In the lush landscapes of Huelva, a province renowned for its soft fruit production, a remarkable transformation is underway.
A pioneering company has secured approval from the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Products (Aemps) to cultivate cannabis for medical purposes. This marks a significant shift in agricultural practices, reflecting a broader trend towards embracing the potential of medicinal cannabis.
Huelva’s agricultural prowess is not to be underestimated. The region is responsible for a staggering 98% of Spain’s soft fruit production and nearly a third of the European Union’s.
This dominance in fruit cultivation sets the stage for a seamless transition into the world of medicinal cannabis, a sector ripe with opportunity and growth potential.
Medical Flowers. A Blooming Venture
Enter Medical Flowers, a beacon of innovation in this new frontier. As one of the 21 entities in Spain with Aemps authorization for cannabis cultivation, Medical Flowers represents a coalition of seasoned soft fruit businesses from Lepe.
Among them is Tilla Berries, a family-run venture with roots in Valencia, symbolizing the blend of traditional agriculture with new-age cultivation.
Medical Flowers, however, maintains a veil of discretion regarding its operational specifics. Details such as the number of jobs to be created and the scale of their inaugural cannabis harvest remain under wraps.
Yet, the anticipation is palpable, with expectations set for a harvest by the end of the following summer.
The company’s facilities are poised to become a hub for the entire production process, from cultivation to pharmaceutical manufacturing, once all permits are in place.
A Wider Movement in Almería
This shift towards medicinal cannabis is not confined to Huelva. In Almería, a similar story unfolds with Cualin Quality, a company with a quarter-century of expertise in tomato cultivation.
Their venture, Medical Plants, received the green light from Aemps in September 2020 for cannabis cultivation aimed at medical use.
Medical Plants operates in Antas, an eastern municipality of Almería. Here, cannabis grows on a 2,400 square meter plot nestled within Cualin Quality’s expansive tomato greenhouses.
The company boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including modern greenhouses, vast water reservoirs, and a laboratory equipped for comprehensive analysis of both intermediate and final products.
The Future of Medicinal Cannabis in Spain
The foray of these agricultural giants into medicinal cannabis cultivation is more than a mere diversification strategy. It represents a broader acceptance and recognition of cannabis’s therapeutic potential.
While Spain has yet to fully regulate the use of medicinal cannabis, the export opportunities to countries where it is legal open up new avenues for growth and innovation.
As these companies embark on their journey, they carry with them the promise of progress, not just for their businesses, but for the medical community and patients in Spain and beyond.
