Cellular Goods PLC (LSE:CBX) has published a white paper that explores the improved sustainability and increased purity of lab-based production of cannabinoids.
The paper, entitled 'Production of Cannabinoids Using Biotechnology and Synthetic Chemistry as a Path to Sustainability, makes the case that traditional agricultural growing of cannabis (through the cultivation of the Sativa plant) is highly inefficient.
“Cellular Goods exclusively uses lab-produced cannabinoids in its products, and this decision is fully vindicated by this white paper,” said chief executive Anna Chokina.
The white paper highlights that in traditional horticulture only 2-5% of the plant mass is made up of cannabinoids and around 90% ends up being botanical waste, whereas biotechnology and synthetic chemistry can allow cannabinoids to be produced at a commercial scale with increased purity and small environmental impacts.
With lab-based production up to 1,000 kilograms of product can be produced on less than an acre of land, whilst traditional growing would require 40 acres and 208% more time, the report claimed.
"Not only is the production process more sustainable, requiring less land, water and producing greatly decreased biomass waste and carbon emissions than agricultural production, but lab production gives the opportunity to increase production without suffering systemic and biological restraints,” Chokina said.
“Use of lab production provides a greater ability to respond to any increases in demand in the cannabinoid space, as consumers become increasingly conscious of the effective skincare and wellness applications of cannabinoids."
Istok Nahtigal, the company’s head of process and applied sciences, added: "Our research has further evidenced Cellular Goods' existing belief that lab-production methods for producing cannabinoids are the future.
“As consumers become increasingly environmentally conscious, it is important to prioritise ecological methods of production. Lab-production is a win-win for the Company, as it is not only more sustainable, but produces purer, higher quality products."