Biortica Agrimed has entered a research partnership between its Canadian subsidiary Apollo Green and Quebec's Université Laval to investigate how multi-omics technology and artificial intelligence can improve cannabis cultivation practices.
The initiative, supported by Canada's Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), is designed to tackle real-world cultivation challenges and deliver better results for both growers and medical patients.
Biortica CEO Tom Varga said the collaboration, which is scheduled to run until 2029, will explore how multi-omics and AI can refine the genetic selection process.
He added: "This project has the potential to help cultivators grow stronger, more resilient plants, and patients benefit from consistent quality and potency."
The research project, titled "Advancing Cannabis Cultivation Through an Intelligent Multi-omics Breeding Program", is Biortica's first collaboration at an international level.
Drawing on Apollo Green's genetics library, the work will focus on three areas: producing stronger and healthier plants, developing adaptable strains, and improving medical precision.
Project lead Matt Turner expects the research to result in cultivars with greater resistance to pests, diseases, and environmental stress, which would reduce risk for growers.
He added: "We'll be looking for plants that perform well across diverse climates and cultivation systems, supporting sustainable farming practices in Australia and globally.
"And using DNA-guided breeding to produce strains with specific cannabinoid and terpene profiles designed to meet the needs of medical cannabis patients – so more accurate and more targeted medicines."
