ZeaKal's novel PhotoSeed trait boosts hemp
biomass oil output by up to 50%
TORONTO and SAN DIEGO, June 1,
2021 /CNW/ - RIV Capital Inc. ("RIV Capital" or the
"Company") (TSX: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF) portfolio company ZeaKal, Inc.
("ZeaKal") announced that its PhotoSeed™ technology is believed to
be the first plant trait proven to enhance the oil profile of hemp,
offering the industry a sustainable way to improve the crop's value
while capturing more carbon.
According to ZeaKal's analytical chemistry data, PhotoSeed
increased oil composition in hemp biomass by up to 50% relative to
controls, comprising up to 8% of the plant's dry weight. The
development comes amid a spike in global demand for plant oils as
renewable diesel inputs. ZeaKal anticipates that PhotoSeed hemp
could produce approximately 800lbs of oil per acre—nearly triple
that of soybeans, the largest oilseed crop in North America and one commonly used as an
input for renewable diesel. The first commercial PhotoSeed hemp
plants were developed in partnership with Wisconsin Crop Innovation
Center at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison.
"This new data validates our thesis that PhotoSeed could be
transformative for the hemp sector," said Mary Dimou, Senior Director, Corporate
Development at RIV Capital and Board Advisor, ZeaKal. "We believe
that by offering significant composition and sustainability
benefits, PhotoSeed has the potential to advance hemp cultivation
to a greater level of efficiency, consistency, and sophistication.
High-oil PhotoSeed hemp may also be immensely valuable for
complementary industries, including renewable diesel and
bioplastics."
PhotoSeed is a trait technology that increases plants' ability
to capture carbon and sunlight, translating into additional energy
and therefore better nutritional composition. Beyond higher oil
production, it is expected that PhotoSeed's additional benefits for
hemp and cannabis may include improved seed composition, higher
yields, and increased levels of cannabinoids.
"We are proud to develop what is believed to be the first
traited high-oil hemp, a feat that complements our efforts to
improve oil production in key crops such as soy," said Han Chen, ZeaKal co-founder and CEO. "By
capturing carbon to oil in hemp, PhotoSeed creates additional value
for cultivators and processors on a smaller footprint. With global
demand for plant oils exceeding production, PhotoSeed provides
growers with a new crop opportunity to produce a versatile,
low-carbon-intensity and most importantly non-food-competitive
feedstock in the long-term."
RIV Capital invested in ZeaKal in June
2019 with the thesis that PhotoSeed could be adapted and
optimized for hemp and, eventually, for cannabis. Since its
original investment, the Company has continued to work closely with
ZeaKal as it extends PhotoSeed's applications for hemp and other
key crops.
About RIV Capital
RIV Capital is an investment and acquisition company
specializing in cannabis with a portfolio of 13 companies across
various segments of the cannabis value chain. We believe that
bringing together people, capital, and ideas raises the potential
of the entire cannabis industry. By leveraging our industry
insights, in-house expertise, and thesis-driven approach to
investing, we aim to provide shareholders with exposure to
specialized and disruptive cannabis companies.
About ZeaKal
At ZeaKal, we are building a value driven "NewType" of
agriculture to harmonize the needs of farmers, consumers, and our
planet. Our flagship plant trait technology, PhotoSeed™, helps
crops capture more carbon and sunlight, leading to healthier,
nutrient-rich food and feed grown on a smaller environmental
footprint. We go beyond science to make affordable nutrition more
sustainable, with marketable differentiation for growers. Discover
how we are transforming carbon to nutrition: zeakal.com or @zeakal
on Twitter.
Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains statements which constitute
"forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable
securities laws, including statements regarding the plans,
intentions, beliefs and current expectations of RIV Capital and its
portfolio companies with respect to future business activities and
operating performance. Forward-looking information is often
identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will",
"intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or
similar expressions and includes information regarding the
Company's beliefs in the benefits of PhotoSeed; the Company's
expectation that PhotoSeed leads to a greater level of efficiency,
consistency, and sophistication; ZeaKal's expectation that
PhotoSeed could lead to increased oil composition in hemp biomass
and improved seed composition, higher yields and cannabinoid
levels; ZeaKal's belief that PhotoSeed could be applied to
cannabis, and ZeaKal's belief that PhotoSeed may provide growers
with a new crop opportunities.
Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is
not based on historical fact but instead reflects management's
expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or
events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of
management considered reasonable at the date the statements are
made. Although RIV Capital believes that the expectations reflected
in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such
information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance
should not be placed on such information, as unknown or
unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future
results, performance or achievements of RIV Capital or its
portfolio companies. Among the key factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those projected in the
forward-looking information are the following: changes that result
in different outcomes for PhotoSeed trials; that PhotoSeed may not
lead to higher yields and cannabinoid levels; regulatory and
licensing risks; changes in cannabis industry growth and trends;
changes in general economic, business and political conditions,
including changes in the financial markets; the global regulatory
landscape and enforcement related to cannabis, including political
risks and risks relating to regulatory change; risks relating to
anti-money laundering laws; compliance with extensive government
regulation, including RIV Capital's interpretation of such
regulation; public opinion and perception of the cannabis industry;
divestiture risks; and the risk factors set out in RIV Capital's
annual information form for the year ended March 31, 2020 filed with the Canadian securities
regulators and available on RIV Capital's profile on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties
materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking
information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially
from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated,
believed, estimated or expected. Although RIV Capital has attempted
to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that
cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. RIV
Capital does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to
update this forward-looking information except as otherwise
required by applicable law.
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SOURCE RIV Capital Inc.