How do you make money with plant tissue culture?

Plant tissue culture can be a viable way to make money, especially if you have expertise in the field and access to suitable facilities (or you have a nice in home setup). We have listed below a number of ways you might consider making money from plant tissue culture:

1. Sell plantlets or clones: Propagate and sell disease-free, genetically identical plantlets or clones. This can be particularly lucrative if you’re able to produce rare or in-demand plant species. Take a look at our variegated varieties of philodendron, alocasia, and musa banana!

2. Supply to nurseries or garden centers: Nurseries often require a steady supply of healthy plants. Providing them with tissue-cultured plants can be a profitable venture. This can be difficult in competitive markets, but routine communication about new offerings, and sales, can earn you a loyal customer.

3. Work with agricultural companies: Partner with agricultural companies to produce disease-resistant or high-yield crops using tissue culture techniques. This can be beneficial for both parties. Plants like apples, pear, cherries, and hops are all produced via tissue culture. Find a partner that needs these plants to secure consistent income.

4. Custom propagation services: Offer custom tissue culture propagation services for individuals or companies that want to propagate specific plant varieties. Some companies will charge thousands of dollars to proliferate your plants for you. If you conduct a broad search, and are willing to ship/receive plants, you will open yourself up for success with custom propagation

5. Research collaboration: Collaborate with research institutions or companies for joint projects in developing new plant varieties, disease-resistant strains, or specialized plant products. This is more difficult with limited resources, but if your lab has the ability, consider reaching out to local institutions to assist with their research.

6. Educational workshops or courses: Share your expertise by offering workshops, training, or courses on plant tissue culture techniques. This could be both profitable and a way to establish yourself as an expert in the field. We have our Plant Tissue Culture Workshop that allows individuals and educators to learn the ins and outs out tissue culture at our partner lab in Portland.

7. Online sales and e-commerce: Sell tissue-cultured plants, starter kits, or supplies online. This could involve creating an e-commerce platform or selling through established platforms. Take it from us, the onlince marketplace is huge, and if you can set yourself apart you can reach a global scale with your plants.

8. Consultancy services: Provide consultancy services to farmers, horticulturists, or companies interested in implementing tissue culture techniques. It’s always fun to teach others, and assist other companies build out their vision for their tissue culture business. You can charge by the hour or by the project, and this can act as a nice piecemeal stream of income for you and your company.

Remember, success in making money from plant tissue culture often requires a solid understanding of the specific plants you’re working with, the market demand, and the ability to maintain a sterile laboratory environment. Additionally, networking with potential customers, suppliers, and collaborators is crucial for success in this field. 

It’s not an overnight process, and takes a lot of effort to get any, or all, of these income streams working. Our best tip is to stay determined, and celebrate the little successes. You’ll get there as long as you keep your eye on the prize.