Stackatrait™ Technology: Eliminating THC Compliance Risk for UK Hemp

Introduction

Industrial hemp has the potential to be a cornerstone of a sustainable future, offering solutions for everything from textiles and construction materials to food, health products, and carbon sequestration. However, the presence of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a controlled substance, has long been a major hurdle for farmers. Even in trace amounts, THC can lead to legal complications and crop destruction. Precision Plants has developed Stackatrait™, a proprietary precision breeding platform that permanently addresses the THC problem while simultaneously improving multiple agronomic traits. This article explores the challenges of THC in hemp, how Stackatrait™ works across five trait categories, and its implications for the future of UK agriculture.

The Challenge of THC in Industrial Hemp

Under UK law, industrial hemp cultivation is legal but strictly regulated. Farmers require a licence and must ensure their crops do not exceed the legal THC limit of 0.2% [1]. Exceeding this limit — a phenomenon known as a "hot crop" — can result in the entire harvest being destroyed, leading to significant financial losses. The risk of THC spikes due to environmental stress, heat waves, or genetic instability has been a persistent barrier to the widespread adoption of hemp farming. This uncertainty deters investment and limits the industry's growth. For more details on this, see our article on THC compliance challenges.

The Stackatrait™ Solution

Stackatrait™ directly addresses the THC problem — and goes far beyond it. Using advanced precision breeding techniques, Precision Plants has created hemp varieties that are genetically incapable of producing THC. But Stackatrait™ is not a single-trait fix. It is a comprehensive platform that stacks multiple trait improvements into each variety, organised across five core categories. By combining cannabinoid modification with yield, fibre, root, and climate improvements, Stackatrait™ delivers varieties that are not just compliant but commercially superior.

Five Trait Categories

Stackatrait™ organises its precision breeding programme around five core trait categories. Each category addresses a specific farmer pain point or market demand, and different varieties carry different combinations depending on their end-use focus.

"Stackatrait™ doesn't just solve the THC problem — it transforms hemp into a precision-engineered crop optimised for UK farming conditions and downstream markets."

How It Works: Precision Trait Stacking

The power of Stackatrait™ lies in its ability to combine multiple trait improvements into a single variety. Using CRISPR-based precision breeding, our scientists make targeted modifications to the hemp genome — each one addressing a specific agronomic or commercial challenge. Unlike conventional breeding, which can take decades and often introduces unwanted trade-offs, precision breeding allows us to make specific improvements without disrupting the plant's existing desirable characteristics.

Each trait category represents a cluster of related improvements. For example, the Seed Yield & Oil category encompasses modifications that increase seed size, seed number per plant, shatter resistance (so fewer seeds are lost at harvest), and oil composition (shifting the fatty acid profile toward premium, shelf-stable oils). These improvements work together synergistically — larger seeds with better oil profiles, harvested more efficiently, command higher prices in food and health markets.

This is a core principle of precision breeding — making specific, targeted improvements without introducing foreign DNA. The result is a crop that is classified as precision-bred under UK law, not as a GMO.

Safe, Stable, and Compliant by Design

One of the most significant advantages of Stackatrait™ is that all trait improvements are stable and heritable. This means that the THC-free trait — along with all other improvements — is passed down through generations, ensuring long-term compliance and predictability. Our varieties are designed to be safe for both the environment and consumers. By removing the legal and financial risks associated with THC, we empower farmers to cultivate hemp with confidence.

Variety Applications

Stackatrait™ is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Different varieties carry different combinations of trait categories, tailored to their specific end-use markets:

This targeted approach means that each variety is optimised for its intended market. BritGrain Auto™ focuses on maximising grain yield and oil quality for food manufacturers. LongLine Fibre™ prioritises fibre strength and processability for textile mills. YieldMax Duo™ carries the full five-category stack, making it the most versatile variety — ideal for farmers who want to maximise revenue from both grain and fibre harvests while also earning carbon credits from enhanced root systems.

Rigorous Validation

All of our Stackatrait™-edited varieties undergo extensive testing to ensure they meet our high standards for safety, stability, and performance. This includes both laboratory analysis and real-world farm trials at Rothamsted Research and partner farms across the UK. We work closely with farmers to gather data and feedback, ensuring that our varieties are not only compliant but also agronomically superior. This rigorous validation process is essential for building trust and ensuring the long-term success of our technology.

Regulatory Framework

The regulatory landscape for precision-bred crops is evolving rapidly. In the UK, Stackatrait™ technology falls under the Precision Breeding Act 2023 [2]. This act creates a more proportionate and science-based regulatory system for precision-bred organisms, distinguishing them from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Because Stackatrait™ makes targeted modifications without introducing foreign DNA, our varieties qualify as precision-bred — not GMO. This streamlined regulatory pathway helps accelerate the development and commercialisation of new hemp varieties, bringing the benefits of Stackatrait™ to farmers more quickly. For more information on licensing, please see our hemp licence guide.

The Future of Hemp Innovation

Stackatrait™ is a proven platform with multiple trait improvements already deployed across three commercial varieties. At Precision Plants, we are committed to continuous innovation in the hemp industry, exploring additional trait optimisations within each category and working to create a more sustainable and profitable future for hemp. We believe that by combining cutting-edge science with a deep understanding of the needs of farmers, we can unlock the full potential of this remarkable crop. We encourage you to explore our Knowledge Hub for more information or reach out to our investor relations team.

Conclusion

Stackatrait™ technology represents a paradigm shift for the industrial hemp industry. By providing a permanent and reliable solution to the THC problem — while simultaneously improving yield, fibre quality, root systems, and climate resilience — it removes the single biggest barrier to widespread cultivation and delivers commercially superior varieties. This innovation not only provides farmers with much-needed certainty but also paves the way for a new generation of high-performing, sustainable hemp varieties. As the world increasingly turns to green solutions, precision-bred hemp is poised to play a critical role, and Precision Plants is proud to be leading the way.

References

1. Hemp growing licence – GOV.UK
2. The Precision Breeding Act – GOV.UK
3. Controlled drugs: licences, fees and returns – GOV.UK