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Ananda Developments has announced it has begun its medical cannabis research programme with the commencement of cultivation at its completed facility.
Ananda Developments has now planted the first seeds since receiving its licence to cultivate medical cannabis for research purposes in May 2021. The research programme is designed to create a library of stable cannabis genetics in order to ‘match’ cannabis plant profiles with clinical indications.
The seeds were planted at Ananda’s 50 per cent owned company, DJT Plants Limited’s medical cannabis research facility. Dr Hadar Less, DJT Plants’ lead geneticist, and the team have now started the first stage of the research programme.
Melissa Sturgess, Ananda’s CEO, commented: “Since receiving our licence to grow medical cannabis for research in May 2021, our site team has reviewed and revised the plans which were submitted to the Home Office in October 2019, completed detailed drawings, finalised costings, commenced and completed construction and commissioned our medical cannabis research facility and multi-chapelle growing structures.
“Credit goes to Stuart Piccaver and his team, in particular Phil Hubbert, who have delivered this result. They have used their 25 plus years’ experience in constructing high-care horticultural facilities to ensure execution of this stage of the project.
“We do not underestimate the importance of team loyalty, local knowledge and the strength of existing supplier relationships which has seen timely construction during well-known COVID supply chain challenges.
“We have all worked very well together as a cohesive and cooperative unit, over the past 8 months in particular. As we continue towards our clear objective of growing and providing high quality, consistent UK grown cannabis medicines to patients in need, we are mindful that we are transitioning from an ‘ideas’ company to an ‘operating’ company and that a results-oriented, best-in-class multi-disciplinary team will be one of the keys to our success.”
Ananda’s research plan involves self-crossing a selection of cannabis strains for six generations. It will then conduct field trials in the multi-chapelle structures to determine which stable strains produce chemovars with desired metabolic profiles and which thrive in DJT Plants’ growing conditions.
Ananda’s acquisition process of the 50 per cent of DJT Group Limited not already owned by Ananda is also largely complete.
Since the announcement of the acquisition, the companies have been working as one team to execute the construction and commissioning of the research facility and it has also been decided by DJT Plants and Ananda that Stuart Piccaver and Simon Goddard will take the positions of chairman of DJT Plants and CFO of DJT Plants, respectively.
They will both also join the board of Ananda as executive directors. Melissa Sturgess will maintain responsibility for public company matters.
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