Speaker: Simon Pettinger, Superbly Green
About: Organic medical cannabis production offers numerous benefits compared to other production methods. One of the key advantages is purity—organic grown cannabis is free from synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers, ensuring a cleaner, safer product with no harmful residues.
Additionally, organic cultivation enhances the potency and efficacy. Plants grown organically often contain a richer cannabinoid and terpenoid profile. Terpenes, which contribute to flavor, aroma, and therapeutic effects, are often more pronounced in organic cannabis, enhancing the entourage effect where cannabinoids and terpenes work together.
Sustainability is another significant factor—organic farming prioritizes soil health and minimizes environmental harm. This results in an eco-friendly production process with a lower environmental footprint.
While organic cannabis production comes with challenges—such as higher costs, increased labor, and smaller yields due to the reliance on natural pest control and soil management—the benefits far outweigh these hurdles. Despite the added effort, the rewards of purity, richness, and sustainability make the investment worthwhile.
This talk will explore the benefits and challenges of organically producing medical cannabis, with a special focus on the living soil production system at Cymra Life Sciences.
Bio: Simon Pettinger is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and co-founder of Cymra Life Sciences, an Australian company specializing in organic pharmaceutical products derived from medical cannabis, based in the Northern Rivers. Simon has been instrumental in the company’s growth since its founding in 2017. He oversees operations, including tissue culture services, breeding programs, and horticultural research partnerships with Southern Cross University.
Before Cymra, Simon served as Managing Director of Australia’s largest plant tissue culture facility for over a decade, gaining extensive experience in indoor plant propagation and commercial development.
Simon is passionate about producing the highest quality products for patients through an organic, biologically driven production system. This method enhances cannabis’s medicinal properties while ensuring it is free from harmful chemicals and produced sustainably. His leadership drives Cymra’s mission to improve patient quality of life through organic innovative therapies.
