By Ana ManoSAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazilian agricultural research agency Embrapa has received the greenlight from health agency Anvisa to research the cannabis plant, a landmark move that puts farming powerhouse Brazil a step closer towards authorizing its cultivation.In an interview on Friday, Embrapa researcher Daniela Bittencourt welcomed Anvisa’s decision this week, which gives the agency unprecedented permission to build its first-ever cannabis seed bank and develop projects to genetically improve the plant for various applications.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementEmbrapa will also research hemp used to produce fibers, Bittencourt said.”This is only the beginning,” Bittencourt said by telephone from Brasilia. “Our plan is to carry out research for 12 years but it may possibly go on forever, like what happens with soy and corn.”Similar research efforts from Embrapa since the 1970s opened up vast regions of Brazil for large-scale soybean farming, kicking off a significant increase in the country’s output of the oilseed to make it the world’s largest producer and exporter.Embrapa scientists, who breed genetic varieties of grains, cotton and vegetables best suited for Brazil’s tropical climate, applied last February for authorization from health agency Anvisa to carry out cannabis research.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementEmbrapa’s work may also grab international attention from cannabis companies, which have shown interest in Brazil’s potential for the development and domestic sale of medicinal and industrial cannabis products for a long time.An initial 13 million reais ($2.41 million) in public funding will imminently be released to fund Embrapa’s cannabis research, Bittencourt said, adding the agency is open to studying the plant in partnership with the priv …
