MJBiz - May/June 2024 - 40

Leading the AI Revolution
Some extractors use
AI to identify which
cultivators produce
the best terpenes
and cannabinoids in
finished products.
Photo by Phil Donley
" We basically use it to ask, 'If we
manipulate different parameters,
what will we end up with?' " Friesen
explained.
To answer these types of
questions before AI, Friesen had
to manually calculate the different
number sets or even do full-fledged
extraction runs to see what the
outcomes would be. AI, Friesen
said, eliminates or at least shortens
and simplifies the trial-and-error
process.
" It really helps us narrow down
a lot, because there are a lot of
variables in the process that we can
manipulate. If we can narrow some
things down, it helps us dial in what
we are trying to accomplish. "
Angelo Pietrosanti, Root &
Bloom's vice president of product
development, said he also uses AI
to run calculations about yields and
quality.
He explained that Root & Bloom
uses AI tools including Microsoft's
Power BI (Business Intelligence)
to calculate which combination of
gas load, liquid level, pressure and
temperature will create the best
yields from specific companies'
plant material.
40 May-June 2024 | MJBizMagazine
" We can use that and create a very
re-creatable process where the team
can just plug and play. It allows
them to focus on what they need to
do day to day instead of worrying
about (the correct parameters
for every individual cultivator).
Everything is right there for them, "
Pietrosanti said.
" We customize our approach
based on the cultivator, based
on the data we've extracted from
multiple runs from them. And we
pull the extraction data out, so the
operator doesn't have to remember,
'Hey, when I ran Cultivator A, I had
to go easy on temperature,' " Regan
added. " It's really leveled out our
ability to get an intended result out
of a certain cultivator's material. "
MORE THOROUGH
ANALYSIS, FASTER
Friesen said AI also makes webbased
extraction research easier. In
the past, Friesen and her teams used
to spend hours mining white papers
for extraction information. Now, AI
can analyze those papers in a matter
of seconds.
" You can even put in specific
white papers and ask, 'What is the
Lo Friessen
Photo by Phil Donley
optimal temperature and pressure
for the density of the solvent for
extraction of this cannabinoid?' "
Friesen said.
" We can ask those questions and
get answers much quicker and (get)
more of an unbiased opinion, as
opposed to having to filter through
it all ourselves, " Friesen said.
" It might call attention to
something I haven't thought about,
like did I overpack the extraction
vessel so that it's not extracting
at an even rate? Or is my CO2
not
optimal? Maybe I reused it too many
times, or maybe the input material
isn't prepared in the right way. "
Friesen cautioned, however, that
to get the most out of AI, cannabis
workers need to know how to use it.
" Using AI is a skill that needs to be
learned. " Friesen said.
MJBiz - May/June 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of MJBiz - May/June 2024
