The company, which recently renewed its license to cultivate medicinal cannabis for R&D purposes with AEMPS, announces collaboration agreements with leading public research bodies IRNAS-CSIC and IFAPA, along with other private enterprises.
Madrid – 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.
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”.
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).
Trichome Pharma is a leading pharmaceutical company specialized in the cultivation, development and commercialization of medicinal cannabis and hemp-derived products for consumer healthcare and wellbeing. Trichome Pharma’s capital structure currently consists of The Trichome Group, Labiana and Little Green Pharma.
Find out more at: www.trichomepharma.com
Follow us on: www.linkedin.com/company/trichomepharma
Press Contact: media@trichomepharma.com
The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) is a State Agency for scientific research and technological development, being the largest public research institution in Spain and one of the most renowned institutions in the European Research Area (ERA). It is affiliated to the Ministry of Science and Innovation through the Secretary General for Research.
The Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Seville (IRNAS) is a research center of the CSIC that conducts research on the use and conservation of soil-plant-water natural resources. Besides pursuing high standard scientific production of international relevance, the IRNAS institute develops applications and tools useful for different Industries, environment protection Agencies and Public Administrations. IRNAS aims to improve productivity with the minimum impact on the environment in order to ensure the sustainability of natural resources.
Find out more at: www.irnas.csic.es
Follow on: www.linkedin.com/in/irnas-sevilla-41012/
The Agricultural and Fishery Research and Training Institute (IFAPA) is a regional organization attached to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Andalusian Regional Administration), and its main objective is to modernize and to improve the competitiveness of Andalusian farming, fishing and food industries. Its resources include a workforce of over 800 people and a network of 19 centers throughout the Andalusian region, promoting and contributing to give the necessary response to the Andalusian agricultural fishing and food industries requirements.
Research is its main activity in order to generate new knowledge. Moreover, it is a key element for facing the challenge of boosting and developing innovation and competitiveness in the Andalusian farming and fishing areas. Additionally, the IFAPA organizes, manages and offers a vast Training Programme, which is addressed to researchers, technicians and professionals in the fields of farming, foodstuff and fishing. The Programme consists of tailor-made courses and conferences, which are carried out either in the IFAPA centers or in the cities where the students come from.
Around 20,000 students take part in training activities annually. As a result, they obtain the required qualifications for carrying out a specific task, or for acquiring the skills, abilities or knowledge for the management of technologies or production processes.
Find out more at: www.juntadeandalucia.es/agriculturaypesca/ifapa/web
Follow on: www.linkedin.com/company/junta-de-andalucia
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.
Find out more at: www.aalimentaria.com
Follow on: www.linkedin.com/company/analytica-alimentaria-gmbh/
Contact: quality@aalimentaria.com
The Trichome Group is a specialist investment vehicle founded in 2020 dedicated to the development of and investment in cannabis projects in the Iberian Peninsula. It’s focused mainly on the Spanish market and has a mandate to support projects that operate exclusively in 100% legal and regulated environments. The vehicle is led and managed by the advisory and investment management firm Trichome Capital and is backed by several strategic private investors, including HNWIs, Family Offices, and Corporate VCs.
Find out more at: www.trichomecp.com
Follow on: www.linkedin.com/company/trichomecapital
Contact: info@trichomecp.com
Labiana is a BME Growth listed company focused on human and animal health, fully committed to global health, with a wide portfolio of products marketed in more than 150 countries. The company has extensive experience in contract manufacturing services for the pharmaceutical industry and boasts EU-GMP certified facilities and current authorization for hormones, psychotropic and narcotic drugs.
Find out more at: www.labiana.com
Follow on: www.linkedin.com/company/labiana-pharmaceuthicals-slu
Contact: info@labiana.com
Little Green Pharma (LGP) is one of the most well-known brands in the European and Australian medical cannabis market. LGP is a vertically integrated producer offering medical products of the highest possible quality (EU-GMP) and is strategically positioned in existing and emerging EU markets. With world-class operations in Australia and Denmark, LGP has built the foundation to deliver profitable results.
Find out more at: www.littlegreenpharma.com
Follow on: www.linkedin.com/company/little-green-pharma
Contact: info@littlegreenpharma.com
