the construction of more cannabis farms in Australia?

The impacts of climate change on the Australian agricultural sector has naturally prompted agribusinesses to seek alternative crops and growing technologies to ensure sturdier investments and higher, more sustainable returns.

From swapping out cotton production for hemp cultivation and open-air farming for more controlled, hydroponic facilities, cannabis has solidified its position in the future of Australian farming as a crop as we continue to evolve, adapt, and better utilise the natural growing conditions available across our island continent.

In this aspect, cannabis farms provide similar economic opportunities to solar farming in Australia, bringing more specialised jobs to regional Australians and ensuring our agricultural sector stays agile, diversified and future-ready.