Cannabinoid biosynthesis

Biosynthesis has the ability to reshape the competitive landscape in ways that South African cannabis operators cannot ignore, but does not eliminate traditional cultivation, says Thomas Walker.

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In these biotech facilities, you won’t see a flowering room, drying racks or even a single plant. Instead, rows of fermentation tanks house microorganisms that have been genetically modified to produce cannabinoids through their natural metabolic processes.

Though successful engineering, scientists have developed systems to allow yeast to produce major cannabinoids, including THC and CBD, as well as several minor variants, from simple sugar feedstock. At least 18 companies are currently racing to commercialise cannabinoid production using algae, bacteria or yeast.

Improvements in both fermentation protocols and organism efficiency will be required for this technology to become competitive with plant extraction.

South African cannabis producers targeting pharmaceutical companies with standard cannabinoid inputs may need to rethink their strategy. Within the next five to 10 years it is very possible that synthetic alternatives will capture the market segment as biotech facilities work through production bottlenecks.

SYNTHESISING CANNABINOIDS