Ecofibre

Ecofibre Limited (also abbreviated as Ecofibre or EOF) is an Australian listed biotechnology company that produces and sells hemp derived products to consumers and retailers in the United States and Australia. The company's products include cannabinoid (CBD) oil and nutraceuticals as well as hemp derived food and textiles.

Ecofibre Limited
TypePublic
IndustryBiotechnology
Founded2009 (2009)
HeadquartersVirginia BC, Queensland[1]
Area served
United States, Australia
Key people
ProductsHemp derived Cannabidiol and Textiles
Revenue AU$ 35.6 million (2019)[2]
AU$ 4.6 million (2019)[2]
Websitewww.ecofibre.com

Ecofibre operates through its U.S. locations in Georgetown, Kentucky, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Greensboro, North Carolina and San Diego, California and its Australian location in Newcastle, New South Wales, and headquarters in Virginia, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane.

Ecofibre listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in March 2019 through an initial public offering, raising A$20 million in equity capital.[3][4]

Businesses

Ecofibre has four distinct businesses:

  • Ananda Hemp manufactures and sells hemp derived oils and nutraceuticals directly to consumers within the United States.
  • Ananda Professional manufactures and wholesales hemp derived oils and nutraceuticals to independent pharmacy chains within the United States.
  • Ananda Food manufactures and wholesales hemp derived food products within Australia.
  • Hemp Black is the company's hemp textile research subsidiary.

The company's research and development activities regarding the health effects of CBD and hemp textiles is done in conjunction with Thomas Jefferson University (through its Lambert Center for the Study of Medicinal Cannabis and Hemp).[5]

History

Ecofibre Limited was founded by Phil Warner in Australia more than two decades ago (then named Ecofibre Industries Operations Pty Ltd),[6] where as a gene development company it developed and owned the world's largest private seed bank consisting of over 300 strains from around the world.[7] The company gained a high level of certification per the UN Single Convention, allowing the company to legally transfer its genetics from Australia to the US with DEA import permits. Ecofibre then partnered with Ananda Hemp to completely shift hemp cultivation to the US due to Australia's strict regulations.[8][9][10]

Ananda Hemp began in Kentucky, which had a long history of hemp cultivation prior to its prohibition in the 1970s. Many farmers subsequently switched to cultivating other crops. Demand for tobacco, one of these crops, began declining as the health effects of tobacco consumption became clear.[11] Brian Furnish (formerly the company's President of Global Production) and Ananda Hemp began lobbying state politicians to legalize hemp cultivation and its byproducts. As a result, he became the first licensed hemp grower in the United States since World War II through the pilot programs that were established nationally following the passage of the 2014 US Farm Bill.[12][13]

In 2015, Barry Lambert, the current chairman of the company, became involved in order to find a healthy alternative to treat his granddaughter's epileptic condition. He initially invested AU$500,000 into the company and donated US$3 million to Thomas Jefferson University for research into the health benefits of CBD.[14][15] Lambert then recruited Eric Wang to become CEO of Ecofibre to assist with expansion in the US.

In November 2017, the Australian government legalized hemp-based foods. Currently, medicinal cannabis is under strict regulation in Australia. In December 2018, the US government passed the 2018 US Farm Bill which removed hemp – including its extracts, cannabinoids and derivatives – from restrictions under the Controlled Substances Act.

In 2019, Ecofibre listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, raising A$20 million in equity financing, valuing the company at approximately A$300 million.[3][4][16] The company has since moved to focus on introducing a pharmacy grade product, Ananda Professional, to independent pharmacies nationwide and to produce hemp-derived foods for an Australian supermarket's home brand.[2]

References
  1. "Ecofibre - LinkedIn Profile". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  2. "Investor Presentation FY2019 Full Year Results" (PDF). Australian Stock Exchange. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  3. Evans, Meagan (29 March 2019). "Ecofibre successfully lists on the ASX". Finfeed. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  4. LaFrenz, Carrie (6 March 2019). "Rich Lister Barry Lambert plants Ecofibre IPO". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  5. Jalimnson, Gillian (2 May 2019). "More Hemp Research Cash For Thomas Jefferson University". Hemp Gazette. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  6. "Phil Warner - LinkedIn Profile". LinkedIn. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  7. Winestock, Geoff (22 December 2015). "An Aussie entrepreneur has pioneered cannabis that police will love". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  8. "From Australia to Kentucky: The Ananda Hemp Story". Nature's Breakthrough. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  9. Winestock, Geoff (4 December 2016). "Cannabis grower backed by Barry Lambert and Chris Cuffe leaves Australia for US". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  10. "Ecofibre Sends 6 Tons Of Australian Certified Hemp Seed To USA And Prepares For Commercial Activities Via Its USA Subsidiary, United Life Science". PR Newswire. United Life Science. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  11. Lee, Kurtis (13 February 2019). "Must Reads: As tobacco sales dry up, Kentucky farmers look to the state's 'original crop' — hemp". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  12. Hitchcock, Paul. "Majority Leader McConnell Welcomes Kentucky Hemp Farmer to Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing". Morehead State Public Radio. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  13. Ferguson, Ellyn (26 July 2019). "'Enter hemp with extreme caution,' Kentucky farmer tells Senate panel". Roll Call. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  14. Ogg, Matt. "Ecofibre, the Aussie hemp giant pushing a $1 billion market cap". Business News Australia. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  15. Wood, Sam. "Aussie gives $3 million to Philly's Jefferson U. for medical marijuana research". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  16. Cotton, Imelda (29 March 2019). "Ecofibre joins ASX to fast-track commercialisation of hemp-based products". Small Caps. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
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