South Africa: University of Venda summit looks to unlock cannabis potential

On June 11–12, 2025, the University of Venda (UNIVEN) Directorate of Community Engagement, Entrepreneurship, Inclusive Innovation, and Commercialisation hosted a two-day Collaborative Cannabis and Hemp Summit at the University's Sports Hall. The event brought together over 120 stakeholders from across government, academia, traditional leadership, and the private sector. The theme for this summit was "Unlocking cannabis potential towards the achievement of sustainable development goals by 2030 in Vhembe District."

Professor Vhonani Netshandama delivered the welcome address on behalf of Professor Francis, representing the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Bernard Nthambeleni. In her remarks, Professor Netshandama said that UNIVEN's commitment to ecosystem's approach, interdisciplinary collaboration and community engagement, entrepreneurship and inclusive innovation as well as commercialisation initiatives that aligns with the university's vision of being an engaged, entrepreneurial and socially impactful institution that cares about the environment and economic emancipation of citizens. Entrepreneurship, Inclusive Innovation, and Commercialisation.

"We are grateful to the leadership of the executive mayor and the collaboration to create spaces for dialogue like this, which elevate Indigenous knowledge systems in tackling the complex and complicated challenges surrounding cannabis beneficiation, commercialisation, and national as well as international benchmarking," Prof Netshandama explained. She concluded her address by clarifying that the university is committed to sharing its resources to support the cannabis industry's growth. Working together, participants hope to find ways to influence policy, map the ecosystem, create collaborative action research and innovation teams that benefit the industry in sustainable ways.

The summit started with an opening address from Vhembe District Executive Mayor, Freda Nkondo, who stressed the importance of fresh ideas and sharp minds to address societal challenges. "This is one of those summits that plays a significant role in exploring the potential of cannabis and its impact on the economy and health," she said. According to the Executive Mayor, the summit of this nature carries enough weight to help dig deep as they navigate to unmask the importance of cannabis and what impact it has on the lives of the people, both economically and health-wise.

Cllr Nkondo mentioned that the South African government is working towards a comprehensive framework for the cannabis industry, and the summit provides an opportunity for stakeholders to share knowledge and best practices. As she put it, "The summit is more of a sharing hub and will provide in-depth information about the grants, regulations, and best practices to cannabis."

The Executive Mayor underlined the potential of the cannabis industry to create jobs and boost the local economy, particularly in rural areas like the Vhembe District. She concluded by encouraging the audience to organise themselves in a way that will enable them to make submissions to influence enabling policies, regulations and laws.

Over the two days, the summit engaged participants in critical discussions about cannabis sector development. Day One was centred on Limpopo's cannabis landscape, national legislative frameworks, ARC's ongoing trials in Levubu, and the potential of the South African Cannabis Master Plan. Experts also explored funding avenues and offered global insights into cannabis regulation aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.

On the last day, focus shifted to innovation and empowerment, spotlighting the journey from laboratory research to market-ready cannabis products. Sessions explored cannabis-infused Agro-food innovations, youth involvement in the green economy, UNIVEN's phytochemical research strengths, entrepreneurial journeys, and support mechanisms for cannabis SMMEs. The role of local governance in creating a sustainable and inclusive cannabis industry also took centre stage.

Professor Edwin Madala of the University of Venda presented the institution's commitment to supporting local farmers through advanced chemical analysis of plant products, using its in-house mass spectrometry facility. This initiative is grounded in extensive research from Prof. Madala's lab, including a recent PhD study by Dr Dakalo Lorraine Ndou, which revealed that Moringa plants, though visually similar, exhibit diverse chemical profiles. This variation underscores the need for detailed chemical surveys before making claims about the pharmacological benefits of plant-based products.

To enhance scientific credibility and community collaboration, the university is establishing a Centre of Excellence in Mass Spectrometry Research. As part of this effort, the university also aims to subsidise analysis costs for local farmers, strengthening trust and engagement.

Additionally, research on cannabis, conducted in partnership with the University of Johannesburg and Dutch bioinformaticians, was shared with farmers. The study found that cannabis contains a wide range of active compounds beyond CBD and THC, highlighting its broader therapeutic potential. The presentation also addressed factors influencing chemical composition, such as soil chemistry and hydroponic cultivation, offering new opportunities for agricultural innovation.

Ms Maumela delivered an insightful presentation, drawing from her co-authored article, Potential Cannabis Commercialisation Benefits in South Africa's Cannabis Masterplan, Ms Maumela presented a case study of Limpopo Province, highlighting the socio-economic opportunities outlined in the Cannabis Masterplan.

Her presentation emphasised the Masterplan's potential to drive job creation, economic growth, tax revenue, and community development in rural regions like Limpopo. Ms Maumela explored diverse applications of cannabis, including medical CBD, food, textiles, and sustainable agriculture, as key drivers of economic diversification. She also addressed critical challenges hindering commercialisation, such as societal stigma, the complex South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) licensing process, and infrastructure gaps. To address these, she recommended simplified licensing frameworks, targeted support for small-scale farmers, and public awareness campaigns to reduce stigma and promote inclusive participation in the cannabis sector.

In her presentation, she underscored the vital role of the Limpopo Agro-Food Technology Station (LATS), based at the University of Limpopo, in advancing agro-processing and supporting enterprise development. LATS provides technical and scientific support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the agro-food sector, particularly in developing products from indigenous and underutilised crops. Through applied research and process innovation, the station improves food production efficiency, safety, and nutritional value. It also offers laboratory services such as nutritional analysis, microbial testing, and shelf-life assessments, while helping SMEs meet regulatory standards and enhance competitiveness.

She highlighted LATS's broader contributions to community upliftment and economic growth by empowering local entrepreneurs, promoting the use of local agricultural resources, and fostering job creation. The station also plays an educational role, offering training, internships, and research opportunities for University of Limpopo students. By supporting the processing and commercialisation of Indigenous foods, LATS contributes to food security, reduces post-harvest losses, and helps preserve traditional food knowledge.

She concluded by announcing that the University of Venda and the University of Limpopo are formalising a partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance institutional collaboration. Community members were encouraged to submit products for testing through the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT), which will coordinate with LATS.

Dr Ndzotoyi from CSIR acknowledged the collaboration between CSIR and the Limpopo Cannabis Forum. She emphasised that her responsibilities involve mentoring and collaboration, as part of multidisciplinary teams, where she works closely with industry partners and fellow researchers to drive innovation in agroprocessing. Through this work, she supports CSIR's mandate to improve South African quality of life by developing market-ready products and strengthening local manufacturing capabilities. Her duties include designing product formulations, overseeing pilot production, ensuring quality control, and transferring technologies to commercial stages.

Mr Ramaanda Daswa, who presented on Unlocking Youth participation in the Green Economy, has emphasized that the Limpopo Hemp and Cannabis Farmers Association is a cooperative dedicated to cultivating and supplying medicinal cannabis and hemp. The association promotes the health benefits of cannabis-based products like oils and teas, while also focusing on community empowerment. Through educational sessions covering cultivation practices, value chains, processing, and packaging, the group aims to build local skills and encourage broader participation in the cannabis industry. The association also collaborates with institutions like the University of Limpopo to integrate traditional knowledge systems and ensure compliance with SAHPRA regulations, thereby improving market access for small-scale farmers and contributing to sustainable agricultural development in the region.

Rendering the words of support, Chief Magoro, representing the house of traditional leaders, mentioned that they are fully in support of the summit, as it has shed light on job creation for the youth in rural villages. "We need to harness the potential of this industry to drive economic development and uplift our communities. I believe a cannabis forum will provide a vital platform for stakeholders to collaborate and share knowledge."

Mr. Mushaphi, Local Economic Development (LED) Manager of Vhembe District, presented the proposal that should inform the creation of the collaborative Vhembe Cannabis Association Forum, as suggested with the founding good governance principles as follows: Participation, Rule of Law, Transparency, Responsiveness, Consensus-Oriented, Equity and Inclusiveness, Effectiveness and Efficiency, and Accountability. Professor Vhonani Netshandama, Director of Community Engagement, Entrepreneurship, Inclusive Innovation, and Commercialisation at UNIVEN, summarized the proceedings of the day and encouraged participants to volunteer for some of the work of the forum so that Vhembe becomes the leading district in the province.

Vhembe District Municipality MMC, Cllr Anderson Mudunungu, in his closing remarks, delivered a heartfelt vote of thanks, praising all attendees for their contributions and enthusiasm. He highlighted the importance of teamwork and visionary leadership in driving transformation. Cllr Mudunungu pledged his continued support for the summit's initiatives and affirmed his belief that meaningful progress is achievable when communities come together around a shared purpose.

Among the highlights of the Summit were exhibitors who have begun their journey towards commercialisation. One of them was Mr Ramaanda Daswa, a young entrepreneur who showcased cannabis-infused gummies. Another was JoAnne of Ms. Jennifer Badane, who displayed a range of cannabis-based products, including infused water, cosmetics, healing oils, and hair lotion. Both exhibitors hold the necessary permits and serve on the executive committee of the Limpopo Cannabis Association.

In a notable cultural moment, the event was graced with a powerful performance by renowned artist Dr Colbert Mukwevho, whose music added vibrancy to the proceedings and echoed the summit's themes of healing, unity, and empowerment.

Source: University of Venda