Voice of the Plant: Genetics are the cannabis industry’s greatest asset – act accordingly

Mr. Sherbinski (Courtesy photo)

(This is the third installment in a regular column from “Voice of the Plant” in collaboration with MJBizDaily. Find part 1 and part 2 and contact us at editorial@mjbizdaily.com.)

When I started collecting cannabis genetics in my small San Francisco garage grow back in 2005, viroids and tissue culture labs weren’t part of my world. Thieves, russet mites, and police were what we worried about losing years of work and irreplaceable, one-of-a-kind genetics to.

I kept my mother plants spread across multiple gardens because I knew that if one location got raided or infected, everything I’d spent years building could disappear overnight.

One of the closest calls I ever had was with the original Sunset Sherbert cut.

A severe russet mite infestation nearly wiped out the plants before I even knew what I was dealing with. By the time I realized the problem, I was dangerously close to losing those genetics forever. Fortunately, I was able to preserve the original Sunset Sherbert through tissue culture initiation. I’ve had that same cut since 2012, and it’s still alive today because of that decision.

I also had all of my original Gelato selections initiated into tissue culture years ago—before hop latent viroid (HLVd) became widespread throughout California. Looking back, that turned out to be one of the smartest decisions I’ve made as a breeder. Those genetics represent years of selection and refinement that simply couldn’t be recreated if they were lost.

Modern-day cannabis industry genetics need modern-day cannabis industry techniques

Back then, preservation meant staying one step ahead of disaster. Today, the cannabis industry has become far more sophisticated. We have world-class cultivation facilities, automated environmental controls, advanced breeding programs, and genetics worth millions of dollars.

Yet many companies are still protecting their most valuable asset with the same outdated strategy: keeping mother plants alive and hoping nothing goes wrong.

I’ve watched incredible cultivars disappear because of hop latent viroid, pest infestations, facility closures, poor management, or simple human error. Once elite genetics are gone, they’re gone. Years of careful breeding and selection can’t simply be recreated.

That’s why I believe genetic preservation has become one of the most important investments any serious cultivation company can make.

Can lost cannabis genetics be easily replaced?

Cultivation facilities can be rebuilt. Equipment can be replaced. Lights, irrigation systems, and HVAC systems can all be purchased again.

Elite genetics are different.

They represent years and sometimes decades of breeding, pheno hunting, testing and refinement. They’re the foundation of successful brands, consumer loyalty and long-term differentiation in an increasingly competitive market.

As cannabis continues to mature, proprietary genetics are becoming one of the few true competitive advantages a company can own. They deserve to be protected with the same level of importance as intellectual property, trademarks, or patents.

Is having a mother room enough for a cannabis breeder to protect genetics?

Most cultivation companies still rely almost entirely on mother plants.

The problem is that mother plants age. They accumulate stress, become susceptible to pests and disease, and every clone taken carries the possibility of passing along hidden problems.

One unnoticed infection can quietly spread throughout an entire genetic library before anyone realizes what’s happening. The larger the operation becomes, the greater that risk grows.

Relying solely on mother rooms is no longer enough.

Should cannabis breeders and cannabis cultivation companies invest in tissue culture?

Every serious cultivation company should evaluate having an in-house tissue culture lab. Many operators assume this requires a massive investment, but that isn’t necessarily true.

A functional tissue culture lab doesn’t have to be large or extravagant. Compared to the value of the genetics it’s protecting, it’s one of the smartest investments a cultivation business can make.

You’re not simply purchasing laboratory equipment. You’re investing in the health, stability, and longevity of a genetic library that may represent years of work and millions of dollars in future value.

Is a partnership with a tissue culture lab enough?

But not every cultivation company needs to build its own tissue culture lab.

For many operators, partnering with a reputable local tissue culture laboratory may be the better option. Rather than paying expensive intake fees and annual storage costs, breeders with highly sought-after genetics may be able to negotiate creative partnerships.

Breeding collaborations, limited access to exclusive genetics, or future joint projects can create value for both sides. The laboratory gains access to exceptional breeding material, while the breeder secures affordable long-term preservation of their collection.

When structured properly, it’s a true win-win relationship.

How to protect tomorrow’s cannabis today

More of the industry’s top breeders now understand the importance of tissue culture. It’s an encouraging shift, but it’s not because anyone convinced them. It’s because many experienced the loss of valuable genetics firsthand. Instead of law enforcement, diseases like hop latent viroid have forced our industry to rethink how we protect what we’ve spent years creating.

We have better tools today than ever before. There’s no reason to lose irreplaceable cultivars simply because we failed to invest in preserving them.

The next generation of great cannabis companies won’t just be the ones creating exceptional genetics. They’ll be the ones that make sure those genetics are still here decades from now.