Hana Hallaj from SafriCanna will also host a presentation entitled ‘Innovation in Cannabis’ at this year’s event. As as we head into Cannabis Europa SafriCanna’s CEO Nir Aloni speaks to Business of Cannabis
Is there a key innovation undertaken by SafriCanna?
Our most significant milestone was becoming the first company in Africa to achieve EU-GMP Part 1 certification and successfully export finished medical cannabis products directly to the European market.
While many companies focus on cultivation, achieving Part 1 certification means our processing and manufacturing standards meet the highest global pharmaceutical requirements, placing African-produced medical cannabis on par with the world’s most regulated markets.
However, the true innovation lies in our operational adaptation. Unlike the highly automated, capital-intensive models seen in North America, we had to rethink and redesign pharmaceutical grade processes to fit an environment that is far more labor-intensive.
By blending advanced technical specifications with a high-touch, artisanal approach, we’ve demonstrated that Africa can produce medical-grade flower that isn’t just compliant, but often superior in quality due to the specialized care each plant receives. In many ways, we have created a uniquely African production model, one that balances pharmaceutical precision with agricultural craftsmanship.
Is there a key innovation which has helped shape the industry we have today?
One of the most critical, yet overlooked, innovations shaping the future of cannabis is the large-scale pheno-hunting and genetic adaptation currently taking place in the Southern Hemisphere.
For too long, the industry relied on genetics stabilized for indoor Northern climates. Those generics don’t always perform optimally under African conditions, particularly when grown sustainably at scale.
At Safricanna, we are conducting extensive genetic research to identify and stabilize strains that specifically thrive in our unique environmental conditions.
This “genetic localization” is essential for establishing Africa as the primary global hub for medical cannabis. We aren’t just growing plants; we are developing the biological intellectual property that will shape the next decade of global supply chains.
The future leaders in cannabis won’t necessarily be the biggest cultivators, they’ll be the companies that own and understand the genetics best suited for consistent pharmaceutical outcomes, climate resilience, terpene expression, and patient efficacy.
What are the innovations that will most likely shape the industry’s future?
There are actually many, but one example is moving toward seed-based uniformity to deliver the consistency of a clone with the vigour, scalability and biosecurity of a seed-grown plant.
Then off course, the implementation of more AI across the value chain and into the greenhouse and post-harvest which for sure will shape how we do things in the future.
Predictive analytics, machine learning, and computer vision systems will likely reshape greenhouse management by helping growers identify plant stress, nutrient deficiencies, disease risks, and harvest timing with far greater precision.
Ultimately, the future of cannabis will sit at the intersection of agriculture, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and data science.
Does innovation come from regulators, or individuals and businesses?
While innovation is traditionally driven by the private sector’s need for efficiency, the most impactful breakthroughs in our industry come from collaborative regulation.
I’ve always found that the ‘Eureka’ moments often happen during constructive, open dialogues with regulators.
By working with authorities to find ways to remove unnecessary ‘red tape’ without compromising patient safety or GMP compliance, we create the space for technical innovation to actually reach the market.
In highly-regulated industries like medical cannabis, progress happens fastest when there is mutual trust, scientific dialogue, and a shared commitment to building sustainable standards.
The countries that will lead the industry long-term are likely those where regulators act not as obstacles, but as strategic partners in enabling safe and responsible growth.
Is their an inevitability about the destination of medical cannabis; one that is focused on pharmaceuticals, and not flowers
While the ‘pharmaceuticalization’ of cannabis – extracts, pills, and isolates – is growing, I do not believe the flower is going anywhere.
We continue to see that the vast majority of patients prefer flower, largely due to the ‘entourage effect’ and the immediate titration it allows.
Many patients value the full-spectrum interaction between cannabinoids and terpenes, as well as the ability to control dosage in real time.
In the long term, I expect a more balanced ecosystem where oils and specialized medical delivery forms – like inhalers or transdermal patches – serve specific clinical needs.
However, flower will remain a cornerstone of the global supply. In markets where isolates and distillates are allowed but flower is prohibited, we see a much slower transition from the illicit market to the legal medical one.
Patients still want a connection to the plant itself; our job is to ensure that the plant they receive is produced with the same consistency, safety, and pharmaceutical rigour expected of any medicine dispensed through a pharmacy.
The post Voices of Cannabis Europa: Nir Aloni, CEO of SafriCanna appeared first on Business of Cannabis.
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Is there a key innovation undertaken by SafriCanna?
Our most significant milestone was becoming the first company in Africa to achieve EU-GMP Part 1 certification and successfully export finished medical cannabis products directly to the European market.
While many companies focus on cultivation, achieving Part 1 certification means our processing and manufacturing standards meet the highest global pharmaceutical requirements, placing African-produced medical cannabis on par with the world’s most regulated markets.
However, the true innovation lies in our operational adaptation. Unlike the highly automated, capital-intensive models seen in North America, we had to rethink and redesign pharmaceutical grade processes to fit an environment that is far more labor-intensive.
By blending advanced technical specifications with a high-touch, artisanal approach, we’ve demonstrated that Africa can produce medical-grade flower that isn’t just compliant, but often superior in quality due to the specialized care each plant receives. In many ways, we have created a uniquely African production model, one that balances pharmaceutical precision with agricultural craftsmanship.
Is there a key innovation which has helped shape the industry we have today?
One of the most critical, yet overlooked, innovations shaping the future of cannabis is the large-scale pheno-hunting and genetic adaptation currently taking place in the Southern Hemisphere.
For too long, the industry relied on genetics stabilized for indoor Northern climates. Those generics don’t always perform optimally under African conditions, particularly when grown sustainably at scale.
At Safricanna, we are conducting extensive genetic research to identify and stabilize strains that specifically thrive in our unique environmental conditions.
This “genetic localization” is essential for establishing Africa as the primary global hub for medical cannabis. We aren’t just growing plants; we are developing the biological intellectual property that will shape the next decade of global supply chains.
The future leaders in cannabis won’t necessarily be the biggest cultivators, they’ll be the companies that own and understand the genetics best suited for consistent pharmaceutical outcomes, climate resilience, terpene expression, and patient efficacy.
What are the innovations that will most likely shape the industry’s future?
There are actually many, but one example is moving toward seed-based uniformity to deliver the consistency of a clone with the vigour, scalability and biosecurity of a seed-grown plant.
Then off course, the implementation of more AI across the value chain and into the greenhouse and post-harvest which for sure will shape how we do things in the future.
Predictive analytics, machine learning, and computer vision systems will likely reshape greenhouse management by helping growers identify plant stress, nutrient deficiencies, disease risks, and harvest timing with far greater precision.
Ultimately, the future of cannabis will sit at the intersection of agriculture, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and data science.
Does innovation come from regulators, or individuals and businesses?
While innovation is traditionally driven by the private sector’s need for efficiency, the most impactful breakthroughs in our industry come from collaborative regulation.
I’ve always found that the ‘Eureka’ moments often happen during constructive, open dialogues with regulators.
By working with authorities to find ways to remove unnecessary ‘red tape’ without compromising patient safety or GMP compliance, we create the space for technical innovation to actually reach the market.
In highly-regulated industries like medical cannabis, progress happens fastest when there is mutual trust, scientific dialogue, and a shared commitment to building sustainable standards.
The countries that will lead the industry long-term are likely those where regulators act not as obstacles, but as strategic partners in enabling safe and responsible growth.
Is their an inevitability about the destination of medical cannabis; one that is focused on pharmaceuticals, and not flowers
While the ‘pharmaceuticalization’ of cannabis – extracts, pills, and isolates – is growing, I do not believe the flower is going anywhere.
We continue to see that the vast majority of patients prefer flower, largely due to the ‘entourage effect’ and the immediate titration it allows.
Many patients value the full-spectrum interaction between cannabinoids and terpenes, as well as the ability to control dosage in real time.
In the long term, I expect a more balanced ecosystem where oils and specialized medical delivery forms – like inhalers or transdermal patches – serve specific clinical needs.
However, flower will remain a cornerstone of the global supply. In markets where isolates and distillates are allowed but flower is prohibited, we see a much slower transition from the illicit market to the legal medical one.
Patients still want a connection to the plant itself; our job is to ensure that the plant they receive is produced with the same consistency, safety, and pharmaceutical rigour expected of any medicine dispensed through a pharmacy.
The post Voices of Cannabis Europa: Nir Aloni, CEO of SafriCanna appeared first on Business of Cannabis.
Continue reading...
