Why Aurora Cannabis Could Become the King of Hemp CBD – Yahoo Finance

(NYSE: ACB)? You might not have heard very much about the company’s hemp CBD efforts lately. However, there’s a pretty good argument to be made that Aurora just might emerge as the king of hemp CBD. 

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Aurora’s impressive hemp creds

If you’re looking for impressive credentials in hemp, Aurora’s got ’em. Back in 2017, the company invested in Hempco, a Vancouver-based maker of hemp-based foods, hemp fiber, and hemp nutraceuticals. Hempco also supplied Aurora with raw hemp for extracting CBD.

This relationship gave Aurora a chance to get to know Hempco very well. And it led to Aurora announcing three months ago that it was acquiring all of Hempco. With Hempco expanding its capacity to be able to produce 2.9 million kilograms of cannabis annually, the deal gives Aurora a solid launching pad for the North American hemp CBD and industrial hemp markets.

Aurora took several major steps to build up its global hemp business in 2018. The company acquired Agropro, Europe’s largest producer, processor, and supplier of certified organic hemp and hemp products. At the same time, Aurora acquired Agropro’s sister company Borela, which processes and distributes organic hulled hemp seeds, hemp seed protein, hemp flour, and hemp seed oil.

acquired ICC Labs in 2018. ICC claims a market share of greater than 70% in Uruguay’s legal cannabis market. It’s also a leader in the South American hemp CBD market, with a large-scale extraction facility that can process 150,000 kg of CBD feed annually.” data-reactid=”29″>In addition, Aurora acquired ICC Labs in 2018. ICC claims a market share of greater than 70% in Uruguay’s legal cannabis market. It’s also a leader in the South American hemp CBD market, with a large-scale extraction facility that can process 150,000 kg of CBD feed annually.

Speaking of extraction capabilities, Aurora also invested in Radient Technologies three years ago. Radient’s proprietary extraction technology can be used with high-THC cannabis as well as low-THC hemp plants.

What about the U.S.?

While Aurora has built up an impressive hemp presence in Canada, Europe, and South America, the company hasn’t made any major moves into the biggest hemp CBD market of all: the U.S. This appears to be a huge missing piece for Aurora.

actively invested in the U.S. Australis’ deals include investing in Folium Biosciences, the largest vertically integrated producer, manufacturer, and distributor of hemp-derived phytocannabinoids in the U.S. But Australis Capital is a stand-alone entity.” data-reactid=”33″>Granted, Aurora’s spin-off Australis Capital has actively invested in the U.S. Australis’ deals include investing in Folium Biosciences, the largest vertically integrated producer, manufacturer, and distributor of hemp-derived phytocannabinoids in the U.S. But Australis Capital is a stand-alone entity.

latest quarterly conference call, CEO Terry Booth stated, "We have a strategy of entering into the US." But he added, "That strategy is obviously confidential."” data-reactid=”34″>Aurora’s management team has been very vague about the company’s strategy for the U.S. hemp CBD market. In Aurora’s latest quarterly conference call, CEO Terry Booth stated, „We have a strategy of entering into the US.” But he added, „That strategy is obviously confidential.”

Chief Corporate Officer Cam Battley noted, though, that Aurora is exploring opportunities in the global hemp market with advisor Nelson Peltz, a billionaire investor with strong connections in the consumer packaged goods industry. Battley said that industrial hemp and CBD is an „important area of attention.” He didn’t provide any details on Aurora’s next steps and instead only stated, „We are assessing where in the value chain we’ll be able to generate the most value.”

U.S. hemp CBD market could reach $22 billion by 2022 with a European CBD market of $1.7 billion by 2023. Some industry experts aren’t as optimistic as Brightfield Group, but most agree that the hemp CBD market will increase dramatically over the next few years.” data-reactid=”41″>Cannabis market researcher Brightfield Group projects that the U.S. hemp CBD market could reach $22 billion by 2022 with a European CBD market of $1.7 billion by 2023. Some industry experts aren’t as optimistic as Brightfield Group, but most agree that the hemp CBD market will increase dramatically over the next few years.

Keith Speights has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.” data-reactid=”49″>Keith Speights has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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