The company that derives ingredients from hemp boosts its patent portfolio and speeds up its entry into the beverage and functional ingredient sectors

LIVERMORE, Calif., Jan. 26, 2026 — (“Nexus”), a molecular farming company that provides plant-based solutions for the flavor, fragrance, and functional ingredient markets, announced that it has acquired the hemp division of the cannabis intellectual property powerhouse , expanding its molecular farming platform by bringing in core genetics and research capabilities.

The patent portfolio safeguards genetic pathways and proprietary germplasm that enable the predictable expression of high-value compounds across the primary terpene classes found within the cannabis genome. Owning this portfolio strengthens Nexus’ intellectual property position and supports continued investment in the company’s molecular farming platform.

“This acquisition broadens our platform and removes crucial constraints,” said Shareef El-Sissi, CEO of Nexus Agriscience. “By bringing core genetics and R&D in-house, we can move more quickly into new markets while maintaining the capital efficiency and scalability that characterize our approach. The cannabis plant is the most productive natural producer of flavor and fragrance compounds, and this portfolio gives us the means to express those compounds predictably and at a commercial scale.”

Nexus is at the intersection of precision agriculture, plant science, and commercial-scale manufacturing and is positioned to serve a $37 billion target market for functional ingredients. Nexus plans to genetically 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 existing supply chains.

Dr. Mark Lewis, one of the key inventors on the acquired patents, said, “Hemp is an extremely powerful biosynthetic platform when precisely engineered to turn plants into factories. This portfolio condenses years of genomic, chemical, and breeding work into the predictable expression of high-value compounds, accelerating the transition from basic science to scalable manufacturing.”

Nexus’ hemp-based molecular farming platform offers a capital-efficient and scalable alternative to precision fermentation for the production of complex natural compounds. Unlike fermentation-based systems that need high capital investment and controlled bioreactor infrastructure, Nexus’ approach has already been proven at the hundreds-of-acres scale, allowing for faster deployment, lower capital expenditure, and rapid market responsiveness.

Nexus Agriscience produces 100% non-cannabinoid hemp-derived natural ingredients with vertical control from genetics through downstream processing. The Company emphasizes chemical fidelity, stability, and is known for bringing novel ingredients to mass market applications with its brand partners. Its products are currently used in flavoring and functional applications for cannabis CPG, with expansion into the functional beverage, specialty natural ingredient, and commodity chemical markets underway.

After the acquisition closed, the operations and intellectual property related to 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’ board of directors, strengthening governance and strategic oversight, while Dr. Mark Lewis and Steven Haba will join Nexus to lead genetic development and operational execution.

About
Nexus Agriscience is unlocking the potential of hemp as a scalable source of natural ingredients for wellness, flavor, fragrance, and pharmaceutical applications. Through vertical control from genetics to processing, Nexus provides chemically consistent, plant-derived ingredients to B2B partners worldwide.

Founded in 2019 as Terpene Belt Farms, the company expanded its scope in 2025 and started operating as Nexus Agriscience after acquiring Biotech Institute’s hemp division. By combining agriculture, chemistry, and regulatory expertise, Nexus brings plant-based ingredients to global markets at a commercial scale.

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SOURCE Nexus Agriscience Inc