"Despite its many challenges, 2019 was a foundational year for Ikänik – one in which we transformed from a little-known California-based cannabis company into a multi-national operator with pharmaceutical-grade production potential," Brian Baca, the CEO of the company, says.
"During 2019, we determined there was a need to adjust our sights to the non-domestic space to achieve our chief focus of sustainable, long-term growth in the cannabis industry. We began the search for the right place to call our second home, and after exploring multiple opportunities in several countries, we found the perfect fit for our enterprise in Pideka SAS."
Pideka is a developing indoor cultivator of medicinal cannabis, based in Colombia. "Its years of R&D and cultivation expertise, robust 1200-hectare land package, and diversified product portfolio potential made it the ideal acquisition for Ikänik."
"Furthermore, medicinal cannabis production in Colombia is supported by the highest levels of government. I believe the country's future of being a cannabis production hub is upon us. The cost-effective production potential and its centralized exportation locale are just a couple of the highlights that make Colombia so attractive as a long-term growth region."
"Following our acquisition of Pideka in October, we commenced Phase 1 construction of "Casa Flores", a state-of-the-art 80,000 sq. ft. complex for cannabis cultivation and manufacturing," he further explains. "Shortly thereafter, we initiated a cooperative agreement with SGS Colombia SAS – a subsidiary of SGS SA, the world's leading inspection, verification, testing, and certification company – to develop a new "standard" for the quality and safety of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis products (GMP-C)."
"We believe the GMP-C model, which can serve as an umbrella to existing international standards (such as EU-GMP, EU-GACP, GDP, and GPP) by requiring cannabis companies to obtain GMP certification for each stage in the cannabis production process (i.e. cultivation and manufacturing), will provide us with partnership and commercialization opportunities in the global pharmaceutical market."
"Since the signing of our cooperation agreement with SGS, our team has worked tirelessly to bring Casa Flores to GMP-C standards."
"I am proud that Pideka is now the first Colombian cannabis company to have obtained both Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for medicinal plants certification and Good Manufacturing Practices-PHARMA (GMP-PHARMA) certification from SGS (please see our press releases dated December 23, 2019 , and January 31, 2020 for further information)."
"With these critical milestone certifications complete, we anticipate final GMP-C certification for Casa Flores in Q2 2020."
"Our expansion into Colombia has been about more than growing cost-effective, high-quality cannabis or reaching new international markets. At its core, it's been about helping people – get out and enjoy life."
"To strengthen this commitment, we signed a two-year agreement with Corporation for Biological Research ("CIB"), a non-profit Colombian scientific research corporation center comprised of five universities, to develop a colon cancer treatment using cannabinoids and nanotechnology," he concludes.
For more information:
Ikänik Farms
ikanikfarms.com