Analytica Alimentaria signs an agreement with Trichome Pharma to develop the Spanish market for medical cannabis

Trichome Pharma, a Spanish pharmaceutical company specialized in medicinal-grade cannabis and hemp-derived consumer healthcare products, recently signed several collaboration agreements with important public research institutes and private organizations in Spain, aimed at ultimately improving access to local, sun-grown and organic cannabis for medicinal purposes. This latest milestone, coming after over a year of planning, is a direct reflection of the company’s commitment to strengthening sovereignty over the supply of medicinal cannabis and sustainability through innovation and technological development.

Building an ecosystem

Trichome Pharma’s research activities were given a major boost when a partnership agreement was formally established with the Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Seville (IRNAS), a public research center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). The collaboration consists of pooling resources, know-how and technical facilities, to help guide the company’s investigation activities in the field of novel in-vitro propagation and conservation techniques for medicinal cannabis, among other innovative pursuits.

The project fundamentally aims to enhance plant development, in a sustainable, homogenous and industrially scalable manner, in order to achieve optimal yields of the active compounds found in the plant. The R&D contract signed with the Plant Crop Biotechnology Unit (UBCV) of the IRNAS-CSIC will also support the company in their recently initiated Cannabis sativa L. breeding program and help identify suitable cultivars for the pharmaceutical industry.

Also in a major coup for the young startup was the partnership agreement signed last December with the Andalusian Institute of Agricultural, Fisheries, Food and Organic Production Research and Training (IFAPA), who will provide technical advice to the company whilst a comprehensive study and selection process is performed on a variety of imported genetics. The plants will be cultivated using organic farming practices, both in controlled environments (greenhouse) as well as outdoors, the latter representing a significant opportunity for Trichome Pharma. The researchers of IFAPA involved in this project have already published relevant scientific papers about agronomical strategies for cannabis production under open field conditions and their knowledge will help define the most appropriate methods, depending on the genetic selection and its purpose, for farmers and technicians interested in this emerging crop.

“We’re building an ecosystem of open innovation where public and private organizations can collaborate in a way that will ultimately contribute to the advancement of the cannabis industry in Spain”, said Nicholas Balk, Founder of Trichome Pharma.

In addition, the company also announces an agreement with the high-tech company Analytica Alimentaria, a European leader in analyzing plants, fruits and vegetables for residues. With two accredited laboratories in Germany and Spain, as well as long-term agritech expert know-how, Analytica Alimentaria will support Trichome Pharma in the development of analytical and quality control procedures for the cannabis samples produced.

With the help of Analytica Alimentaria, active compounds found in the plant, such as semi-volatile organic compounds (terpenes) and cannabinoids, along with residues including pesticides, heavy metals and microbiological impurities, will be identified at an early stage. By using state-of-the-art-instrumentation and new methods such as gas chromatography (GC/MSMS, GC/FID), liquid chromatography (LC/MSMS, LC/VWD) and ICP/MSMS equipment, Analytica Alimentaria is able to provide rapid results reports to avoid potential risks in the cultivation process.

“Since inception, Trichome Pharma has actively sought to partner with leaders in adjacent sectors to deliver more value from collective wisdom.  It’s exciting to see that vision come to life and an honor to be able to collaborate with esteemed institutions like IRNAS-CSIC, IFAPA and Analytica Alimentaria”,  Mr Balk said.

Adding “R&D is an integral part of our company’s long-term mission, and we look forward to sharing more news about our research initiatives and future partnerships in other parts of the value chain”.

Public financing

Trichome Pharma is also proud to announce that the aforementioned Spanish research project focused on the optimization and quality control of pharmacologically active substances found in the Cannabis sativa L. plant via different cultivation strategies, has received significant economic support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF 2021-2027) thanks to a co-financing line awarded by the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI).

About Analytica Alimentaria

Analytica Alimentaria is a leading company specializing in integrated food safety and quality control projects with more than 20 years of international experience. Their customer base includes some of the largest food retailers in the world as well as agencies and local producers.

With two accredited, EU-based laboratories in Germany and Spain, Analytica Alimentaria is analyzing 60,000 samples of plants, fruits and vegetables per year including evaluation for regulatory and customer compliance in the EU and the US.

The family-owned company was founded in 2000 by Udo Lampe and María del Mar Ridao Domínguez in Almeria. In 2013, the company expanded into Germany and opened a second location in Kleinmachnow, Berlin. More than 170 employees from 20 different countries form a multidisciplinary team with high expertise including amongst others agricultural engineers, agricultural technicians, graduate farmers, logisticians, project engineers, physicists, chemists, geo-ecologists, biologists and food technologists.