Ananda Developments PLC (AQSE:ANA) said the first cannabis seeds were planted at its UK subsidiary DJT Plants, which it said will soon become 100% owned by the group.
Last year, the Home Office granted the company a licence to grow >0.2% THC cannabis in a new medical cannabis research facility in Lincolnshire to breed and stabilise 65 strains of the plant.
DJT Plants’ lead plant geneticist, Dr Hadar Less and their team have now started the first stage of the research programme, Ananda said, that is designed to create a library of stable cannabis genetics in order to ‘match’ cannabis plant profiles with clinical indications.
This is part of Ananda’s ultimate ambition is to be a commercial grower and provider of high quality, consistent cannabis medicines.
DJT Plants is currently 50% owned by Ananda, but alongside the planting of the seeds, it said the process to acquire the remaining 50% it does not already own is now “largely complete”.
Melissa Sturgess, Ananda’s chief executive, said: “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.”
She hailed the work of Stuart Piccaver, who will remain chairman of DJT Plants once it becomes a wholly owned subsidiary, and his team.
“They have used their 25 plus years’ experience in constructing high-care horticultural facilities to ensure execution of this stage of the project,” Sturgess said.
“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.”