Andy
Yo, yo, yo, guys, what is up, welcome back to another episode of marijuana sa weekly. And today we have Carl coming on from Black Flag genetics, who’s going to be speaking just a little bit about whether there’s money to be made in genetics, or whether there isn’t, obviously our industry isn’t as established is some of the bigger players. But there is there is licenced genetics in South Africa. And there is movement and there is research going into it. So we’re going to find out a little bit about what’s going on how to get into that sort of space for some of you guys up and coming into the industry. And we might touch into a little bit of the sort of hints and tips on what they breeding at the moment at Black Flag and forgot that writing. Yeah, sounding sounding good.

Dean
I really want to be bringing more content about what’s going on with our local beans. We’ve seen we see a huge amount of hype around the international stuff. And you know, what is really going on in South Africa, I’m sure a lot more than even we would anticipate. So yeah, I’ll call I’ve been we’ve we’ve met call quite recently, and really stoked to hear what he has to say about about, you know, the the scene and what it takes to be in the same

Andy
100% on that. And I’m going to like call come in. And while that’s loading, just, it’s always nice for you guys to just leave a comment below. If you’re doing anything special with genetics, you’ve got your own breeds. And obviously I LIKE and SUBSCRIBE really goes a long way. A call. Thanks so much for joining us today. And welcome to the show. And if you could just in a few few words and sentences, just introduce yourself and a little bit of your background, please.

Karl
Hello, Andrew, how’s it been? Thanks for having me on your show. My name is Karl. And I’ve been working with cannabis for about 12 years and breathing for about four years.

Andy
And it’s all black flag genetics the whole time or

Karl
Black Flag genetics came about about four years ago, that’s when the initial brainchild got some traction again.

Andy
Brilliant. Perfect. So a lot of the guys obviously here to just find out. You know, if there is a lot of people obviously aspiring to get into into cannabis now with the recent changes in the legislation. And I mean, it’s when I mean, a few years ago just wasn’t even an option. You know, people weren’t considering going to like cannabis universities and studying this. And breeding is one of the more particularly complicated parts of growing cannabis. I suppose the whole it’s actually all more complicated than people think. But genetic genetics really is. It’s not a lot of people do it. But it is an industry and it is a huge industry in the States and Europe and elsewhere in the world. Is South Africa’s genetics industry there yet or what do we need to do to get to to the same point as Europe and America for instance?

Karl
I think, yes, it’s a lot of the genetics that are currently in circulation around the globe. First started appearing in the 60s, I would say when people went to the Himalayas, on the hippie trail or whatever it was called in and brought back indicas back to America. And then the breathing began there. And there’s been a lot of leaps and bounds that took place over there, those 50 years, but 60 years. And now those genetics are available globally, and we are seeing more of them. In South Africa. There’s quite a few big global brands that are that are that have got a decent market place space in the South African market. And this enables growers to then select traits from these original World Class genetics that have been worked on for now 5060 years. So you’re having these, having a decent genetic lottery available is a really good start. And you’re there’s some people doing some good work selecting from larger populations of plants. That’s not always a must have. But selection is definitely key and the bigger the population you select from them are the more likely are to find a trade that is not a common

Andy
Yeah, that’s a really good point. I

Dean
mean, a few years ago there wasn’t such a large availability of international genetics with in South Africa but we’re starting off with a good point because they are getting stuff from illegal market it’s already been stabilised so you can now start to look within already a good stock and I suppose take take it even take it even further call before we go a bit further what you say you’ve been growing for around or involved with cannabis for around 12 years what got you Why did you decide to go into into breeding your own your own cannabis,

Karl
your own genetics I’ve initially got fascinated by just collecting bags CD from nice buds that I got from various places when because I didn’t start smoking such nice candidates in the beginning it was again, you get some nice back from a roster or something like that. People see it too and then plant those seeds and you vowed I could then see the what what had been taken over from there but that a lot and now in a plant that came from a seed out of that but what what similarities they were what similarities they weren’t and why and all of that so I think my fascination starts there. And then you’re just not having and the price of seeds also is expensive. And I saw and I see a lot I realised that okay, a lot of these seed companies are just acquiring decent genetics and crossing those two genetics. Yes. Yard started like that with I love crushes and Og push and so I started with them. Like a Cush was probably my first serious breeding project from common genetic with the Hells Angels OG it’s so it sounds angels ag then cross the San Fernando Valley IG and then backcrossed to the Hells Angels IG cut the Hells Angels he cut. So the story goes is that it’s the original OG cush cut, but the Hells Angels are happy with the yield. So they crossed it with a Blackberry Kush, and then selected what is now known as the Hells Angels ot cuts. This is what common genetics used for his, like a Cushlon. So I chose that as the first male to start making really nice

Dean
so far for anyone who wants to get involved in in in cultivation of their own genetics or to start breeding, what would you sort of say to a beginner or you four years ago when you were just getting getting started?

Karl
Any tips? Pop as many seeds as you can I mean, if you’re fascinated by the plant, you will then by default, watch it. So yeah, the more seats you get to see doing their thing, then you get a better idea of the capabilities of the plant. And I asked,

Andy
Do you have any sort of a complicated one because it is a complicated man is like the debate around landrace law landrace strains in South Africa and sort of any protective measures that are in place or any ideologies that you’re you’re trying to follow with regards to those local local landrace strains.

Karl
Are you so did a friend of Maori cross the landrace Qasid inland restrain? And I’ve also worked with Malawi, Malawi strain from Alaska? Yes, it’s to get to keep the traits from the landrace strains to get them to a point that they can compete for the desirable traits that people are looking for. Now, it’s a lot of work. But there are benefits there. Because of the robustness of landrace strengths.

Andy
I think people have maybe actually over bread or not over bread, but like there might be a resurgence of landrace strains in like 510 years once they realise that that’s like crazy, super potent weed they’ve grown is getting too out of hand.

Karl
That’s me, that’s crazy, super potent. We came from all sides. So it’s also about honing in on lines of certain traits that whoever is doing the breeding is fascinating. Advice

Dean
and call how, how many how large Do you think the current sort of breeding scene within South Africa is? Do you think there’s quite a bit of sort of competition amongst colleagues or do you think there’s still more space for people to be coming into into the market?

Karl
Um, ya know, I think with cannabis is always based in such a diverse plant. So you can, you can reflect on you can have, you can create things that are quite different now to a lot of other things if one puts in the time and selection and all of that it is a very, it’s a huge market and it’s tricky and so much available and the cannabis plant produces so many seeds and then say that a variety is now better than some other variety it’s depends on what you’re looking for. Especially that the other space a design, what is 160 cannabinoid cannabinoids that we know? Yeah, how do we test for cannabinoids that we don’t know? Yeah,

Dean
I suppose it all depends on your marketing to see who’s going to dominate in the in the in the imminent space yeah yeah you know you can grow good product but if you you’re not able to get your seats to the masses then you’re not gonna you know, there’s I suppose is that aspect aspect as as well

Karl
it seems I’d say 20% is about having the seats and then he seems as all other way

Andy
is there something you’re particularly breeding out at the moment like a specific cannabinoids, CBG CBN THC delta this or you know, in any sort of specific or I

Karl
prefer the ones with high THC. Yes, but then us veering off of all the other cannabinoids that we know of. I mean, some of my favourites are like that. Yeah. Kimberly cush is brilliant. And it’s I’ve seen the test results for that and it’s got good proportions of numerous cannabinoids. But no I haven’t started breeding for cannabinoid specific as per se but just still I’m working on the triplex months if two lines currently so that’s a special occasion from Colorado which is wedding cake for us birthday cake and then crossed with platinum crust platinum Christmas from in house genetics. upgrade the F ones are amazing and made if twos have seen some of the issues that have what they purchased outdoors and up now a friend of mine will be doing a hands on the F two. Amazing indoors NASA control Yeah, very cool.

Andy
Call unfortunately, we’ve, we’ve hit our time limits, but we’d love to get you back and talk to you a little bit more about your actual style of breeding and techniques. But yeah, from outside thank you so much for coming on today. And we look forward to seeing you again

Karl
in the future. Thank you for having me that was it was awesome. Thanks Scott.

Andy
Brilliant day. Yeah.

Dean
Epic to to chat to some some real passionate South African South African breeders. I think there’s a lot more like, like I was saying, I think the scene is seen as massive and it’s, it’s cool to see more and more people starting to create competitive stuff. I mean, there’s there’s multiple South African breeders whose stuff I’ve personally worked with, and then obviously seen on the ground and stuff like that. And so I think it’s in a really exciting space. You know, but I want to see more people trying to create and pushing it as well, because I think we could be globally viable very soon as soon as the government starts to allow for

Andy
it, I suppose. Yeah, yeah, it reminds me I mean that these chats like stir up a lot of thoughts, you know, we haven’t spoken in such a long time about how to actually breathe and like sort of techniques, you know, I’d love to know what sort of feminization techniques he’s maybe using and stabilisation techniques. So ya know, as I think we’ve got lots of content to bring call back for in the future and hopefully you guys at home are looking forward to to this thing and please do let us know below if you’re doing any sort of breeding on any dank streams. And remember what Cole said, puffers manatee means as possible I think that’s a perfect note to close it out pop as many beans as possible and make sure to like and subscribe and take you guys next week

Dean
Peace guys