Compliant Hemp Accelerated Improvement Network (CHAIN)  

Research funded by the USDA-NIFA-Supplemental and Alternative CropsThe goal of the Compliant Hemp Accelerated     Improvement Network (CHAIN) is to publicly release and evaluate a collection of novel accessions produced by Texas A&M University’s Hemp Conversion Program (HCP) alongside other candidate materials in order to identify germplasm well adapted to the southern U.S. The project establishes a northsouth transect of three locations from 26.2°N to 33.5°N. Twelve fiber and six grain cultivars plus selected HCP accessions will be tested at four planting dates per location. The diverse, public HCP germplasm collection incorporates the majority of genetic variation across all Cannabis spp. (C. sativa, C. indica, C. ruderalis) and will benefit farmers with high yielding cultivars, refiners with reliable feedstocks, customers with quality end-products, and society with beneficial ecosystem services.