Nexus Agriscience acquired the hemp division of Biotech Institute, including its patent portfolio and intellectual property, to strengthen its molecular farming efforts. The company plans to engineer hemp plants to produce non-cannabinoid, plant-based alternatives for flavoring and functional ingredients to replace potentially harmful synthetic additives in the food supply and other markets.

Nexus Agriscience Acquires Biotech Institute IP Portfolio

Jan 26, 2026

Mg Magazine Newswire

MG Magazine

*LIVERMORE, Calif.* — Nexus Agriscience acquired the hemp division of
cannabis intellectual property owner Biotech Institute.

The patent portfolio protects genetic pathways and proprietary germplasm
that enable predictable expression of high-value compounds across the
primary terpene classes found within the cannabis genome.

Nexus, a molecular farming company delivering plant-based solutions for
flavor, fragrance, and functional ingredient markets, plans to engineer
hemp plants to produce plant-based alternatives to potentially harmful
synthetic additives, such as petroleum-based chemicals, in the food supply.
Hemp offers a carbon negative alternative to incumbent supply chains.

Nexus Agriscience produces one hundred percent non-cannabinoid hemp-derived
natural ingredients with vertical control from genetics through downstream
processing. Its products are used in flavoring and functional applications
for cannabis CPG, with expansion underway into functional beverage,
specialty natural ingredient, and commodity chemical markets.

The operations and intellectual property associated with Biotech
Institute’s hemp assets were integrated into Nexus, including a portfolio
of issued and pending utility and plant patents, living plant materials,
seed inventory, and specialized technical expertise.

Gary Hiller of Biotech Institute will join Nexus’s board of directors. Dr.
Mark Lewis and Steven Haba will join Nexus to lead genetic development and
operational execution.