A just-for-fun poll yielded a solid lineup of greatness, including Bodhi, CSI Humboldt, Capulator, and Archive Seed Bank
Three reclusive California weed legends and a Spanish “automatic” seed factory took top honors in a new, Top 50 Greatest Breeders of 2025 poll. The Top 50 list came from polling data published on the Fire Follower cannabis genetics newsletter.
[For links to the full report, including the raw voting data, check out Fire Follower.]
Cannabis’ entire $60 billion industry is downstream of less than 100 leading architects of weed’s flavor and effects, dubbed “breeders.”
Breeders are like rock star Gregor Mendels, using sexual plant selection over years and decades to refine blockbuster weed lines like OG Kush, and Zkittlez into the next hit sequel. Their artistic choices—and accidents—in countless pollination rooms across the world create the smells, tastes, and highs of cannabis culture in 2026 and far beyond. Breeders are the hit makers of our weed world—the Diplos and Pharrells.
Downs’ personal garden harvest, 2025
Here’s the Top 50 Greatest Breeders of 2025, in alphabetical order, as derived from a public poll with over 2,700 respondents, ending Dec. 1.
Aficionado Seeds
Alien Genetics
Archive Seeds
Barney’s Farm
Biovortex
Blockhead
Bloom Seed Co
Bodhi Seeds
Cannarado
Capulator
Compound Genetics
Stacked from 8 images. Method=B (R=5,S=1)
Crockett Family Farms
DJ Short / Old World Genetics
DNA Genetics
Dutch Passion
Dynasty Genetics
Ethos Genetics
Exotic Genetix
Fast Buds
Freeborn Selections
Huckleberry Hill Farms
Humboldt CSI
Humboldt Seed Company
In House Genetics
Irie Genetics
Josh D (OG Kush)
Karma Genetics
Lit Farms
Lovin in Her Eyes
Masonic Seed Co.
Mendo Dope
Mephisto Genetics
Night Owl Seeds
Purple City Genetics
Raw Genetics
Rebel Grown Seeds
Relentless Genetics
Ridgeline Farms
Romulan Genetics
Seed Junky Genetics
Sensi Seeds
Sin City Seeds
Skunktek
Solfire Gardens
Subcool’s The Dank
Swamp Boys Seeds
ThugPug Genetics
Author: David Downs / High Times
