What is Toll Processing & Split Processing in Solventless Cannabis Extraction
When it comes to cannabis extraction methods, solventless extraction has been making waves in the industry. It’s lauded for its purity and the absence of potentially harmful chemicals. Within this realm, two intriguing concepts have emerged: Toll Processing and Split Processing. These approaches offer cannabis cultivators and processors innovative ways to maximize their yields and product quality while minimizing operational headaches.
Toll Processing: Sharing the Load
Toll Processing, also known as Contract Processing, is akin to outsourcing in the cannabis extraction world. In this arrangement, a cultivator or cannabis business owner sends their raw cannabis material to a specialized extraction facility. Here’s how it works:
- Sending Your Material: You, as the cultivator, provide your harvest or trim to the Toll Processor. This material is the starting point for the extraction process.
- Extraction Magic: The Toll Processor, armed with state-of-the-art equipment and expertise, takes your raw cannabis and extracts its precious compounds, typically cannabinoids and terpenes.
- Return on Investment: After processing, you receive your extracted cannabis compounds back, usually in the form of concentrates or oils. These can be used for various products, from edibles to topicals.
The Advantages of Toll Processing:
- Expertise and Equipment: Toll Processors are often equipped with the latest extraction technology and skilled personnel, ensuring top-notch results.
- Cost-Efficiency: By outsourcing the extraction process, you avoid the significant costs associated with setting up your own extraction facility.
- Time Savings: Processing your material in a specialized facility can significantly reduce the time it takes to get your product to market.
Split Processing: Collaborative Extraction
Split Processing, on the other hand, is a collaborative approach within the cannabis extraction domain. In this model, two or more parties combine their resources and expertise to extract cannabinoids and terpenes from cannabis plant material.
How Split Processing Works:
- Collaborative Effort: Multiple parties, often cultivators or processors, come together to pool their cannabis material and resources.
- Shared Extraction: The combined cannabis material undergoes extraction, typically using solventless methods like rosin pressing or ice water hash.
- Division of Yields: After extraction, the resulting concentrates are divided among the collaborating parties based on predefined agreements.
The Benefits of Split Processing:
- Resource Optimization: Smaller cultivators or processors can access high-quality extraction equipment and expertise without significant investments.
- Risk Mitigation: Sharing costs and equipment helps distribute risk and lower the barrier to entry for newcomers in the industry.
- Product Diversity: Collaborating parties can exchange knowledge and diversify their product offerings.
In conclusion, Toll Processing and Split Processing are two innovative approaches that harness the power of solventless extraction in the cannabis industry. While Toll Processing offers a convenient outsourcing solution, Split Processing fosters collaboration and resource sharing among industry players. As the cannabis market continues to evolve, these methods provide opportunities for cultivators and processors to thrive in a dynamic and competitive environment. Whether you choose one or the other, or a combination of both, solventless extraction methods are a potent force in the future of cannabis processing.