New Zealand firm Ora Pharm has launched new plant processing and export services for other medicinal cannabis cultivators across the country.
It said the move would lower barriers to entry and improve profitability for growers by reducing the costs associated with plant processing, streamlining the export process, ensuring rigorous quality control, and improving efficiency.
Around one-third of New Zealand’s licensed cannabis cultivators have chosen to collaborate with the company so far, Ora Pharm added.
CEO Zoe Reece said: “Our mission is to bolster the growth and sustainability of New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis industry. By providing these specialised services, we allow cultivators to focus on their core competency – growing premium medicinal cannabis – while we handle the processing and export logistics.
“This cooperative approach not only cuts costs, but also enhances the overall quality and reliability of New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis in the global market.”
New Zealand Medicinal Cannabis Council executive director Sally King added: “New Zealand’s approach to this sunrise sector is to work collaboratively, supporting all participants – craft cultivators to vertically integrated suppliers – to expand NZ’s reputation for sustainable, ethical, highest-quality medicinal cannabis genetics, ingredients and medicines.
“Ora Pharm’s new export service is another significant step to growing New Zealand’s share of premium, patient-focused medicinal cannabis solutions for the world. An important and very welcome development.”
Meanwhile, Ora Pharm said it has been selected by Breathe Life Sciences as the only supplier from New Zealand on its AI-generated cannabis trading platform CanXChange due to its ability to represent products from multiple cultivators.
The B2B platform is invite only and built to enable pharmacies, licensed manufacturers and cultivators to transact in a secure and user-friendly environment.
Ora Pharm said the exclusive supply agreement would open up “significant opportunities” for New Zealand products to penetrate the Australian market.