Innovating Cannabis Podcast

139_What We Can Learn From The Hops Industry About Sensory Science R&D

Episode Notes

Today, we're talking about sensory science and its crucial role in R&D product development. While this methodology has been widely used for decades in the hops, beer, food, beverage, and perfume industries, the cannabis industry is just beginning to tap into its potential.

Our guest today is Marshall Ligare, Ph.D., former Research Scientist and Product Development Lead at John I. Haas, one of the world's leading hops suppliers. The beer and hops industry has long relied on sensory science to craft unique and consistent flavor profiles, and Marshall brings a wealth of knowledge on how these techniques can be applied to cannabis. Marshall is currently the Director of Research Development at Vuca Hemp Farms.

Join us as we explore what cannabis can learn from the beer industry's deep expertise in sensory-driven innovation and how these insights can elevate product development in the cannabis industry.

Episode Transcription

Marshall Ligare discussed the application of sensory science in product development, particularly in the hops and cannabis industries. He emphasized the importance of large data sets and untrained participants for accurate consumer insights. Ligare highlighted the challenges of cross-cultural flavor preferences, noting differences between German and American palates. He also discussed the role of sensory science in identifying and manipulating aroma compounds, the impact of processing methods on product quality, and the need for consistent seed varieties. Ligare shared his experience with IFF and the importance of understanding chemical compositions to enhance product development and shelf life. The conversation delves into the importance of sensory science in cannabis cultivation, emphasizing the role of experienced growers in identifying genetic nuances. Speaker 1 highlights the challenges of describing long-term sensory effects, such as cognitive impairment and allergic reactions, and the need for clinical trials to determine optimal dosing. They discuss the complexities of terpene combinations and the entourage effect, noting the industry's struggle with consistent product formulation. The discussion also covers the historical breeding of cannabis strains and the potential for new genetics. The speakers agree on the importance of sensory feedback in product development and the need for standardized practices in the industry.

Outline

Sensory Science and Machine Learning in Sensory Science

• Appreciates the article sent by Speaker 1, highlighting its importance in understanding sensory science and machine learning correlations between compounds.
• Explains the two effective ways sensory science can provide useful data: using untrained people with large data sets and internal training within companies.
• Discusses the challenges of extending sensory data to external industries like cannabis, where sensory aspects are inherent and communication is difficult.
• Shares experiences from working in the hops industry, emphasizing the importance of public data for product development and the challenges of cross-cultural sensory differences.

Challenges in the Cannabis Industry

• Describes the lack of data and standardization in the cannabis industry, where home growers rely on personal notes and preferences.
• Explains the importance of public data for product development and the challenges of siloed markets in different regions like Asia, Europe, and the United States.
• Discusses the difficulties in achieving consensus on flavor profiles and the impact of cultural differences on sensory preferences.
• Highlights the role of companies like IFF in understanding local markets and the importance of knowing local tastes for product development.

Hops Industry and Sensory Science

• Compares the hops industry to the cannabis industry, noting the differences in sensory science and the impact of geographical factors on hop flavors.
• Explains the challenges of growing hops in different regions and the variations in hop flavors due to climate and latitude.
• Discusses the importance of understanding the chemical composition of hops and the role of sensory science in product development.
• Shares insights on the challenges of scaling sensory science in the hops industry and the importance of consistent seed varieties for long-term stability.

Product Development and Sensory Science in Cannabis

• Asks about the application of sensory science in product development for cannabis edibles and the steps involved in the process.
• Eplains the importance of starting with the right seed varieties and understanding the aroma profiles of different strains.
• Discusses the challenges of creating stable and consistent products in the cannabis industry and the role of sensory science in maintaining quality.
• Hghlights the importance of understanding the chemical composition of cannabis and the role of sensory science in product development.

Sensory Science and Quality Control

• Emphasizes the importance of quality control checks at every stage of the cannabis processing chain, from harvest to extraction.
• Explains the role of sensory science in identifying issues like enzymatic breakdown and the importance of drying and curing processes.
• Discusses the challenges of maintaining quality and consistency in large-scale cannabis production and the role of sensory science in addressing these challenges.
• Shares insights on the importance of understanding the chemical composition of cannabis and the role of sensory science in product development.

Sensory Science and Flavor Profiles

• Discusses the complexity of flavor profiles in cannabis and the challenges of creating consistent and desirable flavors.
• Explains the role of sensory science in identifying and manipulating flavor compounds to create specific aroma profiles.
• Highlights the importance of understanding the chemical composition of cannabis and the role of sensory science in product development.
• Shares insights on the challenges of creating stable and consistent flavors in the cannabis industry and the role of sensory science in addressing these challenges.

Sensory Science and Market Dynamics

• Discusses the impact of market dynamics on sensory science in the cannabis industry, including the challenges of cross-breeding and maintaining genetic stability.
• Explains the importance of understanding consumer preferences and the role of sensory science in meeting market demands.
• Highlights the challenges of creating unique and desirable flavors in the cannabis industry and the role of sensory science in product development.
• Shares insights on the importance of understanding the chemical composition of cannabis and the role of sensory science in meeting market demands.

Sensory Science and Regulatory Barriers

• Discusses the regulatory barriers to spreading sensory science knowledge and the challenges of standardizing sensory data across different regions.
• Explains the importance of understanding consumer preferences and the role of sensory science in meeting market demands.
• Highlights the challenges of creating unique and desirable flavors in the cannabis industry and the role of sensory science in product development.
• Shares insights on the importance of understanding the chemical composition of cannabis and the role of sensory science in meeting regulatory requirements.

Sensory Science and Industry Evolution

• Discusses the evolution of sensory science in the cannabis industry and the impact of sensory data on product development.
• Explains the challenges of creating stable and consistent flavors in the cannabis industry and the role of sensory science in addressing these challenges.
• Highlights the importance of understanding consumer preferences and the role of sensory science in meeting market demands.
• Shares insights on the importance of understanding the chemical composition of cannabis and the role of sensory science in industry evolution.

Sensory Science and Future Directions

• Discusses the future directions of sensory science in the cannabis industry and the potential for innovation and improvement.
• Explains the challenges of creating stable and consistent flavors in the cannabis industry and the role of sensory science in addressing these challenges.
• Hghlights the importance of understanding consumer preferences and the role of sensory science in meeting market demands.
• Shares insights on the importance of understanding the chemical composition of cannabis and the role of sensory science in future industry developments.

Sensory Science in Cannabis Cultivation

• Discusses the importance of sensory science in cannabis cultivation, emphasizing the role of experienced growers in identifying genetic nuances.
• Agrees, noting that experienced growers can accurately identify crosses based on their olfactory skills.
• The conversation highlights the importance of sensory experience over written records in determining the authenticity of cannabis strains.
• Mentions the potential for cognitive impairment from certain strains and the difficulty in describing such effects.

Challenges in Describing Sensory Effects

• Shares personal experiences with food allergies, comparing it to the difficulty of describing long-term sensory effects of cannabis.
• The discussion touches on the challenges of describing psychedelic experiences, noting the subtlety and complexity involved.
• Emphasizes the need for long-term sensory data to accurately categorize and describe the effects of different cannabis strains.
• The conversation shifts to the importance of clinical trials and scientific studies in understanding the effects of cannabis.

Terpenes and Product Development

• Explains the role of terpenes in cannabis product development, focusing on the entourage effect and its implications for sleep and inflammation.
• The discussion highlights the need for clinical trials to determine the optimal dosing of CBD for various health benefits.
• Shares insights on the challenges of self-medicating with CBD products, especially when dealing with inconsistent product quality.
• The conversation explores the potential for scaling sensory-driven product development in the cannabis industry.

Genetic Breeding and Industry Standards

• Discuss the importance of genetic breeding in cannabis, noting the historical development of specific cannabinoids like THC and CBD.
• The conversation touches on the challenges of maintaining genetic purity in cross-bred strains and the potential for new genetic developments.
• Emphasizes the importance of sensory feedback in traditional breeding practices, even in the context of modern genetic research.
• The discussion highlights the need for industry standards to ensure consistent product quality and customer satisfaction.

Scaling Sensory Data in Cannabis Production

• Discuss the challenges of scaling sensory data in cannabis production, particularly in large-scale cultivation and extraction.
• The conversation explores the role of sensory feedback in product development and quality control, especially in the context of large-scale operations.
• Shares insights on the use of sensory data in customer service and product development in the hop industry.
• The discussion highlights the importance of maintaining sensory integrity while scaling up production to meet industry demands.

Future Directions and Collaboration

• Mentions plans to include additional insights from future interviews and collaborations in the article.
• Shares experiences from working with other companies and the potential for future collaborations to drive sensory-driven product development.
• The conversation explores the potential for using sensory data in larger-scale operations and the importance of maintaining sensory integrity.
• Wxpresses interest in future collaborations and the potential for expanding the scope of the article based on new insights.

Impact of Sensory Data on Industry Practices

• Discusses the impact of sensory data on industry practices, particularly in the context of customer service and product development.
• The conversation highlights the importance of sensory feedback in driving innovation and improving product quality.
• Shares insights on the challenges of scaling sensory data in large-scale operations and the need for consistent product quality.
• The discussion explores the potential for using sensory data to drive innovation and improve customer satisfaction in the cannabis industry.

Challenges in Maintaining Sensory Integrity

• Discusses the challenges of maintaining sensory integrity in large-scale operations, particularly in the context of environmental control and product consistency.
• The conversation highlights the importance of sensory feedback in ensuring product quality and customer satisfaction.
• Shares insights on the use of sensory data in customer service and product development in the hop industry.
• The discussion explores the potential for using sensory data to drive innovation and improve product quality in the cannabis industry.

Potential for Future Research and Collaboration

• Expresses interest in future research and collaboration to expand the scope of the article and explore new insights.
• Shares experiences from working with other companies and the potential for future collaborations to drive sensory-driven product development.
• The conversation highlights the importance of sensory feedback in driving innovation and improving product quality.
• Mentions plans to include additional insights from future interviews and collaborations in the article.

Final Thoughts and Next Steps

• Discuss the final steps for the article, including potential changes and updates based on new insights.
• The conversation highlights the importance of sensory feedback in driving innovation and improving product quality.
• Shares insights on the challenges of scaling sensory data in large-scale operations and the need for consistent product quality.
• The discussion explores the potential for using sensory data to drive innovation and improve customer satisfaction in the cannabis industry.