Holigram and Paradise Seeds join forces to experiment with legal cannabis in the Netherlands

Two Dutch companies with roots in the cannabis industry date back to the early 1990s, announced their partnership as part of the The Dutch Coffeeshop Experiment, the legal cannabis pilot program in the Netherlands.

The Paradise Seeds seed bank has thus become Holigram's official genetic partner,  one of the ten selected certified producers by the Dutch government to supply legal cannabis to coffee shops as part of the national pilot program which will take place in 2024.

Paradise Seeds will supply Holigram with its own genetic strains, such as Dutch Dragon, Jacky White, and Wappa, as well as more recent varieties. Holigram, the only producer authorized to use Paradise Seeds« genetics as part of this »experiment,” focuses on the large-scale cultivation of high-quality organic cannabis in a state-of-the-art 8,000 m² production facility.

«The partnership brings together Dutch cannabis pioneers»

This partnership brings together two companies that have been active in the Dutch cannabis industry since the early 1990s. Together, they have contributed to the industry’s development in the areas of genetics and nutrients.

Patrick Stevens, Holigram’s sales director, describes the announcement as the coming together of two key players in the history of the Dutch cannabis industry: Luc Krol, owner of the Paradise Seeds seed bank, and Jetze de Raad, founder of Biobizz Fertilizer and now head of the Dutch LP Holigram.

«For three decades, Jetze and Luc have been leading Dutch companies that have driven enormous changes in the cannabis industry. So it’s fantastic—and entirely fitting—that their paths are finally crossing and that they’re joining forces in this Dutch legal venture.»

Luc Krol is the founder of Paradise Seeds, a cannabis seed bank owned by breeders, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year. He also founded the Medical Cannabis Bike Tour Foundation, which is currently funding a clinical trial on the use of medical cannabis in cancer treatment in Spain.

Jetze de Raad founded the organic fertilizer company Biobizz in 1992. In 2015, he established Laboraad, a research and consulting laboratory dedicated to driving innovation in sustainability within the horticulture and agriculture sectors. A longtime advocate for a legal cannabis supply chain in the Netherlands, he founded Holigram, which received a Dutch coffeeshop experimental license in 2021.

Jetze’s entrepreneurial background is the driving force behind Holigram’s focus on sustainability. The cannabis will be organic, and the cultivation facility was built to reinforce this approach. The building is free of (natural) gas, uses solar panels and energy-efficient LEDs, and features a water recycling system.

Proven genetics

Patrick Stevens explains that the benefit of using Paradise Seeds’ genetics lies in the reliability of their cannabis strains, which have been stabilized over many years, ensuring consistency in the final product—both in cultivation and in the end user’s experience.

Although Paradise also offers newer strains that reflect the «Californian» trend, the presence of «classic» genetics such as Wappa, Dutch Dragon, and the’Original White Widow Crossing it with the American varieties Gelato and Cookies provides additional stability. «The best of both worlds,» says Patrick.

Luc Krol says, «Paradise Seeds got its start in Amsterdam’s coffeeshop scene in the 1990s. That’s where I exchanged seeds with travelers from Asia and the Americas to build my collection and develop the first Paradise Seeds strains.»

«It was also in these coffeeshops that the final product was tested, and the feedback I received convinced me to devote myself full-time to breeding. So I’m delighted that Paradise Seeds varieties are once again available in coffeeshops. It’s also a privilege to work with Holigram. It goes without saying that Jetze and I have been working together for many years and have seen the industry change radically. Being part of this legal initiative in our own country, the Netherlands, is very exciting.».