Avicanna has announced that Santa Marta Golden Hemp S.A.S. (“SMGH”), a majority owned subsidiary of the Company, has obtained a United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) National Organic Program (“NOP”) certification from Control Union Certifications, for its hemp cultivar, and has obtained registration for an additional 15 genetic strains of cannabis.
USDA Organic Certification
"Receipt of a NOP certification from the USDA for the cultivation of hemp (non-psychoactive cannabis) makes SMGH the first producer to receive this certification in Colombia," the team with the company explains. "As a result, SMGH’s organic cultivation practices are now validated by the USDA, which positions the Company to provide certified organic hemp derivatives for use in supplements and food products produced or shipped to the United States. The USDA protects consumers by allowing certified growers to use the USDA organic logo on products that are grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. Any products intended for medical purposes coming from this organic cultivated hemp are outside of the scope of this certificate and cannot be commercialized as “organic”."
Aras Azadian, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Receiving the USDA NOP certification marks a significant milestone in our commitment to help set the highest quality standards in organic and sustainable cannabis cultivation, as we take another step forward towards becoming a global leader in the CBD industry. We expect this achievement to facilitate our growth strategy, which includes the expansion of both our plant-derived active pharmaceutical ingredients (“APIs”) and bulk CBD formulations, as well as our branded lines of finished derma-cosmetics and phyto-therapeutic products into the U.S. and European markets where the USDA certification is a premium differentiator for those product categories that allow hemp to be certified as organic.”
About Organic Cultivation
"Dedicated to environmental preservation, SMGH will cultivate 100% sun-grown USDA certified organic hemp," they further explain. "Implementing Good Agricultural and Collection Practices and promoting a living soil system, SMGH’s plants will grow healthy. The use of chemical pesticides and herbicides is harmful for the consumer, the plant, and mostly the environment. Plants grown under the pressure of conventional practices don’t develop to produce their full potential of nutrients and benefits. Chemicals used in conventional agriculture are responsible for poisoning water sources, damaging the soil and diminishing its ability to sequester carbon dioxide which is a major cause for global warming. SMGH strives to maintain its soils free from synthetic compounds as a compromise to our planet."
Registration of Additional Genetics
On October 18, 2019, Avicanna received confirmation that SMGH has obtained registrations for 11 strains of psychoactive cannabis and 4 strains of non-psychoactive cannabis. "Following such registration, SMGH has a total of 14 registered strains of psychoactive cannabis and 5 registered strains of non-psychoactive cannabis. SMGH, can commence production of products containing each strain of non-psychoactive cannabis that has been registered and, upon receipt of a quota with respect to each registered psychoactive strain, SMGH will be able to commence production of products containing each strain of its registered psychoactive cannabis strains. In addition, such registration enables SMGH to market seeds of such registered genetics and export propagation material (upon receipt of necessary approvals)."
“Achieving this additional registration not only expands Avicanna’s genetic bank for commercial purposes but also reflects our commitment to work with a wide range of varieties that provide a new range of cannabinoids for our research and development projects. This registration will also enhance our capacity to continue improving and stabilizing high performance genetics as part of our breeding program,” said Avicanna’s Chief Agricultural Officer, Lucas Nosiglia.
For more information:
Avicanna
480 University Ave, Suite 1502
Toronto, ON M5G 1V2
Canada
647.243.5283
info@avicanna.com
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