By Heather Collins
To say the past year was busy for hemp industry veteran Garrett Bain, President of Grand Junction-based EcoGen Biosciences, would be an understatement.
Last summer, Bain took the top job at EcoGen Biosciences, a leading hemp and CBD manufacturer, after joining California-based Kadenwood LLC and helping to complete the acquisition of EcoGen Labs in August of 2020. Additionally, he was instrumental in transitioning the company to EcoGen Bioscences and restructuring the business into a more efficient footprint on the western slope of Colorado.
“You could say we have been working in a very fast-paced environment these past six months,” said Bain.
In October 2020, EcoGen also acquired General Processing, a CBD manufacturer based in Delta, CO, which houses a 50,000 square foot cGMP facility specializing in extraction and refinement.
“We saw an opportunity with General Processing because of its proximity to our home-office in Grand Junction and our other hemp operations in Palisade. Since the fall, we have been consolidating everything into the new building in Delta and are pleased to have everything available to us, under one roof,” added Bain.
Currently, the company has more than 550 acres of farmland near Grand Junction to serve a national and international market and is cGMP and Kosher certified.
Since EcoGen is a vertically integrated company, from genetics to finished goods, having everything in one location provides ease and accessibility for farmers and the EcoGen team to provide high-quality ingredients they are known for on a global scale.
“This is such an exciting time for EcoGen as we develop new technologies and build out our platform to allow for accelerated growth,” said Bain. “We’ve been busy upgrading every facet of our business platform from genetics, farming, extraction, and refinement of high-quality CBD.”
EcoGen Biosciences is committed to being a leader in genetic research and producer of CBD Isolate, full-spectrum distillate, broad spectrum distillate, water soluble, minor cannabinoids, and feminized seeds. The company utilizes a proprietary processing technology that allows for products with up to 99.9% concentration of CBD with non-detectible THC.
NoCo7 Sponsorship
As EcoGen charts its course for 2021, Bain admits he misses the one-on-one interactions and in-person meetings at trade shows and events. That’s why Bain and his team are looking forward to serving as the Presenting Sponsor of the upcoming NoCo Hemp Expo, taking place March 26-27 in Denver, Colorado, at the National Western Complex.
“We’re proud to be a part of the NoCo Hemp Expo, and we can’t wait to re-engage with the community and share with everyone what EcoGen has been up to in the past year,” said Bain. “We’re looking to the future and returning to in-person meetings at NoCo Hemp Expo.”
NoCo Hemp Expo will feature EcoGen on Friday, March 26, from 3:45 pm – 4:00 pm during the Business Conference. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear more about EcoGen’s Company Mission during a presentation from Bain and his team.
What’s Next
Although EcoGen continues to pivot and gain momentum, Bain is cautious and indicates there is still work that needs to be done to ensure the industrial hemp community can best support the marketplace through current regulations and guidelines.
“As the global markets begin to open, we need to make sure the U.S. can support those markets with the right products. What we’re seeing in Europe is hopeful, and it will pave the path for the industry in a positive direction. I think the combination of the regulatory and the economic growth will present an opportunity in 2021.”
Bain adds, “For those businesses that are still grinding it out. My advice is to stay positive and hang tight to your company’s vision while positioning your mission and capitalize on every opportunity.”
For more information about EcoGen Biosciences, visit ecogenbiosciences.com.
For more information about the NoCo Hemp Expo and to register, visit nocohempexpo.com.
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Heather Collins is an Account Manager for Compass Natural Marketing and has been working in communications and marketing in the natural products industry for the past twenty years. Compass Natural serves in PR and programming for NoCo Hemp Expo and Southern Hemp Expo. Collins serves as a Contributing Writer of the weekly Let’s Talk Hemp Newsletter, published by We are for Better Alternatives. Contact heather@compassnaturalmarketing.com.
