Regenerative Organic Hemp Farming Supports
Healthy People and a Healthy Planet
BOULDER, CO, July 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - Charlotte's Web Holdings, Inc. ("Charlotte's Web" or the "Company") (TSX:CWEB,
OTCQX:CWBHF), the market leader in hemp CBD extract
products, has entered into a research initiative with
Rodale Institute and Natural Care to pioneer regenerative
organic hemp farming. The research will be conducted at Pocono
Organics, a start-up regenerative organic farm in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. In alignment
with its corporate social responsibility values, Charlotte's Web has been active in responsible
farming practices since 2016.
As people become increasingly aware of the benefits of organic
and regenerative agriculture for their own health and the health of
the planet, Charlotte's Web is
partnering with Rodale Institute, the global leader in regenerative
organic agriculture, to advance the development of healthy
agriculture practices for the burgeoning hemp industry. Natural
Care, one of the largest and only regenerative organic hemp
research and cultivation operations in the country, is funding the
multi-year research initiative. In collaboration with Rodale
Institute, Natural Care will oversee and host the research at
the Pocono Organics farm.
Over the past five years, Charlotte's Web has been transitioning its
hemp farming from conventional to sustainable organic agriculture
practices. Charlotte's Web already
has certain cultivation fields that have been certified organic as
it pursues broad organic certification for its end products. This
new research initiative will take that effort further. Regenerative
organic agriculture, which has been pioneered and led by Rodale
Institute for more than seventy years, goes beyond simply
"sustainable" by supporting the ecosystem's natural tendency to
regenerate.
"We're very proud to be an active partner supporting this
research, which aims to bring regenerative agriculture to hemp in
this region of the country, through our collaboration with
Rodale Institute, Natural Care, and Pocono Organics," said
Deanie Elsner, CEO of Charlotte's Web. "As the industry leader,
Charlotte's Web aims to
continually raise the bar for responsible hemp farming practices.
It is our intent that the data from this research will
support furthering sustainability for hemp farming."
Hemp has demonstrated a powerful potential to promote soil
health, which is critical for supporting cleaner water and air, as
healthy soil can store a significant amount of the greenhouse
gases. A Rodale Institute study estimates that converting the
world's croplands and pastures to regenerative organic agriculture
could offset an entire year's worth of global carbon dioxide
(CO2) emissions.
"As hemp farming returns to the United
States, we're excited to lead the way in working with
farmers to grow this crop without synthetic fertilizers and
pesticides, and in a way that supports soil health and the health
of people and the planet," said Jeff
Moyer, Rodale Institute executive director. Rodale
Institute's research on hemp, now in its third year, is focusing on
the crop's ability to suppress weeds, one of the greatest
challenges for organic farmers, while improving yields for
subsequent crops and reducing tillage. Preliminary results are
promising, showing hemp as a viable cash and cover crop option for
farmers. "We're proud to be working with industry partners who can
roll out these regenerative practices at scale around the
country."
The expanded research at the Pocono Organics farm examines new
CBD varieties that grow differently, comparing the impact on soil
health, nutrient consumption, and the ability to suppress
weeds.
"We know that research is a key component for transitioning
conventional and organic agricultural practices to regenerative
organic standards – both to promote soil sustainability and to
increase hemp crop quality," said Ashley
Walsh, president and founder of Natural Care and its sister
company, Pocono Organics. "So, it was a priority for us to
provide the financial and farm resources to not only bring this
vital hemp research to life, but to also stand alongside industry
leaders Rodale Institute and Charlotte's Web in this mission."
The research will be jointly published by Charlotte's Web, Natural Care, and Rodale
Institute to help promote regenerative organic farming practices in
the hemp industry, which is still a relatively new and fast-growing
area of the agriculture sector.
"Better understanding hemp's nutrient uptake and soil health can
improve organic and regenerative hemp farming," said Bear Reel,
Senior Director of Cultivation R&D at Charlotte's Web. "We have a responsibility to
give back to the planet and at Charlotte's Web, we believe that organic
agriculture is the future, and that hemp crops can be a great
addition to an organic crop rotation on regenerative organic
farms."
Charlotte's Web is also using
the research to determine the best hemp varieties to grow in a
large portion of the Appalachian Region including New York state, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky.
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About Charlotte's Web
Holdings, Inc.
Charlotte's
Web Holdings, Inc. is the market leader in the production and
distribution of innovative hemp-derived cannabidiol ("CBD")
wellness products. Founded by the Stanley Brothers, the Company's
premium quality products start with proprietary hemp genetics that
are responsibly manufactured into hemp-derived CBD
extracts naturally containing a full spectrum of phytocannabinoids,
including CBD, terpenes, flavonoids and other beneficial hemp
compounds. Charlotte's Web product
categories include CBD Oil tinctures (liquid products), CBD
capsules, CBD topicals, as well as CBD pet products.
Charlotte's Web hemp-derived CBD
extracts are sold through select distributors, brick and mortar
retailers, and online through the Company's website at
www.CharlottesWeb.com. The rate the Company pays for agricultural
products reflects a fair and sustainable rate driving higher
quality yield, encouraging good farming practices, and supporting
U.S. farming communities.
Charlotte's Web is a socially
conscious company and is committed to using business as a force for
good and a catalyst for innovation. The Company weighs sound
business decisions with consideration for how its efforts affect
its employees, customers, the environment, and the communities
where its employees live and where it does business, while
maximizing profits and strengthening its brands. The Company's
management believes that socially oriented actions have a positive
impact on the Company, its employees and its shareholders.
Charlotte's Web donates a portion
of its pre-tax earnings to charitable organizations.
Shares of Charlotte's Web trade
on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol "CWEB" and are
quoted in U.S. Dollars in the United
States on the OTCQX under the symbol "CWBHF". As at
June 17, 2019 Charlotte's Web had
43,156,479 Common Shares outstanding and 135,506.32 Proportionate
Voting Shares convertible at 400:1, for an effective equivalent of
97,359,007 Common Shares outstanding.
About Natural Care & Pocono Organics
Natural Care
grows the only certified regenerative organic industrial hemp for
the wellness, food, textile, and manufacturing industries in
North America at Pocono
Organics. Pocono Organics is one of the largest,
public-facing regenerative organic farms in North America and is located on a 105-acre
parcel of land in Long Pond,
Pennsylvania. Rodale Institute, the global leaders in
Regenerative Organic Agriculture practices and research will manage
the farm operations at Pocono Organics. Sustainability
are hallmarks of Pocono Organics and Natural Care, which will draw
power from 3MW, 25-acre solar farm, reclaim rain water from its
greenhouse roofs for irrigation, and has initiated a robust
composting program as part of a first-of-its-kind, "closed loop"
Farm-to-Track initiative with Pocono Raceway. In addition, the farm
property will include a beautiful venue for special events, an
organic farmer's market and café, and host a calendar of annual
festivals. Pocono Organics is the winner of the Green Sports
Alliance's 2019 Environmental Innovator of the Year award. Natural
Care, a Women Business Enterprise-certified company is focused on
growing and distributing products that will heal people, the
environment, and the planet.
About Rodale Institute
Rodale Institute is a
501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to pioneering organic farming through
research and outreach. For seventy years, the Institute has been
researching the best practices of organic agriculture and sharing
findings with farmers and scientists throughout the world,
advocating for policies that support farmers, and educating
consumers about how going organic is the healthiest option for
people and the planet. Learn more at RodaleInstitute.org.
Forward-Looking Information
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information in this news release constitutes forward-looking
information. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases,
forward-looking information can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects"
or "does not expect", "is expected", "an opportunity exists", "is
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"anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes", or variations
of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or
results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "will be
taken", "occur" or "be achieved". In addition, any statements that
refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of
future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information.
Statements containing forward-looking information are not
historical facts but instead represent management's expectations,
estimates and projections regarding future events.
Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number
of opinions, assumptions and estimates that, while considered
reasonable by the Company as of the date of this news release, are
subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and
other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity,
performance or achievements to be materially different from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including
but not limited to the factors described in greater detail in the
public documents of the Company available at
www.sedar.com. These factors are not intended to represent a
complete list of the factors that could affect the Company;
however, these factors should be considered carefully. There can be
no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be
correct. The forward-looking statements contained in this
news release are made as of the date of this news release, and the
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SOURCE Charlotte's Web
Holdings, Inc.