An applied research project involving Canadore College’s Innovation Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Production and the company Trichromes Ltd is looking to develop a more exacting process for curing medicinal marijuana.

A prototype of the automated curing system that works with glass mason jars was completed last year.

Officials hope to have a final version ready for market this fall.

“As Canada approaches its deadline to legalize recreational marijuana in less than one year, industry experts predict that there won’t be enough cannabis plants produced to meet demand,” said Weston Sagle, founder of Trichromes Ltd. “We see that we can play a role in accelerating access to legalized product to the marketplace with this innovative processing technology.

“Working with ICAMP I was able to secure the funding necessary to make this brainstorm a reality,” said Sagle. “The facility and its staff have provided all of the resources needed.”

This project was made possible in part by Ontario Centres of Excellence Voucher for Innovation and Productivity I (VIP I) program, which helps eligible companies develop, implement and commercialize technical innovations by supporting partnerships between Ontario’s industry and publicly funded post-secondary institutions.

Projects funded through VIP I enable the development of new products and/or processes, facilitate productivity improvements, and help generate new revenues and high-value jobs for Ontario.

Trichromes also leveraged the Innovative Manufacturing and Facilitation Program (IMFP) through Innovation Initiatives Ontario North (IION).

IMFP funded by Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP,) is intended to assist incorporated for-profit enterprises looking to accelerate innovation and commercialization in the advanced manufacturing sector.

Filed under: Canadore College, icamp, medicinal-marijuana