PlaDeCan

Duration from 1.1.2025 – 31.12.2026, funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) through the program “Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM)” under contract number (FKZ) KK5069503AP4.

The goal is to develop a non-thermal plasma process for the gentle decontamination of cannabis blossoms intended for medical applications. Cannabis blossoms are often contaminated with potentially harmful microorganisms post-harvest, such as mold, rendering them unsuitable for consumption and sale. However, the production and distribution of cannabis blossoms, especially for medical use, must ensure safe products. With the partial legalization of cannabis in Germany in 2024 and the expected increase in use in the medical sector, there is a need to enhance the product quality of harvests. Currently available methods for meeting hygienic standards often achieve the prescribed legal limits and meet guidelines but also often affect product quality, in some cases significantly. Decontamination using plasma-processed air (PPA) offers an innovative and cost-effective solution, which is why the method and process are to be transferred into a pre-commercial prototype. Together with HerbaMedica GmbH as a project partner, the new procedure will be compared to current industry standards for sanitation and evaluated in terms of germ reduction and its impact on components (cannabinoid and terpene content).