A pioneer in the hemp industry, Tree of Life Seeds has had a longstanding commitment to equitable and sustainable processing and extraction practices. Because of our journey to create a broad-spectrum CBD product that works, we understand that hemp processing matters significantly when it comes to product quality. With all of the options out there on the market today for processing, understanding the difference – and value – of top-of-the-line extraction facilities can be confusing for farmers. 

At the Arkansas Farmers’ Industrial Hemp Convention, our CEO, Jason Martin, explained the ins and outs of hemp processing – and what this means for today’s hemp farmers in the United States. Read this blog for an overview, and don’t forget to watch the full video here.

Ethanol for Extraction 

When it comes to hemp, ethanol extraction is by far the least harsh way to process the plant – Tree of Life Seeds first started extracting using this method back in 2016. Additionally, we practice all-natural extraction, so there will never be heavy metals or other toxins present in resulting products. We’ll note that we also provide labels and Certificates of Analysis explicitly made for each product batch: so every test result will match specifically and completely.

Ethanol-based extraction gets more out of the cannabinoid terpene profiles, retaining the most meaningful and therapeutic benefits of hemp. Ethanol is the safest method that allows facilities to remain at scale and well-equipped to process in higher volumes as demand continues to grow. Today, organic extraction is possible as well: there are products now that use certified organic ethanol as a solution.

The priority for Tree of Life is efficiency: our ethanol extraction technique is capable of processing over 20,000 pounds of biomass daily. As farmers are beginning to shift their focus from small marijuana extraction to large scale acre farming for hemp, our company is ready to provide an end-to-end solution that offers both scalability and quality.

Why Use our Extraction Facilities 

First and foremost, we have been invested in technology that would help farmers go all the way – essentially creating a one-stop-shop, closed system for hemp processing to fight the current bottleneck in the industry. Tree of Life is capable of processing hemp from biomass to crude oil all the way to a more refined product, and even a product that is full-spectrum and compliant with THC limits.

While there are certainly other options available for farmers today – indeed, some have even reported working with mobile extraction facilities – these methods do not maximize the efficiencies of an extraction facility equipped with state of the art equipment. In a closed system, farmers can go as far as to partner on genetics and the biomass, creating an unlimited amount of opportunities to collaborate in a facility that has the capacity.

Looking Ahead… What Will Change

According to Jason, two major things will likely happen in the near future that will impact the hemp industry – both as a result of a significant FDA decision. Should the FDA elect to allow CBD to be present in food on a national level, then CBD will become present in storefronts and our most commonly used products. Food industry giants will quickly adopt CBD-infused foods and beverages, and the demand will rise exponentially.

If this happens, hemp farmers should expect there to be a massive dip in supply as national food industry companies move to incorporate CBD extract into many of their products. Being prepared for this influx of demand – and having the capacity to work with a facility that will be by your side as you scale – should be the utmost priority for hemp farmers today.

Want to learn more from Jason? Watch the recording here.