Overview
HEMPALTA (TSXV:HEMP), publicly traded on the TSX Venture Exchange, is revolutionizing the approach to carbon sequestration by harnessing the power of industrial hemp. The company's mission is to transform hemp into a sustainable tool for generating carbon credits, addressing the urgent need for climate change solutions while tapping into a burgeoning market.
Recent market analyses underscore the potential of HEMPALTA's strategy:
- The global carbon credit market, valued at approximately US$479.41 billion in 2023, is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 39.4 percent from 2024 to 2030.
- By 2030, companies are expected to purchase up to 1.4 billion carbon credits annually, potentially reaching 5.9 billion credits by 2050.
- The annual value of the carbon market could reach an impressive US$884 billion by 2050.
HEMPALTA is strategically positioned to meet this escalating demand through its innovative hemp-based carbon credit generation process. By acquiring 100 percent interest in Hemp Carbon Standard, HEMPALTA has solidified its leadership in the hemp carbon credit market, offering businesses a sustainable platform to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Hempalta’s low-risk, scalable carbon credit model
With the HCS acquisition, HEMPALTA is prioritizing premium hemp-derived carbon credits. HCS will develop and manage the scientific methodologies, farmer onboarding, and validation frameworks for hemp-based carbon credits. At the same time, Hempalta Processing Inc. will continue to operate its intellectual property and product lines retaining ownership of key products such as Hempy Cat, Hemp Fresco and Hempzorb, offering them for licensing. This enhanced strategic focus on its carbon credit business will allow the company to achieve its long-term goals:
- Provide Credible Carbon Credits: Aligning HCS with recognized standards, third-party verifiers, and remote sensing technology to realize the maximum benefits of hemp-based offsets.
- Expand Farmer Participation: Incentivizing regenerative industrial hemp cultivation through robust revenue-sharing models tied to carbon credit issuance.
- Enhance Stakeholder Value: Focusing on generating high-margin, recurring carbon credit sales, which are intended to drive long-term growth.
With an experienced leadership team that brings years of expertise in operations, manufacturing, marketing, consumer packaged goods and retail sales, HEMPALTA is poised for significant growth.
HEMPALTA’s unique advantage lies in its advanced technological infrastructure, which ensures the precision and transparency required in the carbon credit market. This cutting-edge technology ensures efficiency, transparency and scalability in its operations.
- Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) Software: HEMPALTA utilizes advanced MRV software to accurately track and quantify carbon sequestration throughout the hemp lifecycle.
- Blockchain Technology: The implementation of blockchain ensures transparency and traceability in carbon credit transactions, enhancing trust and credibility in the market.
- Artificial Intelligence: AI-driven systems optimize CO2 tracking and credit verification processes, improving efficiency and accuracy.
HEMPALTA has demonstrated significant progress in managing and expanding its industrial hemp acreage and in generating carbon credits. Through its innovative efforts, HEMPALTA has successfully cultivated and processed industrial hemp across substantial acreage, showcasing the scalability of its operations.
The company effectively grew the number of industrial hemp farms under its management from 15 farms in 2023 to 36 farms by the end of 2024, increasing its acreage to 13,556 across Canada, USA, UK, Portugal, Australia, Ukraine and Spain, with an estimated carbon credit value of $2 million.
Leadership Team
Darren Bondar – President, CEO & Director
Darren Bondar previously founded and served as president and CEO of Inner Spirit Holdings, the first cannabis retail company listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange. Under his leadership, Inner Spirit Holdings expanded significantly until its acquisition by Sundial Growers in July 2021. Prior to that, he was the president and CEO of Watch It! and Comfortable Image, consumer retail and franchising businesses. Bondar holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Alberta and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western University. He has completed the Financing, Governance and Compliance for Public Companies course at Simon Fraser University.
Candace Ryan – Chief Financial Officer
Candace Ryan brings over 15 years of experience in accounting, payroll, human resources, financial planning, and financial reporting and analysis. Most recently, she was financial controller in a publicly traded national brand retail start-up. Her organization and hands-on, real-time approach to accounting has made her an asset to the organizations she has contributed to. Candace is a legacy certified general accountant and a current member of the Chartered Professional Accountants.
Cecil Horwitz – Head of Business Development, Sustainability & Carbon Credit Strategy
Cecil Horwitz brings over 20 years of experience in business development, operations, and team leadership to his role at HEMPALTA. He spearheads the company’s sustainability initiatives, including its contributions to the voluntary carbon market and the scaling of biochar as a climate solution. With a passion for farmers, culture, and customers, Horwitz is uniquely skilled at translating vision into actionable results, always guided by clear goals and metrics. His leadership is grounded in values of honesty, respect, and hard work, which have enabled him to build strong, collaborative teams that deliver exceptional outcomes.
Brittany McKell – Agricultural Partnerships Manager
Brittany McKell brings energy and dedication to overseeing production, logistics and procurement in the Company’s operations. Her experience in the hemp industry includes roles in sales and marketing and she has been a key contributor to new product creation. McKell holds a marketing degree from Mount Royal University and a business administration diploma from SAIT.
Samantha Down – Head of Marketing
Adaptable and creative, Samantha Down uses her visual storytelling to inspire cult branding for companies where she works. She oversees all sales and marketing activity for HEMPALTA. Previously, she held marketing roles with two national consumer product retailers. Down holds a business administration degree from Mount Royal University and finance diploma from SAIT.
Adrian Stokes – Director
Adrian Stokes has over two decades of experience in financial services. He currently leads ADL Private Office in Monaco, a private family office for the majority partner of Fullbrook Thorpe Investments LLP. Previously, he held various roles at Barclays Wealth & Investment Management. Stokes holds a double major in business from Greenwich Business School in London.
Craig Steinberg – Director
Craig Steinberg has been a director of HEMPALTA since August 2021. He is a practicing lawyer with Steinberg Law and is the designated mortgage broker for Fortius Mortgage Corporation. From August 2017 until July 2021, Steinberg served as a director of Inner Spirit Holdings which was listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange.
Dan Balaban – Director
Dan Balaban is the executive chair and CEO of Greengate Power Corporation, a Canadian renewable energy company. Before joining Greengate, Balaban co-founded and served as president and CEO of Roughneck.ca, which provides software solutions for the oil and gas industry. Earlier in his career, he worked as a management consultant at top-tier firms, including EY and PwC.
Russell Wilson – Director
Russell Wilson is the vice-president of business development with Prairie Merchant Corporation, a private investment company that focuses on real estate, energy, agriculture and sports franchises. He sits on the board of Indiva and continues to actively manage a portfolio of cannabis-related investments. Wilson holds a Master of Business degree from Queensland University of Technology.
Michael Ginevsky - Corporate Secretary
Michael Ginevsky is a partner at DS Lawyers Canada LLP, where he focuses primarily on capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and securities regulatory compliance. Ginevsky received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia and Juris Doctor from the University of Alberta. He was previously corporate secretary of Inner Spirit Holdings, a cannabis retailer listed on the CSE.
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