African Harvest AgriTech Pty Ltd (AHA) and FreshGrow AgriTech Pty Ltd (FG) were both started through collaboration with International SDR Group that has an established footprint of cannabis operations. Through this collaboration we established the need for added value services in this new industry. A critical need to facilitate the production end of the market for exclusive off-take agreements thereby ensuring that the supply chain is established in a closed loop for each client. Our service is to facilitate that through these two companies expansion of our services have extended to Industrial & CBD Hemp and Medicinal Cannabis.

According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, in 2019 Africa accounted for $37.3billion (+-11%) of the worlds’ Hemp and Cannabis market. A significant portion of the modern hemp industry relates to CBD (Cannabidiol), a medically useful substance that is believed to alleviate swelling, promote relaxation, and is already being added to thousands of consumer products (topical, creams, pet foods, food, and beverages). THC has also become massively useful in creating medicines for the Pharma industry. 

THC/ CBD can be extracted from either cannabis or hemp. However, Industrial hemp CBD cannot contain more than 0.3 percent of THC in the biomass that is extracted from hemp unless you have a legal medicinal cannabis license in South Africa. 

Also note that there are many different parts of the industry and varying business choices to pick from: cultivation, harvesting, processing, extracting, distributing raw material, manufacturing consumer products, promoting events, providing information services, offer scientific services to genetics or testing, provide business consulting or other professional services, and much more.

INDUSTRIAL HEMP

The cultivation of industrial hemp containing no more than 0.3 percent of THC in the biomass is now being permitted subject to the procurement of a hemp growing permit from the Department of Agriculture. The same applies to medicinal cannabis (marijuana). This can also only be grown if you have a SAHPRA issued cannabis growing permit.

AHA has also made it its objective to establish a Co-Op providing services to a more inclusive market of commercial farmers in Southern Africa who wish to become involved in the cannabis and hemp industries but lack the financial resources to do so. This will afford a less expensive entry into the industrial hemp sector whereby hemp grown for its fibre can be grown outdoors without the need for expensive grow facilities. Further progress on this and the rollout of this business model is expected to be released soon. 

The employment of a knowledgeable farming team to oversee the quality of the grown and harvested hemp, mentoring and other farm management services will further ensure that the off-take pricing from the co-op is maximised and passed onto the farmers.

We believe that in future as part of expansion plans, the non-woven products will replace non-renewable products like fibreglass insulation in the construction industry and plastic mulch used in the horticulture industry.

Historically, products such as fibreglass insulation and plastic mulch always need heavy loads of non-renewable energy sources during their manufacture which emit greenhouse gasses. Thus, by comparison, an automated mechanical process that releases little to no greenhouse gasses will be used by the PP and AHA for the sorting and processing of bio fibre and other products. 

MEDICINAL CANNABIS

Not only do we fabricate "greenhouse facilities" from shipping containers, we facilitate off take agreements for other independent cultivators looking for additional markets for their biomass. With the upsurge of R&D into the benefits of THC/ CBD for medicinal use in CANCER, DIABETES, PARKINSONS, ALZHEIMERS, ADHD, BI POLAR Disorders to name a few, the market needs quality supply. 

We supply to the Pharma, wellness and beauty industry. 

We DO NOT engage in recreational products - we only the supply of raw materials to licenced and certified buyers. 

Through our team of contractors and consultants we are building a network in Thailand, Europe and the USA to either procure or supply as required by the market. 

In view of the permit and SAHPRA licensing requirements, associate company FreshGrow Agritech Pty Ltd will help small scale operators to participate in the industry with much less capital outlay, on a smaller footprint with the same access to market that large commercial cultivators/ farmers have.

FreshGrow provides an off grid GMP/ GCAP compliant Grow Pod "Greenhouse" turnkey solution (SAHPRA approved)  with direct access to the uptake/ value chain market. 

FRESH PRODUCE (food security cultivation systems)

Our adaptable Grow Pod systems give rise to The FreshNess range of "greenhouse" cultivation - fresh veg, tomatoes, herbs and micro greens etc 

It is our hope that these systems will afford rural, peri urban and urban communities access to self sustainable fresh produce for both self supply or to retail as an income earner.

The following points make up the ideals of the mission statement of AHA:

• Initiate a new crop and a new value added processing industry to the region.

• To build a working plant that will create a repeatable, vibrant industry in a multitude of provinces in South Africa and Africa.

• Demonstrate the ability to process industrial hemp fibre, CBD Hemp and Medicinal Cannabis on a commercial scale suitable to African conditions.

• Create an SA/ African CBD Oil/ fibre industry that will be prepared to grow to meet the demand for biomaterials with a consistent quality.

• Support research and development for bio-composites and wellness products.

• Help develop a major market for bio-insulation for associated companies.

• Collaborate with international science on soil and plant maximisation, R&D on plant extraction and release affordable potential cancer/ illness natural medicines to the African market.

• Create a viable CSI (IT integrated) programme parallel to establishment of AHA for Early Childhood Education for the farm/ Community children and by extension, the mothers. This may coincide with the CSI projects being rolled out by associated company dealing with the upliftment of quality of life of communities ( our sister company Africa Women Enterprises Pty Ltd (AWE), www.awent.co.za )

SO WHAT IS A GROW POD?

A grow pod is a HYDROPONIC growing facility housed in a sterile/ organic growing environment under strict growing parameters that facilitate the maximum harvest from each plant. Each HGP will have up to 4 grow rooms that will then each provide a harvest every quarter. The OFF GRID turnkey unit (GMP specific design) configuration will be:

·         4 x 40ft shipping container hydroponic grow rooms

·         1 x 20ft shipping container sorting and drying room

·         1 x 20ft packing and store room

·         1 x 20ft containerised computer managed power and water reticulation units

·         HVAC throughout

·         Computerised Lighting / heating systems

A comprehensive TRACK & TRACE management system.

A complete managed system on and off site with or on behalf of customer.

The SLA and operations will extend to but not limited to:

1.   Permit application and exclusive supply agreement

2.   Grower/ Farmer mentoring and education/ training and SLA

3.   Off take agreement – Freshgrow (this will guarantee sale of your harvest)

4.   Crop management/ quality management

5.   Harvesting and Drying

6.   Transport Logistics

7.   Built in Technology support

8.   Administration and finance

9.   Production planning and input management for successive plantings

10.   On-going farming technology improvements advice