22nd Century will now have extra VLN tobacco stock to support increased production of MAGIC “O” cigarettes.
The Central American growing program from 22nd Century Group Inc., a plant biotechnology company that is a leader in tobacco harm reduction, is being considered a great success by the company.
Now nearing harvest, the specially-propagated Central American tobacco crop is expected to produce sufficient quantities of Very Low Nicotine (VLN) tobacco seed stock to support 22nd Century’s increasing distribution of VLN tobacco cigarettes in Europe, as well as the anticipated future distribution of VLN tobacco cigarettes in the U.S., and the potential sales of VLN tobacco leaf in Asia.
As reported in October 2015, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a phytosanitary certificate to 22nd Century to facilitate export of the Company’s proprietary Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco) seeds to select growers in Central America. As a result of the Company’s successful field trials, the proprietary Very Low Nicotine tobacco seed in production will allow 22nd Century to greatly expand its tobacco leaf growing programs in both the U.S. and in Central America. The tobacco plants in Central America are expected to produce seed sufficient to grow tens of thousands of acres of Very Low Nicotine tobacco.
“The positive results of our Central American tobacco seed production program could not have come at a better time,” explained Henry Sicignano III, president and CEO of 22nd Century Group. “Now 22nd Century will have sufficient stockpiles of VLN seeds to support increased distribution of the Company’s MAGIC “O” cigarettes as well as launches of our other proprietary Very Low Nicotine products around the world.”
