• Sample collection for initial mobile metal ion geochemical orientation survey completed at QMC Quantum Minerals’ Irgon Project in Manitoba
• QMC preparing to begin phase one drilling on Irgon Lithium Mine Project
• Lithium demand is expected to reach $1.7 billion per year by 2019; lithium carbonate prices hit $16,000 per metric ton in August

A once-developing lithium mining operation in southern Manitoba’s bountiful Cat Lake-Winnipeg River Pegmatite Field may soon be brought back to life by QMC Quantum Minerals Corp. (OTC: QMCQF) (TSX.V: QMC) (FSE: 3LQ) with prospects of establishing a new North America-based source of the in-demand metal. The company is currently working to confirm the historic resource estimate published for its Irgon Lithium Mine Project.

Specialized international inspections and testing firm SGS Canada Inc. recently completed its evaluation of all known historical data related to mineralized pegmatite dikes within QMC’s 100 percent-owned Irgon Lithium Mine Project, and it is now helping to guide QMC’s plans for a phase one drilling program on the Irgon site, according to a September 17 news release (http://ibn.fm/nhznx).

SGS Canada was hired in May 2018 to oversee the current exploration program, including the recently completed mobile metal ion (or MMIs, such as lithium, cesium, tantalum, beryllium, etc.) geochemical orientation survey over the Irgon Dike. These mobile metal ions are released from underlying pegmatite mineralization within the Irgon Dike and travel upward through the soil, making them an excellent indicator of underlying mineralization. The survey is a proven, advanced exploration technique used to find buried mineral deposits and to help companies such as Quantum Minerals decide where to drill in order to get the best results.

“QMC and SGS have completed the initial mobile metal ion (“MMI”) geochemical orientation survey across the Irgon Dike. This initial survey will be used to identify the optimum sampling depth to achieve the best geochemical response from the underlying lithium mineralization,” the news release states. “Samples from this orientation survey have been submitted to SGS and are being analyzed for 53 elements.”

Once the initial orientation survey results have been received and assessed, SGS will provide ongoing technical support and consulting services for additional MMI surveys over other potential drill targets identified within the Irgon Project.

Decades-old exploration at the Irgon Dike produced a resource estimate of 1.2 million tons of lithium oxide which reported 1.51 percent Li20 over a strike length of 365 meters and to a depth of 213 meters.  SGS is working with Quantum Minerals to confirm the historical resource under modern NI 43-101 reporting standards for resource investment certification purposes. The company has stated that the old estimate is believed to be based on reasonable evaluation of the original exploration and that neither the company nor the qualified professional geologist have reason to doubt its reliability.  These historical estimates do not meet current standards as defined under sections 1.2 and 1.3 of NI 43-101; consequently, QMC is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves.

The company has also identified, through a search of the historical assessment records, a large, untested “lithium soil anomaly” more than 3,600 feet long and up to 1,150 feet wide on the southern part of the property that may prove to be a fruitful new target.

A significant amount of infrastructure from the historical exploration remains at the site, providing hope of a lower cost start-up to production.  Access is excellent, as the project is road accessible, power is nearby and there is a local, well trained labor force.

Lithium has enjoyed good name status in the metals market during the last couple years, because it is a key component in the electrodes of lithium-ion batteries, providing lightweight heat stabilization qualities. Lithium-ion batteries power a wide range of computerized electronics and have become particularly sought after of late amid a global tech race to control the electric automobile market.

According to projections by Lithium Investing News, lithium demand will rise to 49,350 metric tons by next year, with a lithium carbonate equivalent contract valuation of $1.7 billion (http://ibn.fm/aQxTb). During August, global lithium carbonate contracts made a nearly 20 percent price increase over the prior year to around $16,000 per metric ton (http://ibn.fm/yFVEt).

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.QMCMinerals.com

• Global legal cannabis market on tap to reach USD$146.4 billion by end of 2025
• Growing adoption of CBD-related products and medical marijuana expected to propel revenue growth
• Health and wellness market projected to top USD$171 billion in 2018
• Launch of direct-to-consumer website for wholly-owned subsidiary Pura Vida Vitamins offers wide array of CBD products
• WheresWeed mobile app connects medical and recreational cannabis users with trusted local marijuana businesses in their communities

Golden Developing Solutions, Inc. (OTC: DVLP), an emerging leader in ancillary software and the cannabidiol (CBD) products marketplace, provides business services and/or products supporting the cannabis industry including an online retail business for CBD, hemp oil and health/wellness related products.

Global acceptance of cannabis and related CBD products continues to increase as North America advances toward favorable legislation. Canada is set to legalize recreational cannabis in October 2018, and the United States has 30 states and the District of Columbia allowing either recreational or medical cannabis, or both. Voters in four additional U.S. states will consider marijuana initiatives on the November 2018 ballot. The global legal cannabis market is projected to reach USD$146 billion by the end of 2025, with a greater acceptance of medical cannabis products as a driving factor, according to Grand View Research.

DVLP is taking advantage of consumer demand for CBD products through its wholly owned Pura Vida Vitamins, LLC subsidiary, which recently launched a direct-to-consumer website (www.PuraVidaVitamins.com) and commenced sales of Pura Vida branded products. Pura Vida merchandise includes hemp and CBD-related products and other products focusing on health and lifestyle which are available through established wholesale and distribution channels. In addition, a line of CBD pet supplements and other products are in development.

DVLP recently acquired “Where’s Weed” (Layer Six Media LLC DBA “Where’s Weed”) and its primary asset, WheresWeed.com. Where’s Weed is an American cannabis technology company known for connecting medical and recreational cannabis users with trusted local marijuana businesses in their communities. As a rapidly growing community-based online resource for cannabis consumers with a host of user-friendly services, Where’s Weed offers a sophisticated mobile app with strong traction and powerful growth potential as the North American legal cannabis market continues to expand exponentially.

WheresWeed.com has a large and expanding reach with nearly 3 million pageviews per month. In addition, the WheresWeed mobile app, available in both iOS and Android, has been downloaded over 80,000 times, proving to be complementary to DVLP’s objective to capitalize on the massive growth curve in the marijuana space.

“The huge flood of new growers and producers is likely to create oversupply in the near term, narrowing margins for major producers,” says DVLP CEO Stavros Triant. “However, this should actually increase the net number of new consumers in the marketplace, further reinforcing the enormous growth potential for hub service providers in the space that are situated on high-traffic internet real estate, which is exactly how we view the Where’s Weed property.”

The company’s move into the lucrative C-store snack market was solidified with a material purchase order for CBD oils from a major distributor specializing in the snack foods and accessories to the convenience store and gas station market. The order represents significant progress as DVLP gears up its ready-made snack distribution strategy for its CBD products.

“We are extremely excited about the launch of our CBD product line with this distributor,” Triant states. “The C-Store strategy dovetails perfectly with our direct marketing strategy through our primary online retail channel, and we have indications from the distributor that, if this initial test order goes well, successive Purchase Orders could be significant and underpin strong sales growth in Q1 2019.”

For more information, visit the company’s websites at www.PuraVidaVitamins.com and www.WheresWeed.com

• Mobile devices now account for more web traffic than desktops
• Mobile app development served by a multiplicity of languages and tools
• Consorteum UMI platform breaks down language barriers

When the IBM PC debuted in 1981, who could have envisaged a world in which the desktop would become “old school”? But 37 years on, that’s exactly what has happened. Mobile devices now account for 51.7 percent of web traffic, according to Statcounter, with tablets contributing 4.18 percent and desktops accounting for 44.12 percent (http://ibn.fm/6g5ww). The ubiquitous use of the smartphone is, of course, a major factor. There are very few on the planet who do not possess one. Mobile app development has risen in conjunction, to make life easier for us, with an app for this and an app for that, but developers of these app all have their preferences with regard to tools and languages, which has led to an onslaught of incompatibilities between devices and apps. However, Consorteum Holdings (OTC: CSRH) is bridging those mobile divides. The company’s Universal Mobile Interface (UMI) technology allows different software platforms and devices to communicate. It could prove to be the technology that releases the potential of the smartphone on the web.

The mobile app ecosystem is wide and varied and, undoubtedly, such diversity has its benefits. In creating apps, for instance, developers have a choice of one or more of the “15 Best Programming Languages for Mobile App Development”, which include Corona, HTML 5, Java and JavaScript, Pearl, Python, Rust and various iterations of C (http://ibn.fm/HJPBk), but such heterogeneity raises challenges in getting different apps and devices to “talk” to each other. However, Consorteum’s UMI platform could be the comprehensive “interpreter” that breaks down the language barriers between apps and devices.

There is good reason to do so. Worldwide, mobile app revenues climbed to $88.3 billion in 2016, up from $69.7 billion in 2015, according to Statista (http://ibn.fm/r7Rah). It further project the market to reach nearly $190 billion by 2020.

The UMI is a state-of-the-art platform that can integrate any stream of data onto a mobile device. Developed by Consorteum subsidiary 359 Mobile Inc., the technology has the capability to create mobile apps in fintech, data analytics, secure payment processing, compliance lead transaction management and various digital social event sectors. The UMI platform also allows cross operating system development to support all mobile devices while addressing the complex and highly regulated needs of the mobile fintech industry.

Consorteum Holdings, Inc. is a mobile platform company focused on delivering compliant, complex mobile-based transactions through a mix of partnerships, license agreements and joint venture revenue share arrangements. The company is focused on fintech, otherwise known as next-generation financial technology. Consorteum aims to capitalize on the broad variety of technological interventions into personal and commercial transactions by focusing its efforts and resources where it can leverage its expertise in direct and vertical based solutions.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Consorteum.com

• Agreement signed with third party investor to fund up to $1.2 million to support next crucial development phase of MIDS Cardiac POC diagnostic device
• Patented MIDS technology has successfully detected commercial assay beads at a level approximately four times better than the threshold advised as required for a high sensitivity troponin assay
• Cardiac biomarkers global market expected to reach $13.3 billion by 2024
• HS Troponin testing for myocardial infarction at the point of care would meet a critical unmet medical need
• CDC reports that heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women

A new economic study conducted by RTI International for the American Heart Association offers sobering statistics, as the number of Americans diagnosed with cardiovascular disease (“CVD”) is projected to rise to 131.2 million within the next two decades, totaling about 45 percent of the total U.S. population. Overall costs to treat CVD are expected to soar to $1.1 trillion by 2035, an article in ScienceDaily reveals (http://ibn.fm/UuQ5X).

Health care technology company Zenosense, Inc. (OTCQB: ZENO), through the company’s joint venture ownership of MIDS Medical Limited (“MML”), is focused on developing and commercializing its highly sensitive MIDS Cardiac hand-held technology for the rapid, early detection of heart attack at the point of care. Funding for the next critical phase of developing the device and accompanying test strip was recently announced in a news release (http://ibn.fm/317rF).

An agreement between MML and a third party investor will provide staged funding of up to an aggregate amount of $1.2 million, which is expected to cover costs of the next crucial development phase of the MIDS Cardiac microfluidic test strip. The specialized strip aims to embody a high sensitivity (“HS”) troponin assay or a similar assay to prove the MIDS system on a live test. To date, the patented MIDS technology has successfully detected commercial assay beads at a level approximately four times better than the threshold advised by MML’s assay consultants, as required for a HS troponin assay.

Providing HS troponin testing for myocardial infarction (heart attack) at the point of care would meet a critical medical need. The cardiac biomarkers market is expected to reach $13.3 billion by 2024, according to a report by Grand View Research (http://ibn.fm/qBKCp). The high prevalence of coronary heart disease in western countries like the U.S. is one of the major contributing factors to the growing demand for cardiac biomarker diagnostics, with the troponin biomarker segment expected to grow at the highest compound annual growth rate and capture the largest market share, the report states.

The MIDS Cardiac device is being developed to deliver accurate, rapid results of a single troponin I or T test within three minutes, as well as results of a three panel test that provide additional cardiac biomarkers within eight minutes, all at a fraction of the cost of laboratory analyzers and specialized medical personnel, an article detailing the MIDS Cardiac device states (http://ibn.fm/8UZY8).

The next phase of MML’s development plan includes:

• Design and create an active version of the MIDS microfluidic strip, including the closer integration of the MIDS magnetic sensor to improve the detection levels even further
• Design, develop and embody a live HS assay on the MIDS test strip in conjunction with a leading assay development company contracted to MML
• Refine electronic circuitry and software, system testing and data collection
• Create a compliance dossier

Company management expects the outcome of this next phase to prove to the industry that the MIDS magnetic detection method can detect and accurately quantify a live HS assay on the MIDS microfluidic test strip. If successfully completed, the company believes that test results will demonstrate that MIDS Cardiac can be used at the point of care for HS troponin testing, proving that the device is ready for final development.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Zenosense.com

• Carter Chalmers, MKTDF director of sales and business development, says new merchant signups are growing monthly; July’s total was 20 percent above June, with August tracking higher
• MKTDF’s gamification strategy converts, through online surveys and games, unknown social media followers into identified email subscribers and paying customers
• MKTDF’s goals include the introduction of an enhanced paid version of its app in October; company has received 125,000 emails from merchants praising higher conversion rates

DeepMarkit Inc. (TSX.V: MKT) (OTCQB: MKTDF) sees its gamification marketing strategy growing with the scheduled October release of its enhanced, paid toolkit that will give merchant/clients the ability to run gamified campaigns outside their sites and across social media in paid ads. It also sees momentum in its merchant signups: July was 20 percent higher than June, with August tracking even higher (http://ibn.fm/a9C4S).

Gamification uses the marriage of game-like features to a non-game platform to collect consumer data from online games. The result is the application of real-time information and analytics created for retailer clients to better understand their customer base (http://ibn.fm/0MA2f).

MKTDF is a Calgary, Alberta-based technology company focused on the monetization of gamification. It seeks, through the prizes and discounts offered by gaming apps, to convert site visitors into loyal customers who confirm their identities as they participate. MKTDF’s revenue comes from paid gamification campaigns, MKTDF’s June 2018 Investor Presentation says (http://ibn.fm/oxdR0).

The company’s strategy is to convert players into leads and leads into customers. Darold Parken, president and CEO of MKTDF, said in a corporate YouTube video (http://ibn.fm/l4r1W), “Businesses need a way to stand out from the crowd. DeepMarkit’s gamification platform gives customers that way to stand out. And it’s a way that they can afford. That’s the strength of our platform.”

“By providing a complete marketing solution, merchants can use different DeepMarkit tools to drive more traffic to their website, and once that traffic is on their site convert them into paying customers,”  Chalmers of MKTDF added. “The new DeepMarkit product release will represent a very powerful, comprehensive and cost-effective online marketing toolkit.”

MKTDF’s gamification app and proprietary technology is patent-pending. Online customers can use it on the Shopify, Inc. (NYSE: SHOP) platform (http://ibn.fm/GeDQk). Gamify is also currently available for free download on other major e-commerce platforms.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.DeepMarkit.com

• The Green Organic Dutchman launched its premier organic cannabis brand on September 12
• Studies show that Canadian consumers prefer organic cannabis
• TGOD’s goal is to become the largest organic cannabis brand in the world
• Partnership with Aurora Cannabis has resulted in a nearly fivefold return on Aurora’s initial investment thus far

Coinciding with Canadian Organic Week, Canada’s biggest annual celebration of organic food, farming and products, The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (TSX: TGOD) (OTCQX: TGODF) announced the launch of its premium, certified organic cannabis brand on September 12. This marks a significant step toward TGOD’s goal of becoming the world’s largest organic cannabis brand.

The Green Organic Dutchman is a research and development company that is a licensed medical cannabis cultivator under Canada’s Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR). The very highest standards for organic cultivation are employed by TGOD, with the company growing its cannabis naturally in Canadian soil without using synthetic pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers. Out of Canada’s 116 ACMPR-licensed cannabis producers, TGOD is one of only two that are certified organic. The cannabis produced by TGOD is also never irradiated—a factor that helps the company provide rich, fragrant, all-natural terpene profiles. TGOD further produces cannabis oils using a super-critical CO2 extraction process that is free of harmful additives and solvents.

As part of its organic cannabis brand launch, the company will choose 200 beta patients to try its products in January 2019. These beta patients will be selected through TGOD’s Founder’s Club enrollment program (www.TGOD.ca/Patients).

Studies have found that Canadian cannabis consumers prefer organically-certified marijuana, valuing its safety, medical effectiveness and natural terpene profiles. Providing superior products that are certified organic fits TGOD’s mission of “Making Life Better.” Along with delivering a premium cannabis experience, the company aims to be an industry leader when it comes to sustainability and environmental standards, demonstrating respect for the land in every part of its production process. The company is building all of its facilities to GMP standards and will operate the largest LEED-certified facility in the world, adhering to the standards of this internationally recognized green building certification system.

TGOD continues to provide top-quality products for medical cannabis customers and, soon, will also provide products for recreational users in Canada, once that country’s nationwide recreational cannabis legalization goes into effect in October.

TGOD also recently announced (http://ibn.fm/FoBOd) that it has agreed with Aurora Cannabis Inc. (TSX: ACB) to extend Aurora’s exercise deadline of its first milestone option under the TGOD Aurora Investor Rights Agreement. This first milestone option entitles Aurora to acquire an additional eight percent of TGOD’s common shares. The agreed-upon extension has moved the milestone option expiration date to October 12.

The partnership with Aurora has been very beneficial for both companies, and Aurora’s initial investment has increased almost fivefold. The Aurora team’s assistance, in turn, has helped TGOD accelerate its progress across all divisions.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.TGOD.ca

• Focused on discovering new technologies that deliver cannabinoids and other beneficial molecules to the bloodstream
• Bypassing the negative side effects of lighting up
• Crossing blood brain barrier

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP) is focused on discovering new technologies that deliver cannabinoids and other lipophilic (fat soluble) beneficial molecules to the bloodstream through efficient and healthy ingestion.

The first step to discovering how to deliver a higher percentage into the human bloodstream was to find a way to protect the molecules on their journey through the gastrointestinal system. It was discovered that fats are an excellent conduit, increasing absorption and breaking down molecules into more easily absorbed particles in the small intestine, bypassing the liver. Lexaria’s DehydraTECH drug delivery platform manipulates CBD and other beneficial molecules in certain ways to connect them at a molecular level with various foods, including but not limited to fatty foods.

With the increased understanding of bioavailability, DehydraTECH is providing an alternative to smoking. The edible technology holds promise that the negative side effects of lighting up can be bypassed with a more effective delivery mechanism for cannabinoids, nicotine, pain relievers, vitamins, supplements and more. The technology provides increases in intestinal absorption rates, more rapid delivery to the bloodstream and improved taste and smell.

Lexaria Nicotine Corp, a wholly owned subsidiary, is working to encourage cigarette smokers to use alternative forms of nicotine that do not lead to lung cancer. By promoting healthier ingestion methods while providing lower overall dosing, Lexaria is at an advantage as the FDA pushes for improved public health through the reduction of nicotine consumption.

In a press release from August 2018, Lexaria announced a second-generation study in 40 rats. The study resulted in Lexaria’s formulation being four-times faster at reaching its peak level in brain tissue than the non-enhanced control formulation. In a press release (http://ibn.fm/yYhZk), Chris Bunka, chief executive officer of Lexaria, stated, “DehydraTECH delivery technology continues to demonstrate its superior effectiveness in delivering nicotine without the need for combustion or the need for inhalation whatsoever. Crossing the blood brain barrier is a significant achievement all on its own and this data confirms the outcome of our earlier first-generation test.”

This technology could also hold promise for application of treatment of nervous system diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Crossing the blood-brain barrier is significant beyond its applications to nicotine. The similarities in physical structure between the nicotine molecule and several of the drugs used to treat nervous system diseases mean that Lexaria is strategically poised to change the efficiency of drug delivery across multiple channels.

Currently, Lexaria is the only company in the world with a patent for the improved (oral or ingestible, including pills) delivery of all non-psychoactive cannabinoids and has patents pending in over 40 countries.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.LexariaBioscience.com

• Earth Science Tech, Inc. recently announced a strategic Direct Response TV (DRTV) campaign deal with Kevin Harrington’s ‘As Seen On TV’ production company
• The 12-month campaign, during which Harrington will be appearing in person to promote ETST’s products, is aimed at raising awareness of ETST’s activities and boosting its high-grade cannabinoid (CBD) oil
• Recently, SeeThruEquity, a renowned Wall Street firm, recognized ETST’s sales growth, market potential and current activities in the cannabidiol, pharmaceutical and research and development fields

Earth Science Tech, Inc. (OTCQB: ETST) is a Florida-based innovative biotech company and a key player in the cannabidiol, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical fields. The company, which has also made significant footprints in the medical devices and research and development fields, has announced a partnership with Kevin Harrington’s ‘As Seen On TV’ production company for a Direct response media campaign (http://ibn.fm/L9Voc).

Kevin Harrington is a successful and highly respected figure in the entrepreneurship world, having marketed over 500 products and achieved more than $5 billion in sales. He is also one of the original Sharks on the ‘Shark Tank’ television program.

ETST plans to leverage its partnership with ‘As Seen On TV’ Production Company on this infomercial to deepen the market reach of its quality, high-grade cannabinoid oil. So far, the company has received validations from key institutions such as the University of Central Oklahoma and DV Biologics regarding the effectiveness of its CBD oil formulation in fighting breast cancer, boosting immunity, lowering cortisol levels and protecting the nervous system.

The direct response media campaign will feature Kevin Harrington, who will personally introduce ETST’s high-grade CBD oil. The campaign will run for a period of 12 months and will feature a 60-second ETST commercial spot aired in 10 selected regions and networks 300 times.

ETST will work closely with the ‘As Seen On TV’ team of analysts to ensure that the campaign is a success. The strategic alliance with Harrington is a major milestone in the company’s history and is expected to go a long way in polishing its brand.

The DRTV campaign will, in addition, give ETST’s infomercial a features placement on the ‘As Seen On TV’ website, a 15-second promotional video for digital marketing on social networks and permission to use the firm’s ‘As Seen On TV’ logo for its product branding.

The inking of the DRTV campaign deal comes hot on the heels of yet another achievement at ETST, its recognition from SeeThruEquity (http://ibn.fm/Qa0x3). This is an established equity research Wall Street company that targets micro-cap and small-cap companies with a valuation of under $1 billion.

The research firm has acknowledged ETST’s sales growth, market potential and recent activities. This recognition validates the passion and market expectations for the Earth Science brand. As part of the recognition, SeeThruEquity went set a price target of $3.60 on ETST’s shares.

ETST reported 1Q19 revenues of $166,891 represents growth of 64.8 percent from the previous period’s revenue figures. The growth in revenue is attributed to the rollout of CBD nutraceuticals and supplements.

The company currently has four wholly owned subsidiaries. It also has a Canadian subsidiary, Canna Inno Laboratories Inc., formed in 2017 to spearhead penetration of ETST into Quebec and access to government grants.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.EarthScienceTech.com

• Strikes deal to supply coffee to 60-ship cruise line
• Potential market of 60,000 crew members and staff
• Enters five-year contract to supply unroasted coffee worth $50 million

The cruise industry is big business, so it’s not surprising that the perceptive marketing practitioners at Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI) have spotted the commercial opportunities therein. The company recently announced that it had expanded its footprint in the cruise line industry by adding one more prestigious brand to its hospitality business (http://ibn.fm/NZfTH). Its coffee manufacturing division, CLR Roasters, has bagged a contract with another top cruise operator. The two-year deal means roasting and serving coffee to the entire crew and staff of the cruise line, which has a fleet of 60 ships serviced by over 60,000 people from some 100 countries. It also requires CLR to supply coffee to the passengers of three luxury cruise ships. As global popularity of the caffeinated beverage continues at record highs, Youngevity’s fortunes are poised to rise in line. Our love of coffee ensures that.

Coffee has captured not just the palates of Homo sapiens, but their imaginations as well. In Brazil, where they’ve got an awful lot of it, a profusion of precepts are propagated. One such advises that coffee – café – should be drunk “black as the devil, hot as hell, and as sweet as sin.” If that’s the way you like your coffee, it’s very likely you’ll find that palatable brew from CLR Roasters. CLR, established in 2001, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Youngevity International. The division produces gourmet coffees under its own boutique-registered brands, which include the Café La Rica, Josie’s Java House and Javalution lines.

The CLR unit also manufactures a variety of private labels for major national chains and product for Youngevity’s direct sales operation. It is one of the largest suppliers in North America to the cruise line industry. The subsidiary was also the first entrant into the fortified coffee niche with its Youngevity JavaFit registered brand. It doubled down on coffee by acquiring a plantation and processing facility in Nicaragua. This vertical integration will allow a greater degree of control to be exercised over the supply chain, resulting in improved quality and lower costs as the coffee moves from land to lips.

CLR Roasters recently entered into a five-year contract for the sale and processing of over 41 million pounds of green (unroasted) coffee on an annual basis (http://ibn.fm/1KJsi) Based on current coffee prices and coffee futures, this contract should generate revenues in excess of $50 million per year for each year of the five-year contract.

The coffee plantation in Matagalpa, Nicaragua, extending over 1,000 acres, was acquired by Youngevity International in 2014. The plantation had been essentially abandoned but still housed 180 dedicated workers and their families. Its rehabilitation began with a project – the Kindness Project – that asked for clothing to be donated to the workers. The enthusiastic response from distributors and customers resulted in enough clothing to supply not only the Youngevity plantation, but also many plantations nearby. This led to the establishment of the ‘Youngevity Be the Change Foundation’, after the neighboring plantations began calling the Youngevity estate ‘The Giving Plantation’ – an initiative that aligns with Youngevity’s desire to promote healthy and empowered lifestyles.

Youngevity is a leading omni-direct lifestyle company that markets an extensive range of products and services covering the eight top-selling retail categories. Brands offered include those in health and nutrition, home and family, food and beverage (including coffee), spa and beauty, fashion, essential oils, photo and innovative services. The company was formed from the 2011 merger of Youngevity Essential Life Sciences and Javalution Coffee Company (now part of the company’s food and beverage division). The company also plans to enter the cannabidiol (CBD) market with a proprietary line of hemp-derived CBD oil products very soon (http://ibn.fm/RMOkn).

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.YGYI.com

• Asphalt Ridge facility approaching 1,000 barrel per day capacity
• Full-time production planned to begin by next month
• Company considering opportunities to share environmentally-friendly extraction technology through licensing or joint ventures

Oil and gas company Petroteq Energy Inc. (TSX.V: PQE) (OTC: PQEFF) is on the verge of putting its oil on the market as it approaches 1,000 barrel per day capacity at its Asphalt Ridge oil sands extraction facility in Utah, according to the company president Dr. R. Gerald Bailey in a recent Uptick Newswire interview (http://ibn.fm/rxGQR).

“We have not started making sales right at the moment; we’re storing oil in the tanks. But by the end of this month we should be back in the market and running full time on that plant. So, it will be a good revenue generator for us and further proof that this process is scalable and it’s not just something that’s a one-shot deal,” Bailey said, talking about his company’s patented clean technology to extract heavy oils from oil sands, oil shale deposits and shallow oil deposits.

Referring to what he described as “remediation technology,” the Petroteq president said, “There’s no emissions, nothing to the air and nothing to the soil. We just return the sand a lot cleaner, in fact 100 percent cleaner than it was when we took it out. So, you could put plants on it and grow it after we get finished. So, there’s no environmental issues in this stuff and it’s very amenable to easy expansion.”

Bailey also said that the company has been successful in raising capital to fully fund its current phase of operation. “We have very little debt now; we have been able to use minimal funds to accomplish our expansion. So, as we begin selling oil, we expect to be self-sustaining in that regard.”

He said that the next round of capital raised would probably go toward expansion of the Asphalt Ridge facility, to create even more capacity, adding, “This is very modular, like building a Lego set with the kids. You can just keep adding units to it. We’ve had ideas to increase up to 3,000 and even 5,000 a day.”

Petroteq’s plans are to gradually increase output to 8,000 barrels per day by late 2020 or early 2021. According to a New York Times article discussing the company’s technology, output could go as high as 10,000 barrels per day within 25 years (http://ibn.fm/xXPDG).

Bailey noted that, although Petroteq’s primary business is oil production, its patented environmentally-friendly technology is also creating a lot of interest, and there may be opportunities to export the technology through licensing or joint ventures.

If the Asphalt Ridge project performs according to expectations, Petroteq could unlock billions of barrels of oil in Utah and surrounding states, as well as from other shallow oil sand deposits in the world, according to The New York Times. Bailey and CEO David Sealock told the publication that they are already having talks about joint ventures and licensing agreements with companies from Australia, Colombia, Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Petroteq.energy