Closed-Loop Hemp: Organic Extraction and Aerosol Recovery for Sustainable Production

Commodities

• Agronomic: hemp

Practices

• Education and Training: on-farm/ranch research
• Energy: energy conservation/efficiency
• Farm Business Management: value added, whole farm planning
• Production Systems: organic certification

Lovewell Farms is a USDA-certified organic hemp farm in Hope Valley, Rhode Island. To increase the economic viability and sustainability of our operation, we propose to establish a small-scale, on-farm hemp extraction and distillation facility using aerosol-based methods. This facility will allow us to process our own harvest into value-added wellness products such as tinctures and salves, dramatically improving product margins, reducing waste, and cutting transportation costs and emissions associated with off-site processing.

The objective of this project is to develop a replicable, cost-effective model for on-farm botanical extraction that other small and beginning farmers can adopt. Our plan of work includes:

1. converting an existing structure into a code-compliant processing space with safety protections and ventilation;
2. order and receive Pure5 20L LPE System
3. acquiring complementary equipment for decarboxylation, ethanol reclamation, and distillation; and
4. training staff in best practices for safe, efficient operation.

Our outreach will focus on accessibility and transparency. We will create a public-facing guide detailing equipment selection, facility layout, processing steps, costs, and regulatory considerations. We will also produce a short video walkthrough of the process and host at least one on-farm workshop to demonstrate the equipment and answer questions from other regional farmers interested in sustainable, small-batch extraction.

By building regional capacity and sharing knowledge, this project supports environmental stewardship, local economic development, and the long-term sustainability of hemp and other specialty crop farms.

Project Objectives:

The goal of this project is to establish a safe, efficient, and replicable on-farm hemp extraction and distillation model using aerosol-based methods. We aim to provide a scalable solution for small and mid-sized hemp farms across the Northeast seeking greater control over processing, compliance, and product development.

To achieve this, we propose the following objectives:

1. Build out a compliant, small-scale extraction and distillation space on our USDA organic hemp farm. We will retrofit an existing outbuilding at Lovewell Farms with necessary infrastructure, including fire-safe storage, ventilation, and electrical upgrades, to accommodate a donated Capna Ethos-4 extraction system and terpene distillation rig. The space will follow best practices for safety and biosecurity while integrating seamlessly with our current value-added production.
2. Establish and document standard operating procedures (SOPs) for aerosol extraction, decarboxylation, and aerosol recovery. Our team will develop, test, and refine written SOPs that are scaled appropriately for farms processing under 2,000 lbs of biomass annually. These procedures will include materials handling, decarboxylation temperature ranges, filtration techniques, post-processing steps, and aerosol reclamation, ensuring cost-effective and safe cannabinoid extraction.
3. Produce detailed batch records and workflow guides for future internal and external use. We will document all extraction runs using a consistent batch record format that tracks input biomass, yields, temperatures, equipment use, time, and personnel. These documents will help identify efficiencies and establish a reproducible framework for other farms.
4. Train farm staff and technical advisors on safe use of the extraction equipment. We will hold internal training sessions for our team and invite key advisors to participate in setup and protocol reviews. Trainings will focus on aerosol safety, fire code compliance, PPE use, maintenance of equipment, and proper storage/disposal of solvents and byproducts.
5. Disseminate results, SOPs, and lessons learned through educational outreach. We will create an open-source guide that includes our SOPs, a lab layout diagram, safety checklist, and budget breakdown. We will host a peer-to-peer site visit in partnership with NOFA-RI and promote the model through social media, academic contacts, and trade networks. We also plan to present our findings at a regional agricultural or cannabis-focused conference within 12 months of completion.

This project aims to serve as a model for other farms seeking a more affordable, decentralized, and compliant approach to hemp processing. Each objective is linked to specific activities in our timeline and will result in tangible outputs-training, infrastructure, protocols, and publicly available resources-that can be shared and scaled across the region.