CHRONI-CO: Africa’s Medical Cannabis Powerhouse Growing from Paarl
Under the sunny Western Cape skies, Chroni-Co has developed a highly efficient, top quality medical cannabis farming operation which is garnering a reputation in markets around the world. Founder James Simpson tells Enterprise Africa more about the company’s success.
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In the heart of one of South Africa’s oldest agricultural towns, a quiet revolution is underway. On a piece of historic agri land in Paarl a modern, pharmaceutical-grade cannabis cultivation facility is reshaping global perceptions about the African cannabis industry.
Founded in 2019, Chroni-Co is one of the continent’s most promising medical cannabis producers, supplying high-quality, regulation-compliant product to discerning markets across Australia and Europe. Still relatively young, the company has become a beacon for what a professional, sustainable, and globally connected cannabis operation can look like—not just in South Africa, but across the entire African continent.
GROUND-UP GROWTH
Chroni-Co’s journey is rooted in an ambitious vision and unshakeable commitment to quality. Founder and Director, James Simpson, tells Enterprise Africa that everything started with a blank canvas and a bold idea.
“We started in 2019, and we knew we wanted to grow,” he says. “We positioned ourselves with a piece of land and then completed the necessary applications with our governing body – the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). The difficult thing about this industry is that you must build a facility to completion before the regulator will audit you. We completed everything, had our audit, and in 2022 we gained our licence before starting production.”
The process of establishing a compliant operation wasn’t easy, especially under the rigorous oversight of SAHPRA. Still, Chroni-Co pushed forward, completing the build and meeting all regulatory requirements—a feat many cannabis start-ups in Africa and abroad struggle to achieve.
Now the facility is a perfect blend of nature and technology boasting solar power, reverse osmosis water plant, world-class growing lights, temperature and humidity controls, remotely controlled feeding systems, and a cutting edge lab and seed storage unit.
From the very beginning, Chroni-Co positioned itself strictly in the medical cannabis space, supplying only to licensed entities in line with the strictest pharmaceutical laws. “We are a medical facility and we only sell licence to licence with a scheduled substance,” Simpson explains. “Everything goes into a medical, script-based market.”
QUALITY ABOVE ALL
At the core of Chroni-Co’s appeal is a relentless focus on product integrity and international compliance. With many international markets—particularly in Europe and Australia—relying on strict import rules and traceability, the company is built from the ground up to satisfy those requirements.
“All our stock goes out white labelled,” Simpson says. “In Australia, there are pure importers who just buy and sell, some that import for use within their own brand, and others that are compounding pharmacies importing directly. In Europe, it’s similar—some are vertically integrated, others are just distribution channels.”
This versatility means Chroni-Co must meet varying compliance standards depending on the target market. The ability to do so has already allowed it to gain traction in Germany, Poland, and the UK, all of which have emerging medical cannabis frameworks in place. With more patients and physicians recognising the role cannabis can play in treating conditions such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s, chronic pain, anxiety, and sleep disorders, regulated supply is now a global necessity. The market is expected to grow globally by 1.65% (CAGR) in 2025.
“There is now a lot of scientific evidence that has confirmed the number of benefits outweigh any perceived risks,” says Simpson. “As countries allow more access—while giving companies a legal framework—it gains traction and moves people away from the black market where there are no certificates of analysis (COA). You know there will be no heavy metals or pesticides – ours is a much safer product.”
BUILT FOR SUSTAINABILITY
Chroni-Co’s site is more than just compliant—it’s also environmentally responsible. Housed in a region blessed with abundant sunshine, the facility runs a solar PV plant to supplement energy requirements and reduce its carbon footprint.
“Our farm is carbon neutral,” Simpson confirms. “We harness sunlight through a state-of-the-art solar PV plant installed on the estate, and then introduce additional lighting systems for optimum quality and intensity.”
Water conservation is also a key part of the operation. “Our reverse osmosis plant allows us to filter all the water used in cultivation. This eliminates any harmful chemicals and allows us to recycle water that would otherwise be wasted.”
This emphasis on sustainable operations gives Chroni-Co added credibility in European markets where climate impact and corporate responsibility matter more than ever.
COMMUNITY FOCUS
Operating at full capacity, Chroni-Co employs 30 staff onsite, rising to 50 during harvest periods. Notably, around 80% of the workforce is female, offering much-needed employment opportunities in a region where youth unemployment remains high.
“A hardworking and dedicated team is making great things happen in Paarl,” says Simpson. “We are creating jobs and exporting high-quality products that solve real-world medical problems.”
The company’s presence is part of a larger economic opportunity in South Africa, where the cannabis sector is seen as a job creator and forex earner. According to Statista, Africa’s cannabis industry could have a market volume of more than $822 million by 2029, and South Africa—with its favourable climate, agricultural expertise, and growing regulatory infrastructure—is seen as a potential hub.
Government has acknowledged the potential. President Cyril Ramaphosa has publicly identified cannabis as a key industry for job creation, particularly in rural areas. While recreational sale of cannabis remains illegal in South Africa, cultivation for medicinal export is not only legal—it’s actively encouraged.
“There is a big drive from government to harness cannabis and establish frameworks for it to be used,” Simpson says. “We’re allowed to cultivate and export as per our licence from SAHPRA. It’s a slowly changing environment but we’re getting there.”
CHALLENGES ALONG THE WAY
No start-up story is complete without its fair share of hurdles—and Chroni-Co has had many. Aside from navigating the bureaucracy and licensing process, the business had to raise capital, build infrastructure, and learn through trial and error what strains work best in Paarl’s unique terroir.
“It starts with where you put the facility, then it’s about raising capital, then you gain licences before learning your own facility,” Simpson reflects. “Then you have to discover which strains grow best in your environment, then you have to learn the markets and what is required before you get to the phase of finding clients and actually selling products – that is a very difficult step.”
Then comes scaling. “Next, you are in a position with buyers and a cycle of growth and you have revenue, and you have to scale. The brand grows and the product is recognised as quality, and demand rockets. It is a constantly moving target.”
Simpson also points to the complexity of international regulation as an ongoing obstacle. “Staying on top of all of it is very challenging,” he says. “And at the end of the day, it is a plant—and growing any plant is challenging.”
CHANGING MINDS
Alongside development of the business, Chroni-Co sees itself as part of a wider mission to change public perception. Once demonised, cannabis is now seen increasingly as a medical aid—not a recreational drug.
Simpson sees this change happening slowly but surely. “The recreational market is still in development, but it will come to a point where it is similar to walking into a bottle shop and buying beer,” he says. “It takes time to build momentum, and as the mindset changes and people see others gaining benefits, it will gain further traction.”
Part of this transformation involves education and regulatory assurance. “For example, if someone struggles to sleep and uses cannabis to help, they can go to a doctor and explain the situation and gain a script. Then, they have access to medical grade cannabis which goes through rigorous testing and documented sourcing. That’s where the industry is heading.”
As Chroni-Co continues its upward trajectory, expansion remains the focus. “Opening up new markets and bringing products to patients is a tough thing to do,” Simpson admits. “But that is the core of what we are doing. We want to bring people a healthier option, and when that happens, that is a good thing for us.”
The company is looking beyond its existing footprint in Australia and Europe, with interest growing from North America, parts of Asia, and further into the Middle East.
With infrastructure in place, a growing network of partners, and a regulatory mindset, Chroni-Co is well-positioned to lead from the front.