Chemesis International (CSI.C) has announced that its Colombian subsidiary has taken a substantive step towards cultivation on a mass scale.
In January 2019, the company received its seed producer license, another crucial step in its goal to take Colombian cannabis global.
“The Seed Producer License not only allows the company to grow and harvest, but import and export cannabis derivatives and seeds.”
–Edgar Montero, CEO of Chemesis
La Finca, the wholly-owned subsidiary, said it anticipates its initial harvest to take place in Q2 2019 and for large-scale commercialization to begin in Q4 of the same year.
The seed producer license which allows La Finca to develop its own genetics is integral to scaling cultivation operations up.
The company has accumulated over 1,060 acres of farmland through its farming association, a non-profit arm of La Finca which provides training to farmers interested in growing cannabis.
Besides empowering local farmers, the association’s non-profit nature makes it easier to solicit funds from organizations like the United Nations which seek to aid in Colombia’s redevelopment post-ceasefire.
Read: Chemesis (CSI.C), La Finca and the reconstruction of Colombia
Chemesis says La Finca will continue the process of undergoing agronomic evaluations mandated by the Colombian Ministry of Agriculture (ICA) to “increase its number of cultivars that can be cultivated to achieve country-wide commercialization in all regions and climates across Colombia.”
La Finca is currently licensed for five cultivars. These cultivars were developed in a partnership with Universidad Nacional de Colombia which sought to acclimate cannabis plants to Colombia while also maximizing yield and quality.
Once harvested, these cultivars are destined for both domestic and international distribution.
Chemesis builds out its board
Last week, Chemesis announced the appointment of Deepak Anand to its board of directors, a business-savvy executive who brings more than 15 years of experience in the health, charitable and private sectors.
Mr. Anand has served on the boards of many associations in Canada, the United States and Europe. Within the global cannabis sector, he has worked in conjunction with governmental officials, politicians, policy makers, health professional organizations, educators, investors, patients as well as producers.
–Chemesis International
Describing Anand as someone fully-immersed within the cannabis industry would be an understatement. Among others positions, he is currently serving on the boards of the Center for Medicinal Cannabis, Canadians for Fair Access to Medical Marijuana and the National Association of Cannabis Professionals.
Anand’s additional positions include:
- Vice president of business development and government relations at Cannabis Compliance, Canada
- Vice president for Zenabis Global, a Health Canada licensed producer under the ACMPR with facilities in British Columbia and New Brunswick, Canada
- Adjunct professor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University where he wrote, and taught Canada’s first and only Cannabis course titled ‘Cannabis Professional Series’ via an online module
- Executive eirector for the Canadian National Medical Marijuana Association (CNMMA)
“I look forward to bringing my experience from the Canadian and Global Cannabis industry to provide strategic guidance to the team at Chemesis.”
–Deepak Anand.
–Ethan Reyes