LeafWorks is a Cannabis Genetics Company by trade. They work in identifying plants in the cannabis and herbal industries. The company has recently announced the LeafWorks Cultivar Registration Program.
This is the first program of its kind and provides a very handy service for cannabis companies. A lot of research is being done in the hemp industry to develop new cultivars that have the desired traits a company wants. The service allows these companies to register and record the creation of their cultivars and claim ownership over a single strain of cannabis. All of the hard work that goes into creating a cultivar won’t be as easily stolen by competitors.
As the industry develops, having the ability to define each cultivar and prove ownership will be critical. Companies will be able to lay claim to the genetics of strains and take meaningful ownership of their proprietary works.
“The benefits to participating in this program are simple but pivotal: they lay the groundwork for legal protection in the future. Currently, DNA is not required when patenting plants, but they are important supplemental data,” Eleanor Kuntz, Ph.D. LeafWorks CEO and Co-Founder told Business Wire, “Documentation through a registration process will help everyone know (communities, organizations, and individuals) what they own, and where they stand.”
The registration will make it easier to register the intellectual property for the plants developed by companies. It also provides evidence of ownership so that patented cultivars can’t be grown without permission. It will also help stabilize the market and help buyers be sure they are getting what they pay for.
Companies will enter their cultivar into the LeafWorks Cultivar ID Test database. Anyone will be able to use that data to test plants and determine if it is a registered cultivar or not. The program is also part of the LeafWorks Supply Chain Certification, and give access to the LeafWorks Certification Seal. Consumers will have more transparency and know more about what is in the products they are buying.
