AGE OF COCA
The coca plant has been one of the best kept secrets in the world. For thousands of years, the coca plant has served an important role for Indigenous communities with its exceptional taste profile, numerous health benefits, a single source of natural, complete protein and highly nutritious array of minerals and vitamins. It also has energy enhancing, appetite suppressing, and bitterness reducing attributes. Today, the coca plant is poised to disrupt.
A PRODUCT THAT STANDS THE TEST OF TIME
For decades Coca-Cola has had a stranglehold on the coca extract supply chain through a unique partnership with Stepan Company (NYSE:SCL) and a state coca leaf supplier in Peru. Dating all the way back to a 1988 report by the New York Times, the world has known about this monopoly, but no one has been able to do anything about it – until now.
Coca-Cola holds a special permit with the U.S. government allowing them to import coca leaves into a decocainization plant in New Jersey where cocaine is removed so the coca extract can be used in Coca-Cola, providing their “natural flavors” and allowing them to export the product globally.
In contrast, PLC’s decocainization process happens legally in Colombia, allowing us to distribute our extract products directly to global markets. We are breaking Coca-Cola’s monopoly and bringing this nutrition-packed, all-natural ingredient to market.
Learn more about the legal framework of Power Leaves Corp’s process here.
COMMUNITY & GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Power Leaves Corp. was built on a foundation of collaboration with the Nasa Community of the Indigenous Reserve of Calderas and the Colombian Government.
Through our collaborative partnership, we have achieved two monumental milestones that allow us to usher in this new age of coca to the world:
- Signing of an exclusive, 15-year agreement with the Nasa Community.
- Inclusion in the Colombian Government’s National Economic Development Plan.
Under Colombian law, Indigenous peoples have the right to cultivate coca for scientific, medical, and commercial purposes. With the Indigenous community handling the coca leaves and extraction process, PLC receives an extract that is decocainized and not subject to any controls or restrictions.
The agreement was approved by 99.8% of voters in the community and serves as PLC’s competitive moat, where it would take a competitor 3+ years and +$10M to try to replicate.
As a culturally significant plant, a large number of Indigenous businesses already have extensive experience cultivating and commercializing coca leaf. Today, Power Leaves Corp. is working with the Nasa Indigenous community to unlock this knowledge and bring the power of coca to the masses.
The Colombian Government has now included Power Leaves Corp. in its National Economic Development plan and is prioritizing an entire chapter dealing with coca and other psychoactive substances in its new mandate. Their goal is to establish an economic development model in areas affected by illicit economies, modeling what Power Leaves Corp. is developing in the Cauca Region.
The newly elected Colombian Government, under President Petro, has made it a top priority to:
- Regulate the legal use of the coca leaf, and;
- Protect the rights of its Indigenous people and promote their agricultural capabilities.
Petro’s party controls 73% of Congress and only a majority vote is required to move legislation forward to regulate the legal use of the coca leaf. The ultimate goal is to destigmatize the coca leaf with new economic support for industrialization and create new sustainable revenue streams for the Colombian economy.
Through PLC, the Colombian Government can enhance their economy while supporting Indigenous communities. We are providing the playbook.
Power Leaves Corp’s innovative approach is legal according to:
- United States Law
- United Nations Law
- Colombian Law
Within the United States, decocainized coca extract is not a controlled substance or narcotic. Power Leaves Corp’s decocainized extract is subject to the same restrictions and regulatory framework as Coca-Cola. Coca (decocainized) is expressly listed in Part 182 - Substances Generally Recognized as Safe of the US Code of Federal Regulations. Namely, it is a food and beverage ingredient that, upon meeting FDA standards, can be used in food and beverage products.
Globally, the United Nations, through Article 27 of the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, “authorizes the use of coca leaves for the preparation of a flavoring agent that does not contain any alkaloid (cocaine), and to the extent necessary for such use, authorizes the import, production, export, trade and possession of such leaves.” In accordance with the provisions of the Convention and its binding nature for Colombia, the use of coca without alkaloids is legal.
Within Colombia, the law and jurisprudence - through Article 7 of Law 30 of 1986 recognizes the legal use of the coca leaf by Indigenous peoples and the right to cultivate the plant for their own commercial and traditional use. The legal framework expressly permits the use of coca for scientific, medical, and commercial purposes. The agreement between Power Leaves Corp. and the Nasa Community of the Indigenous Reserve of Calderas is binding, compliant with Colombian law, and fully endorsed by the community.
All of Power Leaves Corp. products are decocainized and not subject to any controls or restrictions, allowing us to work with food and beverage producers across the world.
Vice President of Colombia Francia Marquez visits PLC’s Cohetando Facility
In her speech, Vice President Marquez stated “we hope soon we will be able to launch from here a life project, and peace project to Colombia and the whole world.”
licensed operations
Power Leaves Corp. has established and licensed the foundational infrastructure needed to supply our customers with high-quality inputs for food and beverage products.
With FDA and INVIMA (Colombian FDA) registrations for our facilities, we can export our extracts to markets globally.
Power Leaves Corp’s manufacturing process does not touch the coca extract until it has been decocainized. Coca alkaloids (such as cocaine) are completely removed and destroyed from the extract, which gives us the legal ability to manufacture this disruptive product.
THREE PRIMARY MANUFACTURING FACILITIES
Cohetando Facility
1,600 sq ft manufacturing campus for extraction and decocanization of coca extract for food & beverage fertilizer products, located on Indigenous land.
Calderas Facility
2,700 sq ft facility for the research and development of the lowest and “non detectable” alkaloid containing coca genetics, located on Indigenous land.
NeIva Facility
3,200 sq ft FDA registered facility to receive decocainized extracts for purification, formulation, and packaging of extracts and novel fertilizer formulations for international and domestic distribution, located just outside of Indigenous land.
WE RESPECT OUR ENVIRONMENT
We value and respect our environment and use eco-friendly containers, solar panels, hydro power, and other low waste processes. Contact us to learn more about our sustainability practices.
patent-pending decocainization
We have developed a patent pending alkaloid destruction process, which includes deriving the maximum nutritional and health benefits of coca extract. Our process is cost-effective, rapidly scalable, and environmentally benign.
OUR TEAM
CEO, Director & Co-Founder
Pat McCutcheon
Pat was a Co-founder of MediPharm Labs and served as President & CEO, leading its growth into one of the largest cannabis extraction companies in the world. This includes overseeing the construction and management of two successful GMP pharma-certified manufacturing facilities which exported to seven countries. Over this time he led capital raises totaling over $270M with Tier 1 – 3 banks in Canada and the United States. Additionally, he has built and executed on a publicly listed independent board, bringing in major representatives from Big Pharma, CPG and Banking. He has also served as an advisor to more than 13 companies over the past 6+ years and is the CEO, Director and Co-Founder of Power Leaves Corp.
CO-FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
AHMED SHEHATA
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
PAUL BOZOKI
Mr. Bozoki is a dual Ontario and New Hampshire CPA with approximately 25 years of accounting, tax and corporate finance experience. Mr. Bozoki served as Chief Financial Officer of several TSX, CSE, TSX Venture and OTC QX/QB listed companies involved in various projects including Fura Gems with an emerald project in Colombia. Mr. Bozoki began his career at Ernst & Young LLP where he spent six years in the audit practice. Mr. Bozoki has an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business and a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s.
CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER
TOBIAS POSTMA
Tobias is experienced organic chemist with a background in pharmaceutical sciences & industrial botanical extraction. He spent seven years in the pharmaceutical cannabis industry, two of which in Colombia, designing & operating ton scale extraction facilities. His expertise is focused on designing facilities, developing innovative products and processes, and scaling them up to commercial production.Tobias holds a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry and a Master’s Degree in Drug Innovation. Tobias has previously obtained numerous patents and is leading the patent strategy and applications for PLC.
HEAD OF COLOMBIAN OPERATIONS
ANTHONY VALENCIA
Anthony is an experienced Colombian operations manager with over 15 years of experience. He has led multiple infrastructure development projects in Colombia as well as served as a sales leader, opening new markets and driving business growth in Colombia. Anthony holds an Bachelor’s of Civil Engineer and a Master’s Degree in Administration.