Hop latent viroid (HLVd) infection lowers the commercial value of cannabis by reducing flower harvest weight, THC concentration, and terpene production. Even experienced cannabis cultivators growing time tested, stable genetics who use a trustworthy lab may still find lower yields, cannabinoid, terpene levels than expected. Hop latent viroid infection is one potential cause. To reduce the risk of infection of HLVd and other financially harmful microbial pathogens, growers can benefit from a comprehensive, formal environmental monitoring plan (EMP) and Hazard Analysis and Control Point (HACCP) plan. Creating these plans has additional benefits including the financial benefit of producing a higher quality product that can attract premium pricing, while simultaneously providing a required element of future GMP certification.
Dr. Shaun R, Opie, Managing Partner of E4 Bioscience commented, “We have a great team of cannabis experts who know that it is much less expensive and frustrating to develop, implement, and optimize a rational, cost-effective preventative plan than it is to create any corrective action plan.” Setting up and training on a rational biosecurity plan will lead to passing more compliance tests and fewer remediation activities. It’s a great combination of revenue generation and cost reduction that sound attractive to some investment teams and head cultivators. What grower wants to send their top shelf buds to extraction?
E4 has a variety of cannabis experts who can help with preventative planning for hop latent viroid, and who can interpret HLVd testing results to help prepare an operational response to a new or recurring infection. If your laboratory would like to talk to our cannabis laboratory consultants about biosecurity planning or hop latent virus mitigation services, please contact us.