2016
Ikaros Africa Ltd incorporated in Malawi, due to favourable weather conditions and political will to initiate cannabis research and legalisation.
2017
Entered into memorandum of understanding with Ministry of Agriculture to evaluate medical cannabis varieties in Malawi and carry out commercial trials.
Established farming operation at Chitala Research Station – the first legal cultivator of medical cannabis in Malawi (and most of Africa). Trialled 8 strains on 2 hectares of land, yielding 122kg of tumbled “shake” from 1st and 2nd legal harvests of cannabis in Malawi.
Established the Malawi Hemp Association to facilitate industry creation.
2018
Introduced new investors to fund further development of the business.
Farming operation at Chitala Research Station expanded to 6 Ha and 22,000 plants (5th largest legal cannabis farm in the world at the time).
2019
Third-party agronomic consultant conducted site visit to farm to provide expertise and assist with the development of local fertiliser, nutrient, and organic pest control protocols.
Expertise developed in relation to large scale cultivation in Malawi: Available grow medium; nutrient feeding program; pests; soil conditions; drying conditions; cutting and cloning; and yield.
Third legal harvest of cannabis in Malawi, producing 440Kg of dried cannabis flower.
First legal transporter of cannabis in Malawi.
Established 2,120m2 processing facility in Lilongwe.
Commissioned supercritical CO2 extraction and further processing line to produce Malawi’s first legal CBD extract.
Commenced outdoor supplemental lighting trials.
2020
Harvest of 1,000 plants yielded 280 kg of dried cannabis flower, using supplemental lighting to extend daylight hours.
Seed Registration: Six strains formally registered and released by DARS and the Agricultural Technology Clearing Committee (mandated by Malawi’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to approve and release all agricultural technologies for use by farmers in Malawi). Registered strains include Critical, Dinamed, Dinamed Plus, Kush, Organic, and Sour.
Placed entire business in care and maintenance mode, due to: 1. Delays with legislative process and formation of regulatory authority, and 2. Impact of COVID-19 on ability to operate and travel to and from Malawi.
2021
Commenced registered seeds supply.