EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TESTING CANNABIS AND WHY

What is your background and what made you decide to first move into the cannabis space?

In 2019 our Technical Director, Greg Ondrejkovic, was approached by several people and companies enquiring if he can assist with cannabis testing, further to that he started receiving enquiries for interpretation of results from other testing laboratories. This piqued his interest and with 23 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical, environmental, and veterinary testing laboratories, it was a natural progression combining his passion for the plant with his experience and passion for chemistry. In 2020 we obtained an HPLC (High-pressure liquid chromatography) with UV detection which is the international standard for potency testing and cannabinoid profiling and Ecogreen Analytics was born. In December 2021 we moved into our full scope laboratory premises in Kingfisher Park in Somerset West which has the space for all our expansion and is compliant with both ISO 17025 and SAHPRA licensing requirements.

What is Ecogreen analytics and what is its mission?

Ecogreen Analytics is a full-scope cannabis testing laboratory that uses both chemical analyses methods as well as pharmacopeia testing methods. With the legalization of Cannabis cultivation, a new industry has opened not only for personal use but in pharmaceutical, building, clothing, cosmetics, complimentary supplements, natural remedies, and paper to name but a few. Each of these industries needs access to valid, accredited, and licensed laboratory analyses. Ecogreen Analytics has positioned itself to meet the demands of both small local businesses as well as large-scale operations expanding into pharmaceutical analyses. Through research and due diligence, we use international industry standard instruments, methods, and standards, ensuring our research and analyses meet local and internationally acceptable standards. We believe that the industry holds the potential to change the socio-economic landscape for South Africa and we aim to be at the forefront of this change by providing affordable, accessible, and state-of-the-art laboratory and research services.

What’s the most challenging experience Ecogreen analytics has had in the cannabis industry so far?

Most definitely the emergence of the testing ‘gimmick’ market creates a misconception as to the function of a laboratory and testing and associated costs. Also, the misconception that knowing a lot about cannabis, its uses, and how to grow it automatically makes you an expert on how to test. This has led to a flurry of pop-up and fly-by-night laboratories adding to the confusion and delusion as to the importance of testing and how critical the role is that an analytical partner plays in your business and in the industry.

 Can you explain to our readers what/why it is important to test cannabis and why/how laboratories need to be equipment specific for testing and method-specific for client purposes?

Ultimately as with everything, it’s about the safety of the end-user as well as ensuring the product is fit for purpose. The cannabis plant has very unique properties, not least of all its almost sponge-like ability to absorb everything out of the environment. Therefore it holds such incredible potential for land remediation as well and is already being used at certain mines to draw mercury from the sites. Having said that, at present, the main focus of the cultivation currently is for human consumption either in its natural state or through extracts and ultimately end products such as vapes, capsules, edibles, pharmaceuticals, etc. The various cannabinoids have many health benefits and as research continues it’s becoming more and more apparent that certain cannabinoids can target very specific health conditions and illnesses. Although globally the research is still in its infancy, we believe that as more and more countries are legalizing the plant, we are going to see major breakthroughs in medicinal research in relatively short periods of time. Therefore, testing is critical every step of the way. It starts by ensuring that your grow environment is not contaminated by metals or pesticides which can be absorbed through the soil, water, nutrients and directly from the environment if a farm nearby is spraying crops this will affect the grow environment. Once the environment has been tested and is clear of contaminants, the harvest must be tested to assure that the final yield is contaminant free. Apart from ensuring that the cannabinoid profile is consistent and correct for the end-use, plants can also be susceptible to molds, leave rot, etc. It is therefore critical to test for microbials and mycotoxins as well. If the moisture content in the plant is too high, this will exasperate the susceptibility to molds and mycotoxins which is why this analysis is also critical to ensure a safe crop yield. Without these analyses, the off-take cannot take place and entire harvests would need to be destroyed.

It is critical that the laboratory uses the correct instruments to accurately analyze the various test panels.

Can you explain the pharmacopeia methods for export vs chemical testing for the local market?

As cannabis is mostly being cultivated for the pharmaceutical market, the crop is treated as a pharmaceutical and specific pharmaceutical methods are utilized.  These methods are developed by the various pharmacopeia standards in the various countries and groups of countries. EU pharmacopeia, US pharmacopeia, British pharmacopeia etc. Although there are similarities in the methods, various countries accept specific pharmacopeia methods, the EU pharmacopeia is by far the most stringent but also accepted in most countries. Ecogreen Analytics uses these specific methods for clients that need to export to these specific countries. The methods are slightly more time-consuming and require a greater test panel than chemical analyses. For the local market, and non-pharmaceutical industry sectors and to build a consistency profile we recommend chemical analyses which are less onerous and also less costly due to fewer test panels and less preparation required by the laboratory. Irrespective of method requirements a laboratory needs to be ISO 17025 (2017) accredited for the results to be acceptable to both local and international offtakes.

What role does ISO (ISO stands for the International Organization for Standardization) compliance play?

Each industry sector from manufacturing, building, production, etc. is governed by its own ISO standard. This ensures that a global standard of conformity and industry requirements are met. In laboratories, irrespective of the scope of analyses ISO 17025 (2017) is the standard that needs to be adhered to. Each country has an accreditation body, in South Africa, this is the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS). A new laboratory needs to apply for accreditation and implement the necessary policies and procedures in line with the ISO 17025 (2017) standard. The laboratory then undergoes an audit. Accredited laboratories are audited on a 5-year cycle to ensure ongoing compliance to the standard. The results produced by an accredited laboratory are internationally recognized.

There is a misconception in the industry that reliable testing can be done on most of the ‘gimmicks’ designed for the home growers’ market? Can you explain this please?

Most of these handhelds have been designed for potency and profiling and most of these work with either infra-red or UV detection.  These instruments are generally much cheaper than laboratory instruments which make them desirable for pop-up and fly-by-night laboratories. Although some of them have a purpose for infield testing to start building up a profile, in the end, an accredited laboratory that is using instruments specific to the various analyses is still going to have to do a full panel test and issue a COA. We have even come across an instrument that takes high-resolution photos of the plant material, uploads it to a server and then magically produces a COA with a cannabinoid and terpene profile. This is obviously impossible.

What are your thoughts on the future growth of the cannabis industry?

For one, we feel that the cultivation of the plant, whether it is Hemp or Cannabis should be legalized in full for cultivation. Cultivation as a crop plant should be regulated by DALRDD and not separated where medicinal cannabis is regulated by SAHPRA and Hemp cultivation by DALRDD. This would enable everyone to grow and then have their crop graded for various uses. There should be stringent regulation around safety through testing to ensure the crops are suited for end purposes.

What do you see the benefits of legalization being for the South African economy?

We truly believe that Cannabis can change the socio–economic landscape of South Africa, allowing for poverty alleviation and job creation on a massive scale. Although it is a slow process, hindered by political and legislative red tape, we do strongly believe the opening of the industry is a matter of time and will benefit all South Africans, allowing access from small startups to large-scale operations.

What is next on the cards for Ecogreen analytics?

After our initial internal expansion at our main laboratory in Somerset West over the next few months, we are then looking to set up satellite hubs in main areas to accommodate critical testing in various hot spots. The additional panels will then come to our main lab via interlaboratory transfers. We are also looking to participate in interlaboratory comparison with international accredited laboratories to ensure the standards remain current with international requirements in the Cannabis sector.

In closing, as we call it at SEED INC, you are Cannapreneurs, and forging ahead with Ecogreen analytics and the cannabis boom, what advice can you share with SEED INC readers on how they can achieve their goals?

As with any new industry, opportunities abound and with an emerging market so come high risks. Our greatest advice is to look to your own strengths and see how you can apply them to opportunities available in the Cannabis Industry. Do your research and homework and ensure you align yourself with ethical and long-term strategic partners. Start with what you have and grow from there. We have seen the pitfalls of many in the industry trying to get a finger in every pie. This strategy is usually short-lived and very costly. Keep up with the legislative developments and just keep going. This industry is brand new and there is room for success for everyone.

For more info visit www.ecogreenanalytics.co.za or email; info@ecogreenanalytics.co.za