Royal Queen Seeds is a Barcelona-based company that claims to be one of Europe’s largest cannabis seed banks. Last year it set up shop in South Africa opening a cannabis seed store at 208 Tara Rd, Van Riebeeckpark the Bluff in Durban. It also supplies many of the ‘Grey Zone’ retail outlets
This year it secured a three year partnership with the eThekwini Municipality to launch a cannabis development pilot project.
eThekwini Municipality announced the partnership with Royal Queen Seeds South Africa (RQS SA) on 24 March 2026, saying the Cannabis and Hemp Commercialisation Pilot Programme has been signed off by the city’s Economic Development and Planning Committee. It is part of a broader package of strategic interventions aimed at unlocking economic potential and raising Durban’s international profile.
The committee said that RQS SA would put up all the funding for the three year pilot, but did not indicate how much money the multinational seed company would put in or what actual shape and form the project would take.
RQS, which is mainly an online store has diversified into bricks and mortar in recent years, opening up four outlets – two in Amsterdam, one in Thailand and the fourth in South Africa.
It announced on its site blog in April 2025:
“We’ve just set up operations on our fourth continent: Africa! More specifically, we’ve taken the pioneering step of establishing a Royal Queen Seeds store in the port city of Durban, South Africa, where we’ll provide our world-leading cannabis genetics.
“Setting up shop in South Africa was a no-brainer following the recent passing of the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill( Editor’s note. Ummmm…. the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act actually criminalizes the sale of cannabis seeds with 2% THC or higher) . Our big move makes us the first international seed bank to get established in the nation, and we’re ready to supply local growers with the genetics they deserve!” the website’s blog reported at the time.
This week the committee said RQS SA would be funding the pilot project over three years, focusing on research and sector development.
“The programme will position eThekwini as a leader in the emerging cannabis and hemp sector through a structured regulatory sandbox that ensures compliance while enabling innovation”.
“The fully funded programme will focus on research, farmer development, and sector readiness, providing emerging farmers, cooperatives, and heritage growers with access to advanced genetics, technical expertise, and global best practice,” the committee said.
Officials added that the project is expected to unlock new agricultural value chains and support rural development.
“The three-year programme is expected to unlock new agricultural value chains, support rural development, and strengthen the Municipality’s readiness for future commercialisation opportunities”.
The committee said the pilot project was part of a wider set of high-impact programmes recommended to accelerate economic recovery and investment, and position Durban as a globally competitive and resilient city”.
Royal Queen Seeds In its own words:
Sprouting from humble roots in Amsterdam in 2007, Royal Queen Seeds has flourished into a world-leading cannabis industry giant that continues to spearhead innovation in the sector. From our small beginnings, we’ve emerged as one of the biggest seed banks in Europe and beyond, and proudly received the “Best Seed Bank of the Year” dual title at the 2024 Emjays and International Cannabis Awards (ICA).
Since our early days of breeding and selling polyhybrid genetics, we’ve developed an entire library of elite-tier varieties, including photoperiod, autoflowering, high-CBD, and regular strains. Moreover, we recently spearheaded the production of the world’s first true F1 cannabis hybrids.
Alongside our stellar cannabis genetics, we’ve also launched successful lines of growing supplies, including nutrients and bioinoculants. Our smoking accessories, merch, educational blogs, and grow guides are also amongst the best in the industry.
From our headquarters in Barcelona, Spain, we’ve spread our influence over the globe. We now proudly operate in the United States, as well as a brick-and-mortar seed store and luxury smoking lounge in Bangkok, Thailand.
Most recently, we’ve planted our flag in Durban
Many cannabis users are familiar with the name “Durban”. Not so much in the context of a geographical location, but as the name of a popular and cerebral cannabis strain—Durban Poison. However, much like the strain, Durban itself has many wonderful traits that urged us to make it our touchdown location in Africa.
Home to world-famous landrace genetics, the wider region provides the perfect climate for cannabis cultivation. Adding to this, Durban boasts a vibrant cannabis culture, culinary scene, stunning beaches, and the beautiful Drakensberg mountains lie nearby. As well as providing superb genetics, we aim to integrate into the local cannabis culture, serving as a hub of education and community for the budding scene.
Our flagship Durban store offers much more than your traditional retail space. As well as providing an extensive selection of strains from the RQS catalogue, the site operates as a pioneering experiential centre unlike anything seen before in South Africa.
Similar to our renowned smoking lounge over in Thailand, our Durban store offers visitors an educational experience, such as a growing room showcasing cannabis cultivation from seed to harvest. The location will house a pharmacy and meeting room.
Pay us a visit in Durban to purchase a vast array of premium dagga seeds. Our strain categories include feminized varieties, F1 hybrids, high-CBD cultivars, speedy autoflowers, and regular genetics perfect for breeding your own.
But that’s not all. You’ll also have access to our envied cannabis vape pens, handy smoking accessories to streamline every session, and cultivation tools that make growing easier than ever.
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