BizCann Expo, a leading business and networking event, is happy to announce their next event in Medellin, Colombia! Taking place this May 21-22, 2022 at the city’s Plaza Mayor, this event is open to cannabis professionals, startups, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts! Featuring the industry’s leading figures and service providers, participants can enjoy networking and building relationships with like-minded professionals. Exhibitors can showcase their ideas and skills to an enthusiastic audience, and connect with eager investors. A massive forum for collaborations, young entrepreneurs seeking guidance can network with tons of industry leaders. New businesses looking for fresh avenues and useful business tips, as well as more established brands, can all leverage this forum to communicate with potential clients and investors. Attendees can leverage the platform to gain new business ideas, and understand the most recent market trends. Plus, this is also a great opportunity to get ahead and learn about the latest technologies as well as industry-wide updates. BizCann Expo prides itself in delivering the ultimate and most complete show possible for anyone seeking cannabis industry-tailored services: inventory, legal advisory, marketing, retail, tools, as well as consultancy from some of the top cannabis panel experts, are just some of the resources available. Immerse yourself in engaging discussions, keynotes, and workshops that will guide you through all aspects of the industry. Some of the topics discussed during this edition of BizCann Expo include the future of cannabis in Medellin, legislation & licensing, among others. To learn more, or to purchase your tickets, please visit bizcannexpo.com.

Lift&Co, widely recognized as the hub for the Canadian cannabis industry, is gearing up to host Lift&Co. Expo Toronto on May 12-15, 2022 (Exhibits Open May 13-15). Set to be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Canada’s premiere industry event for cannabis professionals, investors, consumers and the media will welcome over 150 expert speakers, upwards of 150 exhibitors and thousands of attendees over the course of four days. Lift&Co. Expo Toronto 2022 will be divided into multiple segments. First, the Lift Cannabis Business Conference (“LCBC”) on May 12 brings an exclusive, full-day conference gathering together Canada’s top business leaders, subject matter experts, innovators and regulators from across the cannabis industry. The following two days, May 13 and 14, see the opening of the Lift&Co. Expo trade show, open exclusively to members of the industry on these dedicated days. Featuring networking opportunities, discoveries and can’t miss-programming, Lift&Co. Expo Industry Days will enable attendees to kickstart relationships, create opportunities and fuel collaborations with some of the most cutting-edge companies within the cannabis industry. In a unique twist to its regular schedule, this year’s Lift&Co. Expo will also play host to the CannaVest North Investment Forum on May 13 and 14, a unique event connecting cannabis companies with accredited investors, while providing education from a financial perspective. The closing day of this year’s Lift&Co. Expo will be dedicated to patients, consumers and enthusiasts. Over 150+ exhibitors from Canada and around the world will highlight a wide array of products, complemented by programming surrounding new insights and ideas in the cannabis space. Throughout the event, attendees will be given a chance to learn about a variety of topics, including ‘How to Master Supply, Demand and Business Growth in a Quickly Changing Market’ delivered by Deloitte’s Nico Hache and Jawad Skieneh, Master Grower at Greenway Greenhouse Cannabis Corp; ‘The Next Big New Product Category – and What They Might Be?’ by HCD Research’s Allison Gutkowski; ‘Techniques for Better Sowing, Growing and Harvesting to Remain Competitive’ from Atiyyah Ferouz, Founder and CEO of AgCann Consultancy and Av Singh, PhD, PAg, Cannabis Cultivation Advisor; and ‘The Future for Edible Products’ by Nextleaf Solutions CEO, Paul Pedersen, among many others. Renowned for its uniquely irresistible experience that keeps thousands of cannabis industry movers, shakers and trailblazers buzzing, this year’s Lift&Co Expo will have something fun around every corner, including prizes, 420 receptions, photo activations and entertainment. All told, upcoming Lift&Co. Expo Toronto 2022 promises to be a truly unmissable event. For additional information about Lift&Co. Expo 2022, including ticket sales, visit https://liftexpo.ca/.

• Innovators in food supply field have been developing new technologies such as indoor farms
• These game-changing micro-farms can be built anywhere
• ACTX is the exclusive distributor of GrowPods in the United States

With global supply chain issues grabbing headlines and impacting almost every industry, potential solutions in any sector are certain to capture attention. Hence Advanced Container Technologies (OTC: ACTX), the exclusive U.S. distributor of GrowPods, is definitely seeing interest in the environmentally controlled micro-farms that allow cultivation of ultraclean crops year-round. “Land preservation and regenerative organic agriculture practices are critical to solving food insecurity and combating climate change,” reported a recent GreenBiz article titled, “How Vertical and Indoor Farming Can Supplement the Food Supply Chain” (https://ibn.fm/BuJEm). The article pointed out, however, that land is limited. “That’s why innovators in the field have been developing new technologies such as indoor and vertical farms designed to supplement outdoor farming. “Indoor farming allows for certain foods to be grown hydroponically in a closed-loop environment year-round,” stated the article. The article went on to quote John Church, cohead of Food & Beverage for HSBC USA, who observed that “these systems often recirculate water, which can be more efficient than how water is used for other types of crops. Light and temperature can also be controlled, and since there is no exposure to pests, no chemistry is needed.” However, one of the most significant benefits of these farms, the article noted, “is that they can be built anywhere. That means food such as leafy greens can be grown closer to population centers. Because it travels fewer miles to the plate, the taste and texture of the output from indoor farms is often better than conventionally grown produce. “While indoor and vertical farming will not feed the world, Church believes it can supplement the supply chain,” the article states. “One leader in indoor farming, for instance, recently began construction of a research center in Abu Dhabi, UAE. ‘This is the perfect spot for a vertical indoor farm,’ he explained. Due to its arid environment, the conditions are not suitable for outdoor growing, so the country has historically imported its produce. Recently the UAE’s government publicly stated it wants to become more sustainable — and this solution will go a long way in helping it achieve that. These are only a few of the advantages that GrowPods, which are self-contained, automated, indoor micro-farms, offer users. These innovative containerized growing systems are designed with functionality and ease of use in mind. The pods are configured to optimize plant growth while minimizing labor; setup is quick and simple, no pesticides are needed, and the containers produce harvests all year long. Advanced Container Technologies is in the business of selling and distributing GrowPods, along with related equipment and supplies. Additionally, the company designs and sells patented, proprietary medical-grade plastic containers, known as the Medtainer(R), that store and grind pharmaceuticals, herbs, teas and other solids or liquids. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.AdvancedContainerTechnologies.com. NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to ACTX are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/ACTX

• Plans moving forward to begin drilling this month
• Depending on drill production, drilling of next 10 wells will follow
• Reserve report estimates value of production to be $41 million

Laredo Oil (OTC: LRDC) an exploration and production company specializing in conventional and enhanced oil recovery techniques targeting mature and declining oil fields, is one step closer to drilling its first well — the Olfert 11-4 — in the Lustre Oil Field. The company has been granted a drilling permit for the planned drilling to take place in the Western Williston Basin of Montana (https://ibn.fm/xrwS0) and plans are moving forward to begin drilling soon. “The Olfert 11-4 well is the first of 11 wells we have identified for completion in 2022,” said Laredo Oil chair and CEO Mark See. “Drilling there will commence as soon as possible; the drill rig is under contract and, depending on rig availability and weather, is scheduled for early May.” According to See, Laredo anticipates seeing initial production from this well as early as three weeks after spudding. Based on those production results, Laredo Oil will assess the viability of the program, which was outlined in the reserve report from Nov. 1, 2021 released by an independent petroleum engineering firm. “Assuming successful economic results from the completion of this first well, we intend to proceed to drill the next 10 wells, contingent upon successful completion of the fundraising efforts currently underway,” stated See. “And we are continuing to expand our mineral rights acreage portfolio in Montana to more fully realize on the opportunity that we believe exists there.” Laredo’s belief in the potential of the property is rooted in more than 35 years of offsetting production and the associated technical data in the field in addition to the reserve report it received last year (https://ibn.fm/Woo0o). The report estimated that interests of proved undeveloped, probable undeveloped and contingent reserves, along with forecasts of economics attributable to certain properties in the Western Williston Basin of Montana for oil interests acquired by Lustre Oil Company LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Laredo Oil, total $41 million of cumulative cash flow discounted at 10%. “This reserve report confirms the potential of the first 10 wells we have identified for completion in a small portion of the 28,496 acres where Lustre has acquired mineral rights in northeast Montana,” said See. “Based on this reserve report, I feel the field has much more potential for expansion.” The company’s focus in Montana aligns with its strategy, which is to aggressively pursue conventional oil development opportunities and acquire select mature oil fields where management believes that the company can profitably use its proprietary Underground Gravity Drainage(TM) method to recover stranded oil reserves. Laredo believes that these fields are undervalued and have the potential to be extremely productive. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Laredo-Oil.com. NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to LRDC are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/LRDC

The 2nd Annual Gene Therapy Summit will take place June 7-9, 2022, in Boston, MA. With a focus on effectively engaging genetic therapy patients, this is a must attend summit for individuals and companies that are serious about building safer and more meaningful gene therapy programs. The summit will unite patient advocacy and engagement leaders from gene therapy and gene editing drug developers, patient groups and patients themselves to address the specific challenges of patient engagement in genetic therapy and will generate actionable insights through detailed case studies and open discussions. As gene therapies proliferate and sector investment continues to grow rapidly, engaging with patients effectively at each stage of the processes has become a priority and a necessity to enhance efficacy. During the comprehensive 3-day agenda you will hear directly from experts in patient advocacy at genetics companies including Spark Therapeutics, Ultragenyx, BioMarin, Global Genes, and CRISPR Therapeutics. Other speakers include Pfizer’s Senior Director of Policy & Public Affairs and the Deputy Director, Officer of Rare Diseases Research at NIH. These speakers and others will address important topics that include managing expectations across gene therapy development, navigating patient input on one-time transformative treatments with novel clinical trial designs combined with extensive follow-ups, and developing educational materials on gene therapy to raise awareness in collaboration with patient advocacy organizations. This is a unique opportunity to leverage the collective knowledge and experience of industry experts to ensure effective creation and implementation of patient-centric gene therapy programs. Past attendees of the Gene Therapy Event Series have praised the event saying: “Exciting new way of participating in scientific conference and discussion.” uniQure “I found the presenters and participant patient engagement knowledge superb, as was their willingness to share.” 4D Molecular Therapeutics “Incredibly positive and eye-opening experience for a scientist new to the field.” Novartis Gene Therapies “Lots of useful information and good variety of perspectives.” Ten Bridge The summit is hosted by Hanson Wade, a world leading conferences and data products organization that creates exclusive business conferences by gathering together the world’s smartest thinkers and doers. Register here to attend https://genetherapy-patient-engagement.com/take-part/register/.

• Cybin has selected Clinilabs Drug Development Corporation as CRO for its Phase 1/2a clinical trial evaluating CYB003 for treating major depressive disorder (“MDD”)
• MDD impacts more than 264 million people worldwide, is a leading cause of mental disability worldwide
• Preclinical studies show CYB003 may have significant advantages over classic psilocybin

In a significant step forward in the study of alternative treatments for major depressive disorder, Cybin (NEO: CYBN) (NYSE American: CYBN) is moving forward in its phase 1/2a clinical trial of its proprietary deuterated psilocybin, CYB003 (https://ibn.fm/VTjoI). Based on previous research, CYB003 has the potential to effectively treat MDD with significant advantages over classic psilocybin. Cybin announced that it has selected Clinilabs Drug Development Corporation to support the clinical trial. Clinilabs is a global, full-service contract research organization with an impressive reputation for its expertise in central nervous system drug development. “We are delighted to partner with the Clinilabs team as we progress this important program toward a first-in-human Phase 1/2a trial,” said Cybin CEO Doug Drysdale. “Clinilabs brings a unique combination of scientific and operational experience and deep expertise in clinical research across a range of psychiatric, neurological, and substance use disorders. Clinilabs is ideally suited to help us accelerate the regulatory pathway for this promising treatment candidate and, ultimately, to treat those suffering from MDD effectively.” One of the most common mental disorders, MDD impacts more than 264 million people worldwide and is the leading cause of disability worldwide (https://ibn.fm/JclMj). More than 7% of all adult Americans have had a least one major depressive episode, with 63.8% of adults suffering severe impairment. Women are nearly twice as likely as men to struggle with depression. Serious side effects accompany many currently available treatments. With these staggering numbers as a backdrop, Cybin focuses on finding solutions for those whose lives are impacted by MDD and other mental and emotional disorders. The company has conducted a series of preclinical studies that demonstrate that CYB003 may have significant advantages over classic psilocybin, including less variability in plasma levels, faster onset of action, shorter duration of effect, and better tolerability, for an overall better outcome for patients. The company recently completed in vivo preclinical studies of CYB003. The company plans to file an investigational new drug application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its upcoming Phase 1/2a clinical trial. The company anticipates initiating the trial mid-year. “Approximately one-third to one-half of people with MDD demonstrate an inadequate response to antidepressant drug treatment. Treatment options for these patients currently are limited to dose escalation, switching or combining antidepressants, or augmentation therapy, often with unsatisfactory results,” said Dr. Gary Zammit, Clinilabs president and CEO. “It is a privilege to be working with Cybin, an innovator in the development of novel psychedelic therapeutics, to conduct its first-in-human clinical trial of CYB003. This trial is designed to assess the efficacy and safety of CYB003 in patients with MDD and is among the first to evaluate a standardized psychedelic treatment regimen in this patient population.” Cybin is a leading ethical biopharmaceutical company, working with a network of world-class partners and internationally recognized scientists on a mission to create safe and effective therapeutics for patients to address a multitude of mental health issues. Headquartered in Canada and founded in 2019, Cybin is operational in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Cybin.com. NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to CYBN are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/CYBN

• “Metaverse refers to digital worlds in which people will gather to work, play and hang out,” explains CNET article
• Kronos is one of the earliest companies to design and soon open its own metaverse virtual store
• Emergen Research reports that metaverse market reached $47.69 billion in 2020, by 2028 could see a revenue CAGR of 43.3%

The metaverse is everywhere, popping up in entertainment and vying for news headlines. This immersive virtual world where people live, work, shop and interact through avatars once seemed like science fiction but is fast becoming a real-world fact. Savvy companies, including Kronos Advanced Technologies (OTC: KNOS), are jumping at the chance to be part of this leading-edge innovation. “A vision for the next step in the internet’s evolution, the metaverse refers to digital worlds in which people will gather to work, play and hang out,” a recent CNET tech article touted (https://ibn.fm/E7lli). “Some of those online spaces will be immersive 3D experiences and require fancy goggles to enjoy. Others will play out on a computer screen. “The term’s been in flux, and might still keep evolving and renaming itself,” the article continued. “Tech hype cycles come and go. The metaverse could fizzle before it’s even realized. As of yet, however, interest continues to grow. Across gaming, NFTs and shopping, it’s become a repeated buzzword.” The article points to Microsoft’s planned $69 billion acquisition of ActivisionBlizzard and Facebook’s rebranding itself as Meta, along with fascinating innovations in the world of gaming and computing, as evidence of the strengthening of “a years-long push to make these advances useful to everybody. “What’s changed is a shift in understanding, a conviction the internet needs to be reimagined,” the article stated. “How far-reaching those changes end up being is anyone’s guess. After all, the road map for the metaverse is half-paved. It isn’t clear it’ll be completed as promised. What’s for sure is that if there’s money to be made, big companies will be involved.” While Kronos Advanced Technologies isn’t as large as Microsoft or Facebook by any means, the company recognizes the potential. Late last year, KNOS, a revenue-generating product development and production company that has significantly changed the way air is moved, filtered, and sterilized, announced plans to build an e-commerce metaverse store (https://ibn.fm/6INxa). According to the announcement, the company noted that as more retailers accelerate their digital transformation, the metaverse has the potential to enable customers to meet up in digital environments, make the shopping experience more comfortable with the use of avatars, and facilitate creative collaboration between customers and companies. One of the earliest companies to design and open its own metaverse store, Kronos noted the similarity with companies that decades ago opened websites on the internet. Emergen Research recently released the Global Metaverse Market Research Report, an investigative report providing an extensive study of the global Metaverse market (https://ibn.fm/uJteK). According to the report, the metaverse market size reached $47.69 billion in 2020 and by 2028 is projected to see a revenue CAGR of 43.3%. “Rising focus on converging digital and physical worlds through the internet and the recent COVID-19 outbreak is expected to support market revenue growth between 2021 and 2028,” the report noted. “In addition, increasing emphasis on developing metaverse platforms for education industry will continue to boost revenue growth of the market.” KNOS president Michael Rubinov observed that shopping is all about the experience, noting that “our metaverse shopping portal would fit in organically with VR gaming and entertainment experiences. Video game companies like Epic Games and Roblox are already linked in that players can often buy accessories, apparel, or cryptocurrency within a game.” KNOS partnered with BOTS Inc. (OTC: BTZI) to develop its metaverse eCommerce store, a space where customers can browse products, test products, virtually buy and have products delivered to their homes. Kronos is planning to expand its product lines that will be specifically designed for the metaverse experience. Kronos is focused on next-generation, wellness consumer electronics products and PPE solutions. Originally founded in 2002 and funded by the U.S. military to develop electrostatic air movers, KNOS has since evolved into the consumer air-purification space, initially focusing on developing, marketing and selling its proprietary air movement and purification technology. Its proprietary technology is now also being implemented in multiple standalone products for businesses, homes and vehicles of all types to move, sterilize and filter air. Kronos Advanced Technologies is exploring broad ranges of additional markets for standalone and embedded Kronos CORE technology-based devices, including schools, universities, healthcare facilities, operating rooms, manufacturing clean rooms, automobiles and commercial aircraft cabins, and specialized air filters for bitcoin-mining farms. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.KronosATI.co. NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to KNOS are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/KNOS

Organa Kannalytics LLC invites cannabis businesses, stakeholders, researchers, patients, farmers distributors, and related industries, are all invited to attend the Southeastern Hemp & Medical Cannabis Convention (“SHMCC”) being held from 12-14 March 2022 at the Cobb Galleria Centre, Two Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, Georgia. The SMHCC is being touted as the central meeting point for industry leaders and influencers to come together for networking, discussing medical advancements in the cannabis industry, and discovering new business opportunities. The event offers immense scope to new businesses and organizations to get better market visibility and explore the vast spectrum of possibilities that lay ahead. The SHMC Convention will be held in person, taking care of all health and safety protocols following local and international regulations. Those who cannot attend the event in person have access to the streaming conference. Attendees can learn and understand about the medical advancements and agricultural breakthroughs, new business scope, and as well as national, state, and local laws regulating cannabis use and trade. The title sponsor of the event is LUX LEAF Diagnostics, a leading testing laboratory dedicated to serving the US hemp and cannabis market. Explore the wide gamut of cannabis science and its potential uses in the medical fraternity. Leading speakers will share their knowledge and insights on how responsible cannabis use can have several health benefits. Sponsors and vendors are invited to set up their booths displaying their products and services. Earlybird discounts are available. With the global interest growing in the medical cannabis sector, the SHMC convention has a host of opportunities to offer associated business and trading players of the southeastern region. The trusted insights of distinguished speakers like Dallas Austin and Tavarres King, along with the immense networking scope of the convention, makes it the most sought after cannabis convention in this region. Participants can attend workshops, join the panel discussions, network and socialize to connect with peers and stalwarts on this informative forum. Traders can build long-term business ties and attendees can discover developing potential medical solutions and treatment options. The event offers a wide range of discussion topics to resonate with the audience. Interested parties can get in touch with the event team that will guide them to participate to their desired level. For more information, please visit www.OrganaKannalytics.com.

• In its most recent oral nicotine study, Lexaria established that DehydraTECH-oral nicotine delivery peaked in bloodstream 10x to 20x faster than controls and peak levels achieved were up to 10x higher than controls
• Lexaria hopes to evidence in its upcoming human oral nicotine study NIC-H22-1, that processing purified nicotine with DehydraTECH leads to better oral-tissue absorption and reduced negative experiences compared to currently sold brands
• Lexaria’s DehydraTECH technology works with new and existing drugs, processing them into a final form that increases bioavailability, speeds up onset and improves effectiveness that can allow for smaller doses
• The company also recently announced new agreements with tobacco giant Altria for evaluation of some of its powder-based nicotine formulations

Technology innovator Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX) has developed a drug delivery technology designed to increase bio-absorption, reduce time of onset and mask unwanted tastes of a wide variety of medicines and therapeutics. In exploring the potential of its patented DehydraTECH(TM) technology, which uses a proprietary process to render active pharmaceutical ingredients into a readily absorbable final form, Lexaria has investigated DehydraTECH’s effectiveness in various markets such as hypertension, antivirals and oral nicotine to name a few, with outstanding results. Another important area of study has focused on nicotine alternatives to replace smoking. This summer, the Company will begin a human clinical study, NIC-H22-1, which will dose a minimum of 36 people to compare Lexaria’s DehydraTECH-nicotine pouch performance with that of existing brands such as ON! and Zyn currently sold in the United States, drawing on existing capital to fund the study (https://ibn.fm/Afcaq). Animal testing has already demonstrated that DehydraTECH-nicotine can deliver peak nicotine performance to the bloodstream 10 to 20 times faster than the study’s controls (https://ibn.fm/Nfn2Q). In March, the company received its first ever patent granted to use DehydraTECH to deliver nicotine more efficiently through buccal tissue absorption in Australia (https://ibn.fm/r4Tl6). Buccal tissue is the type of tissue in your mouth and throat, allowing for the nicotine to be primarily absorbed before it enters the stomach. Similar patent filings have been made in the U.S. and in the EU and Lexaria believes those potential patent awards could support significant competitive advantages in the nicotine white pouch category, as well as other oral nicotine product formats. The FDA has long resisted formal authorization of smokeless alternatives to tobacco consumption because of concerns about their capacity to lure youths into addiction. “Anyone who does not currently use tobacco products, especially youth, should refrain from doing so,” Acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless, M.D., said in relation to the agency’s authorization for some “Modified Risk Tobacco Products” to be marketed as a safer alternative to smoking in recent months. But in 2019, Swedish smokeless brand General became the first in the long history of the FDA to ever win that marketing allowance. (https://ibn.fm/3VIC9). Lexaria has long held that any form of inhaling chemical substances can be detrimental to health, and its DehydraTECH-nicotine aims to help vapers as well as smokers wean themselves off of those products, giving them relief from cravings while offering a safer nicotine alternative. “My father also died from lung cancer … so I am no fan (of smoking),” CEO Chris Bunka told Forbes in 2019 (https://ibn.fm/3I6V0). “The fact that (DehydraTECH) is fast means that smokers might not be frustrated waiting for their nicotine experience to begin, the way they have been with traditional nicotine products such as gums and lozenges.” The company is working with the tobacco industry, and recently announced new agreements with tobacco giant Altria Client Services, LLC in which Lexaria will receive a fee to provide certain DehydraTECH powder-based nicotine formulations to Altria for evaluation (https://ibn.fm/Lttmz). For more information, visit the company’s website at www.LexariaBioscience.com. NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to LEXX are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/LEXX

• Up to $400 million has been made available to support food purchases with emphasis on purchasing from underserved farmers, ranchers
• Agency strengthens efforts to provide emergency food assistance, expand economic opportunity
• ACTX GrowPods could be valuable tool in effort to build resilient local, regional food-production capabilities

In an effort to provide transform the food system and build a better food system after the global pandemic exposed weaknesses in the system, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) established a Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (“LFPA”) last year (https://ibn.fm/cXurt). Advanced Container Technologies (OTC: ACTX), a company focused on the business of developing, manufacturing and selling advanced cultivation equipment, proprietary packaging systems, and a variety of other products, is ideally suited to help meet the needs of the new USDA initiative to build a new and more equitable food system (https://ibn.fm/uj0th). According to the USDA announcement, up to $400 million in funding has been made available to support food purchases with an emphasis on purchasing from underserved farmers and ranchers. “Also as part of the Build Back Better Food System Transformation Initiative, USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service is announcing the availability of up to $50 million in funds provided by the American Rescue Plan for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (“TEFAP”) Reach and Resiliency grants to state agencies to expand program access in rural, tribal, and other currently underserved areas,” the agency states. “These grants and the LFPA are both part of USDA’s robust and ongoing support for food banks and the broader emergency food system.” “One of the lessons from COVID-19 is that the current food system is too rigid, consolidated and fragile,” the agency stated when it announced established the program. “These cooperative agreements will help state, tribal and local entities purchase food more efficiently from local producers and invest in infrastructure that enables partner organizations to reach underserved communities more effectively. “As we build back better than we were before, we will strengthen our efforts to provide emergency food assistance and expand economic opportunity for historically underserved producers by allowing state and tribal governments to buy and distribute local and regional foods and beverages that are healthy, nutritious and unique to their geographic area.” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack noted that the program “will help get local and regional agricultural products into schools, food banks and other nutritional assistance programs, and organizations that reach underserved communities. It also advances our efforts to ensure that historically underserved populations gain equal access to USDA resources through a combination of grants, loans, pilot programs, technical assistance, cooperative agreements, and more.” According to Advanced Container Technologies, its GrowPods — modular hydroponic greenhouses — could become a valuable tool in this effort to build more resilient local and regional food production capabilities. “With GrowPods, cultivation can be moved directly into the areas where food is needed,” the company noted. “Additionally, locating the pods nearer to the point of consumption allows food to be harvested at its peak nutritional value, and greatly reduces the carbon and environmental impact of the nation’s current food chain, which relies on trucks carrying mass quantities of produce across the country.” GrowPods offer a controlled environment with major advantages for the production of high-value crops. The ability to grow crops year-round while cultivating in a smaller footprint using less resources make the systems particularly well suited for programs such as the LFPA. ACTX is the exclusive distributor of GrowPods in certain markets. The company also provides a variety of other products and services, including packaging solutions for medicinal, pharmaceutical, and agricultural products. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.AdvancedContainerTechnologies.com. NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to ACTX are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/ACTX