Cannabis farming systems and methods

Abstract

Variable-scale, modular, easily manufacturable, energy efficient, reliable, and computer-operated farming superstructure systems (FSS) may be used to produce cannabis for human consumption with minimal water and environmental impact. Methods to method to separate volatiles from cannabis are described. Methods to asexually clone a plurality of cannabis plants are also provided.

1 - 80 . (canceled) 
     
     
         81 . A concentrated mixture of ethanol and  cannabis  volatiles which is essentially free of wax made by a process comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a source of  cannabis  including:
 an energy content ranging from between 2,500 British Thermal Units per pound to 65,000 British Thermal Units per pound; 
 a carbon content ranging from between 15 weight percent to 66 weight percent; 
 an oxygen content ranging from between 10 weight percent to 60 weight percent; 
 a hydrogen content ranging from between 2 weight percent to 25 weight percent; 
 an ash content ranging from between 2 weight percent to 35 weight percent; 
 a fat content ranging from 4 weight percent to 45 weight percent; 
 a volatiles content ranging from between 20 weight percent to 92 weight percent; 
 a cannabidiol content ranging from 0.00001 weight percent to 25 weight percent; and 
 a tetrahydrocannabinol content ranging from 4 weight percent to 66 weight percent; 
   (b) after step (a), extracting volatiles from the  cannabis  with CO2 to form a CO2 and volatiles mixture;   (c) after step (b), removing the CO2 from the CO2 and volatiles mixture to produce extracted volatiles;   (d) after step (c), mixing the extracted volatiles with ethanol to produce an ethanol and volatiles mixture having between 0.016 to 0.33 pounds of extracted volatiles per pound of ethanol;   (e) after step (d), cooling the ethanol and volatiles mixture to form a cooled ethanol and volatiles mixture;   (f) after step (e), filtering wax from the cooled ethanol and volatiles mixture to form a filtered ethanol and volatiles mixture;   (g) after step (f), evaporating the ethanol from the filtered ethanol and volatiles mixture under vacuum conditions to produce vaporized ethanol and a concentrated mixture of ethanol and  cannabis  volatiles;   (h) after step (g), condensing the vaporized ethanol to produce liquid ethanol and non-condensable gas, the non-condensable gas has a reduced amount of ethanol vapor relative to the vaporized ethanol; and   (i) after step (h), introducing the non-condensable gas to a vacuum system.   
     
     
         82 . An alimentary multifunctional composition made by a process comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing the concentrated mixture of ethanol and  cannabis  volatiles according to  claim 81 ;   (b) after step (a), producing an alimentary multifunctional composition by mixing the concentrated mixture of ethanol and  cannabis  volatiles with one or more ingredients selected from the group consisting of:
 a fiber-starch material; 
 a binding agent; 
 a density improving textural supplement; 
 a moisture improving textural supplement; and 
 insects; 
   
       wherein:
 the fiber-starch material includes one or more from the group consisting of cereal-grain-based materials, grass-based materials, nut-based materials, powdered fruit materials, root-based materials, tuber-based materials, vegetable-based materials, and combinations thereof; 
 the binding agent includes one or more from the group consisting of agar, agave, alginin, arrowroot, carrageenan, collagen, cornstarch, egg whites, finely ground seeds, furcellaran, gelatin, guar gum, honey, katakuri starch, locust bean gum, pectin, potato starch, proteins, psyllium husks, sago, sugars, syrups, tapioca, vegetable gums, xanthan gum, and combinations thereof; 
 the density improving textural supplement includes one or more from the group consisting of extracted arrowroot starch, extracted corn starch, extracted lentil starch, extracted potato starch, extracted tapioca starch, and combinations thereof; 
 the moisture improving textural supplement includes one or more from the group consisting of almonds, brazil nuts, cacao, cashews, chestnuts, coconut, filberts, hazelnuts, Indian nuts, macadamia nuts, nut butters, nut oils, nut powders, peanuts, pecans, pili nuts, pine nuts, pinon nuts, pistachios, soy nuts, sunflower seeds, tiger nuts, walnuts, and combinations thereof; 
 the insects include one or more selected from the group consisting of Orthoptera order of insects, grasshoppers, crickets, locusts, cicadas, ants, mealworms, agave worms, scorpions, tarantulas, termites, and insect lipids. 
 
     
     
         83 . A foodstuff made by a process comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing the alimentary multifunctional composition according to  claim 82 ;   (b) after step (a), producing a foodstuff from the alimentary multifunctional composition, the foodstuff includes:
 one or more selected from the group consisting of ada, bagels, baked goods, biscuits, bitterballen, bonda, breads, cakes, candies, cereals, chips, chocolate bars, chocolate, coffee, cokodok, confectionery, cookies, cooking batter, corn starch mixtures, crackers, crêpes, croissants, croquettes, croutons, dolma, dough, doughnuts, energy bars, flapjacks, french fries, frozen custard, frozen desserts, frying cakes, fudge, gelatin mixes, granola bars, gulha, hardtack, ice cream, khandvi, khanom buang, krumpets, meze, mixed flours, muffins, multi-grain snacks, nachos, nian gao, noodles, nougat, onion rings, pakora, pancakes, panforte, pastas, pastries, pie crust, pita chips, pizza, poffertjes, pretzels, protein powders, pudding, rice krispie treats, sesame sticks, smoothies, snacks, specialty milk, tele-bhaja, tempura, toffee, tortillas, totopo, turkish delights, waffles, and combinations thereof. 
   
     
     
         84 . The concentrated mixture of ethanol and  cannabis  volatiles according to  claim 81 , wherein:
 the  cannabis  further includes a bacteria.   
     
     
         85 . The concentrated mixture of ethanol and  cannabis  volatiles according to  claim 81 , wherein:
 the  cannabis  further includes decarboxylated  cannabis  and/or ground  cannabis .   
     
     
         86 . The concentrated mixture of ethanol and  cannabis  volatiles according to  claim 81 , wherein:
 the  cannabis  further includes a fungus.   
     
     
         87 . The concentrated mixture of ethanol and  cannabis  volatiles according to  claim 81 , wherein:
 the  cannabis  further includes:   a  Cannabis sativa L . ssp.  Sativa  content ranging from 15 weight percent to 85 weight percent; and   a  Cannabis sativa L . ssp.  Indica  (Lam.) content ranging from 15 weight percent to 85 weight percent.   
     
     
         88 . The concentrated mixture of ethanol and  cannabis  volatiles according to  claim 81 , wherein:
 in step (b), the CO2 includes supercritical CO2 and/or subcritical CO2.   
     
     
         89 . A concentrated mixture of ethanol and  cannabis  volatiles which is essentially free of wax made by a process comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a source of  cannabis  including:
 an energy content ranging from between 2,500 British Thermal Units per pound to 65,000 British Thermal Units per pound; 
 a carbon content ranging from between 15 weight percent to 66 weight percent; 
 an oxygen content ranging from between 10 weight percent to 60 weight percent; 
 a hydrogen content ranging from between 2 weight percent to 25 weight percent; 
 an ash content ranging from between 2 weight percent to 35 weight percent; 
 a fat content ranging from 4 weight percent to 45 weight percent; 
 a volatiles content ranging from between 20 weight percent to 92 weight percent; 
 a cannabidiol content ranging from 0.00001 weight percent to 25 weight percent; 
 a tetrahydrocannabinol content ranging from 4 weight percent to 66 weight percent; and 
 bacteria; 
   (b) after step (a), extracting volatiles from the  cannabis  with supercritical CO2 to form a CO2 and volatiles mixture;   (c) after step (b), removing the CO2 from the CO2 and volatiles mixture to produce extracted volatiles;   (d) after step (c), mixing the extracted volatiles with ethanol to produce an ethanol and volatiles mixture having between 0.016 to 0.33 pounds of extracted volatiles per pound of ethanol;   (e) after step (d), cooling the ethanol and volatiles mixture to form a cooled ethanol and volatiles mixture;   (f) after step (e), filtering wax from the cooled ethanol and volatiles mixture to form a filtered ethanol and volatiles mixture;   (g) after step (f), evaporating the ethanol from the filtered ethanol and volatiles mixture under vacuum conditions to produce vaporized ethanol and a concentrated mixture of ethanol and  cannabis  volatiles;   (h) after step (g), condensing the vaporized ethanol to produce liquid ethanol and non-condensable gas, the non-condensable gas has a reduced amount of ethanol vapor relative to the vaporized ethanol; and   (i) after step (h), introducing the non-condensable gas to a vacuum system.   
     
     
         90 . An alimentary multifunctional composition made by a process comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing the concentrated mixture of ethanol and  cannabis  volatiles according to  claim 89 ;   (b) after step (a), producing an alimentary multifunctional composition by mixing the concentrated mixture of ethanol and  cannabis  volatiles with one or more ingredients selected from the group consisting of:
 a fiber-starch material; 
 a binding agent; 
 a density improving textural supplement; 
 a moisture improving textural supplement; and 
 insects; 
   
       wherein:
 the fiber-starch material includes one or more from the group consisting of cereal-grain-based materials, grass-based materials, nut-based materials, powdered fruit materials, root-based materials, tuber-based materials, vegetable-based materials, and combinations thereof; 
 the binding agent includes one or more from the group consisting of agar, agave, alginin, arrowroot, carrageenan, collagen, cornstarch, egg whites, finely ground seeds, furcellaran, gelatin, guar gum, honey, katakuri starch, locust bean gum, pectin, potato starch, proteins, psyllium husks, sago, sugars, syrups, tapioca, vegetable gums, xanthan gum, and combinations thereof; 
 the density improving textural supplement includes one or more from the group consisting of extracted arrowroot starch, extracted corn starch, extracted lentil starch, extracted potato starch, extracted tapioca starch, and combinations thereof; 
 the moisture improving textural supplement includes one or more from the group consisting of almonds, brazil nuts, cacao, cashews, chestnuts, coconut, filberts, hazelnuts, Indian nuts, macadamia nuts, nut butters, nut oils, nut powders, peanuts, pecans, pili nuts, pine nuts, pinon nuts, pistachios, soy nuts, sunflower seeds, tiger nuts, walnuts, and combinations thereof; 
 the insects include one or more selected from the group consisting of Orthoptera order of insects, grasshoppers, crickets, locusts, cicadas, ants, mealworms, agave worms, scorpions, tarantulas, termites, and insect lipids. 
 
     
     
         91 . A foodstuff made by a process comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing the alimentary multifunctional composition according to  claim 89 ;   (b) after step (a), producing a foodstuff from the alimentary multifunctional composition, the foodstuff includes:
 one or more selected from the group consisting of ada, bagels, baked goods, biscuits, bitterballen, bonda, breads, cakes, candies, cereals, chips, chocolate bars, chocolate, coffee, cokodok, confectionery, cookies, cooking batter, corn starch mixtures, crackers, crêpes, croissants, croquettes, croutons, dolma, dough, doughnuts, energy bars, flapjacks, french fries, frozen custard, frozen desserts, frying cakes, fudge, gelatin mixes, granola bars, gulha, hardtack, ice cream, khandvi, khanom buang, krumpets, meze, mixed flours, muffins, multi-grain snacks, nachos, nian gao, noodles, nougat, onion rings, pakora, pancakes, panforte, pastas, pastries, pie crust, pita chips, pizza, poffertjes, pretzels, protein powders, pudding, rice krispie treats, sesame sticks, smoothies, snacks, specialty milk, tele-bhaja, tempura, toffee, tortillas, totopo, turkish delights, waffles, and combinations thereof. 
   
     
     
         92 . The concentrated mixture of ethanol and  cannabis  volatiles according to  claim 89 , wherein:
 the  cannabis  includes decarboxylated  cannabis  and/or ground  cannabis .   
     
     
         93 . The concentrated mixture of ethanol and  cannabis  volatiles according to  claim 89 , wherein:
 the  cannabis  further includes:   a  Cannabis sativa L . ssp.  Sativa  content ranging from 15 weight percent to 85 weight percent; and   a  Cannabis sativa L . ssp.  Indica  (Lam.) content ranging from 15 weight percent to 85 weight percent.   
     
     
         94 . An alimentary multifunctional composition made by a process comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing the concentrated mixture of ethanol and  cannabis  volatiles according to  claim 89 ;   (b) after step (a), producing an alimentary multifunctional composition by mixing the concentrated mixture of ethanol and  cannabis  volatiles with insects, the insects include one or more selected from the group consisting of Orthoptera order of insects, grasshoppers, crickets, locusts, cicadas, ants, mealworms, agave worms, scorpions, tarantulas, termites, and insect lipids.   
     
     
         95 . A foodstuff made by a process comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing the alimentary multifunctional composition according to  claim 94 ;   (b) after step (a), producing a foodstuff from the alimentary multifunctional composition, the foodstuff includes:   one or more selected from the group consisting of ada, bagels, baked goods, biscuits, bitterballen, bonda, breads, cakes, candies, cereals, chips, chocolate bars, chocolate, coffee, cokodok, confectionery, cookies, cooking batter, corn starch mixtures, crackers, crêpes, croissants, croquettes, croutons, dolma, dough, doughnuts, energy bars, flapjacks, french fries, frozen custard, frozen desserts, frying cakes, fudge, gelatin mixes, granola bars, gulha, hardtack, ice cream, khandvi, khanom buang, krumpets, meze, mixed flours, muffins, multi-grain snacks, nachos, nian gao, noodles, nougat, onion rings, pakora, pancakes, panforte, pastas, pastries, pie crust, pita chips, pizza, poffertjes, pretzels, protein powders, pudding, rice krispie treats, sesame sticks, smoothies, snacks, specialty milk, tele-bhaja, tempura, toffee, tortillas, totopo, turkish delights, waffles, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         96 . An alimentary multifunctional composition made by a process comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a source of  cannabis  including:   an energy content ranging from between 2,500 British Thermal Units per pound to 65,000 British Thermal Units per pound;   a carbon content ranging from between 15 weight percent to 66 weight percent;   an oxygen content ranging from between 10 weight percent to 60 weight percent;   a hydrogen content ranging from between 2 weight percent to 25 weight percent;   an ash content ranging from between 2 weight percent to 35 weight percent;   a fat content ranging from 4 weight percent to 45 weight percent;   a volatiles content ranging from between 20 weight percent to 92 weight percent;   a cannabidiol content ranging from 0.00001 weight percent to 25 weight percent; and   a tetrahydrocannabinol content ranging from 4 weight percent to 66 weight percent;   (b) after step (a), extracting volatiles from the  cannabis  with CO2 to form a CO2 and volatiles mixture;   (c) after step (b), removing the CO2 from the CO2 and volatiles mixture to produce extracted volatiles;   (d) after step (c), mixing the extracted volatiles with ethanol to produce an ethanol and volatiles mixture having between 0.016 to 0.33 pounds of extracted volatiles per pound of ethanol;   (e) after step (d), cooling the ethanol and volatiles mixture to form a cooled ethanol and volatiles mixture;   (f) after step (e), filtering the cooled ethanol and volatiles mixture to form a filtered ethanol and volatiles mixture;   (g) after step (f), evaporating the ethanol from the filtered ethanol and volatiles mixture under vacuum conditions to produce a concentrated mixture of ethanol and  cannabis  volatiles;   (h) after step (g), producing a multifunctional composition by mixing the concentrated mixture of ethanol and  cannabis  volatiles with one or more ingredients selected from the group consisting of:
 a fiber-starch material; 
 a binding agent; 
 a density improving textural supplement; 
 a moisture improving textural supplement; and 
 insects; 
   
       wherein:
 the fiber-starch material includes one or more from the group consisting of cereal-grain-based materials, grass-based materials, nut-based materials, powdered fruit materials, root-based materials, tuber-based materials, vegetable-based materials, and combinations thereof; 
 the binding agent includes one or more from the group consisting of agar, agave, alginin, arrowroot, carrageenan, collagen, cornstarch, egg whites, finely ground seeds, furcellaran, gelatin, guar gum, honey, katakuri starch, locust bean gum, pectin, potato starch, proteins, psyllium husks, sago, sugars, syrups, tapioca, vegetable gums, xanthan gum, and combinations thereof; 
 the density improving textural supplement includes one or more from the group consisting of extracted arrowroot starch, extracted corn starch, extracted lentil starch, extracted potato starch, extracted tapioca starch, and combinations thereof; 
 the moisture improving textural supplement includes one or more from the group consisting of almonds, brazil nuts, cacao, cashews, chestnuts, coconut, filberts, hazelnuts, Indian nuts, macadamia nuts, nut butters, nut oils, nut powders, peanuts, pecans, pili nuts, pine nuts, pinon nuts, pistachios, soy nuts, sunflower seeds, tiger nuts, walnuts, and combinations thereof; 
 the insects include one or more selected from the group consisting of Orthoptera order of insects, grasshoppers, crickets, locusts, cicadas, ants, mealworms, agave worms, scorpions, tarantulas, termites, and insect lipids. 
 
     
     
         97 . A foodstuff including the alimentary multifunctional composition according to  claim 96 , the foodstuff includes:
 one or more selected from the group consisting of ada, bagels, baked goods, biscuits, bitterballen, bonda, breads, cakes, candies, cereals, chips, chocolate bars, chocolate, coffee, cokodok, confectionery, cookies, cooking batter, corn starch mixtures, crackers, crêpes, croissants, croquettes, croutons, dolma, dough, doughnuts, energy bars, flapjacks, french fries, frozen custard, frozen desserts, frying cakes, fudge, gelatin mixes, granola bars, gulha, hardtack, ice cream, khandvi, khanom buang, krumpets, meze, mixed flours, muffins, multi-grain snacks, nachos, nian gao, noodles, nougat, onion rings, pakora, pancakes, panforte, pastas, pastries, pie crust, pita chips, pizza, poffertjes, pretzels, protein powders, pudding, rice krispie treats, sesame sticks, smoothies, snacks, specialty milk, tele-bhaja, tempura, toffee, tortillas, totopo, turkish delights, waffles, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         98 . The concentrated mixture of ethanol and  cannabis  volatiles according to  claim 96 , wherein:
 the  cannabis  further includes bacteria.   
     
     
         99 . The concentrated mixture of ethanol and  cannabis  volatiles according to  claim 96 , wherein:
 the  cannabis  further includes fungus.   
     
     
         100 . The concentrated mixture of ethanol and  cannabis  volatiles according to  claim 96 , wherein:
 the  cannabis  further includes:   a  Cannabis sativa L . ssp. Sativa content ranging from 15 weight percent to 85 weight percent; and   a  Cannabis sativa L . ssp. Indica (Lam.) content ranging from 15 weight percent to 85 weight percent.