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Denmark hemp farmer Steve Birkbeck joins WA medical cannabis manufacturer Cannaponics as advisory board chair

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Sarah MakseAlbany Advertiser
Steve Birkbeck with Matt Beaton in their industrial hemp crop.
Laurie Benson/Albany Advertiser
Camera IconSteve Birkbeck with Matt Beaton in their industrial hemp crop. Laurie Benson/Albany Advertiser Credit: Laurie Benson/Albany Advertiser

Denmark hemp farmer and sandalwood pioneer Steve Birkbeck is set to lend his entrepreneurial expertise to a new WA medical cannabis manufacturing facility.

Mr Birkbeck was recently appointed chair of Cannaponics’ advisory board of directors and has entered into an agreement between his Raintree group and the company.

The Birkbeck family last year unveiled their first industrial hemp-based seltzers through the Cannabis Botanical Distillery, using ethanol distilled from homegrown hemp in beverages and fragrances.

In March, Cannaponics broke ground on the first phase of its multimillion-dollar medicinal and pharmaceutical cannabis vision on a 65ha site in Collie with construction starting on a $2.6 million, 3600sqm greenhouse.

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The State Government has also splashed out $2m towards construction of a 2000sqm manufacturing facility at the site.

The company aims to use renewable energy for the commercial cultivation, extraction, processing and distribution of medicinal and pharmaceutical cannabis products.

Mr Birkbeck plans to use his experience as the first person to export Australian sandalwood oil to the high-end luxury and pharmaceutical market in Europe to identify opportunities for the growing company.

“As affordability and accessibility are improved, we are about to see a green wave of demand for end products that Cannaponics has positioned itself to take advantage from,” he said.

“The convergence of smart green biotechnology processed using renewable energy to produce products that can reduce pain and anxiety is a mission that I am passionate about.”

Cannaponics founder and managing director Rod Zakostelsky said Mr Birkbeck was a “national icon” with a “tremendous amount of experience” in exporting products overseas.

“We have a real opportunity in this country to set ourselves up on the global stage for cannabis production, leveraging off Australia’s optimal climate and renewable infrastructure,” he said.

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