Building the Future of British Hemp Grain

Overview: A New Standard for Homegrown, Compliant Protein Crops

Britain’s farmers deserve crops that are as ambitious and forward-thinking as they are. Industrial hemp offers enormous potential: it is a sustainable, low-input crop renowned for its environmental benefits, versatility, and new income opportunities. Yet, hemp for grain production has not reached its full potential in the UK—mainly because available seeds are relics of other countries’ breeding programs, rarely adapted for our climate or regulations.

At Precision Plants, our “BritGrain Auto” project aims to transform that story, delivering a next-generation grain hemp variety designed from scratch for British fields, food security, and farmer confidence.

Why the UK Needs a Revolution in Hemp Grain

The Problems with Current Grain Hemp Options

• Import Reliance: Most seed available to UK growers is imported—typically bred for countries with completely different climates and regulatory environments.
• THC Anxiety: Farmers run the real risk of “hot” crops (over the UK’s strict 0.2% THC legal limit), which can trigger forced crop destruction, license issues, and devastating income loss.
• Unpredictable Maturity and Yield: Conventional varieties don’t match the UK’s short, fickle growing season—often resulting in patchy yields, uneven ripening, or harvests lost to early autumn weather.
• Missed Protein and Oil Markets: Today’s food and feed industries are hungry for traceable, UK-grown plant protein and oil. Without reliable, high-quality grain hemp, we’re missing out.

The Opportunity

DEFRA’s own projections say UK hemp area could grow from less than 1,000 ha today to over 80,000 ha by 2030—if we can deliver the right genetics, bred and proven for our local context.

BritGrain Auto embodies the answer: a genuinely British, compliant, market-oriented grain hemp—engineered to take the risks and guesswork out of hemp farming.

Our Approach: Precision Breeding for British Fields

“BritGrain Auto” is our flagship precision breeding project, taking hemp from a ‘risky bet’ to a dependable ally for English farms.

Where We Are: Foundations of Innovation

The Precision Plants team, working at the University of Hertfordshire, has already successfully used CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology under controlled laboratory conditions. We’ve shown that we can make precise genetic edits in hemp—proving the technology works for this crop—and set the stage for responsible, science-led trait improvement.

In parallel, we are now growing our first control crop (using non-edited, conventional hemp) at Rothamsted Research, under our own Low-THC Home Office cultivation license. This critical step gives us an agronomic benchmark for UK field performance, helps us refine our protocols, and readies our operation for the next phase: deploying precision-bred, gene-edited lines in partnership with regulatory bodies.

What Comes Next: Engineering Tomorrow’s Solutions

With proof-of-technology in hand, our next milestones include:

• Editing Key Traits with CRISPR/Cas9:
  • Stably reducing THC biosynthesis, ensuring crops always stay below legal thresholds—by design, not by chance.
  • Fine-tuning flowering time and maturity, so crops finish reliably in the UK’s narrow growing window—enabling double-cropping and minimising harvest losses.
  • Enhancing seed composition for higher protein and oil content, meeting the fast-growing demand for British-grown plant-based foods.
• Rigorous Field Testing:
  • All new gene-edited lines will be tested in Rothamsted’s world-leading research plots, under real UK weather and agronomy, with full traceability and compliance oversight.
• Data-Driven Farmer Support:
  • Working with grower champions and food processors to ensure BritGrain Auto delivers for the whole supply chain, from farm to factory to plate.

What Makes BritGrain Auto Different?

• British-Bred, British-Proven: Our genetics are constructed specifically for UK soils, skies, and regulations. No more gambling with imported varieties.
• Compliance by Design: By building ultra-low THC directly into the genetics, we aim to give English farmers peace of mind and predictable, legal harvests—every season.
• Fit for Regenerative Rotations: Hemp’s deep roots, weed suppression, and restorative powers make it a hero for soil health and for schemes like ELMS (Environmental Land Management Schemes).
• Aligned with Modern Markets: We’re breeding grain hemp to meet today’s demand—high in protein and healthy fats, with complete digital traceability.

The Benefits for England’s Farmers and Food Systems

1. Lower Risks, Higher Returns:

• No more fear of failed tests or last-minute crop destruction.
• Dependable grain yields, even in unpredictable British summers, allow for better business planning and investment.

2. New Revenue Streams from High-Value Markets:

• Homegrown, auditable grain for plant-based food and animal feed—the growth sectors of the next decade.
• Seed designed for mechanical harvest, minimising labour and maximising scalability.

3. Environmental Stewardship by Default:

• Significant carbon capture with every hectare: hemp sequesters more CO₂ than most trees.
• Low inputs and fewer chemicals: better for the farm, the environment, and the community.

4. A Real Role in the Next Green Revolution:
BritGrain Auto is a building block for a truly modern rural economy—supporting net zero, sustainable protein, and food security, while keeping profits and innovation at home in the UK.

Partnership and Knowledge Exchange

BritGrain Auto is about more than a single seed; it’s a collaboration between scientists, farmers, and supply chain partners—backed by the expertise of University of Hertfordshire, Rothamsted Research, and the British Hemp Alliance. Together, we’ll share knowledge, open farm data, and real-world case studies, accelerating adoption and confidence in the next generation of British hemp.

Our Commitment & Call to Action

We are at the start of an exciting journey—one in which British science, farming, and food innovation come together to unlock new, sustainable markets that work for everyone.

We invite growers, processors, researchers, and policymakers to follow our progress, contribute insight, and help build a model for how precision breeding can power a thriving, resilient, and sustainable English agriculture.

“BritGrain Auto is about giving English farmers a homegrown, compliant, high-value option—using the very best of 21st century science. Together, we can harvest the future.”

Are you a farmer interested in piloting BritGrain Auto, or a supply chain partnerinterested in sourcing British-grown, compliant hemp grain? Reach out to us at Precision Plants—we’re eager to collaborate, share expertise, and build the blueprint for resilient, productive, and sustainable cropping across England.

Project Milestones and Next Steps

• Lab Validation Achieved:
  We have successfully demonstrated, in the University of Hertfordshire lab, that CRISPR/Cas9 can be used to make precise DNA edits in hemp—proving the technology is in hand and ready for application to critical traits.
• First Control Crops Underway:
  Our inaugural field season at Rothamsted Research is now in progress, using conventionally bred hemp as a benchmark. This gives us vital insight into UK agronomic performance, environmental influences, and compliance management in genuine British conditions.
• Gene-Edited Lines Next in the Pipeline:
  Pending regulatory engagement and knowledge gained from control plots, the next phase will begin: deploying our first gene-edited lines, with an initial focus on reducing THC, synchronising flowering, and boosting grain quality. These lines will be developed and validated as part of our ongoing partnership ecosystem, ensuring every step is robust, transparent, and responsive to the needs of English farms and markets.

Alignment with DEFRA’s Vision

BritGrain Auto directly addresses DEFRA’s priorities for modern, sustainable, and productive agriculture:

• Sustainability: By focusing on low-input, climate-smart crops, BritGrain Auto supports cleaner farming and boosts carbon sequestration.
• Productivity: Reliable, high-quality yields and improved grain quality deliver tangible economic benefits for English farmers.
• Resilience: Precision breeding under UK regulatory frameworks means more predictable, less risky cropping—critical for rural livelihoods in uncertain times.
• Knowledge Exchange: Our model openly shares findings, protocols, and learning with growers, researchers, and the industry—amplifying impact and accelerating innovation adoption.

Looking Forward: Get Involved

As BritGrain Auto progresses from benchmark controls to the first UK-bred, precision-edited grain hemp lines, we’re committed to making every step open, collaborative, and impactful.

We invite:

• Farmers who want to future-proof their rotations and markets,
• Processors seeking trusted UK supply chains,
• Researchers and academics interested in genetic innovation for resilient crops,
• Policy leaders investing in net zero, food security, and rural growth…

…to follow our project, join in knowledge exchanges, or participate in pilot programs as BritGrain Auto takes root in fields across the country.

Together, we’ll set a new standard for what UK arable farming—and British innovation—can achieve.

BritGrain Auto. Precision-bred for England’s future.