Every facet of the agricultural industry relies on critical safety measures and a system that double-checks products each step of the way to protect consumers. Chromatography, including gas chromatography and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), is one of many players in the agricultural safety net. Laboratories use this analysis technique in a variety of agricultural industries to perform critical tests and alert companies and consumers alike to issues as soon as they arise. Continue reading to discover more about the role of chromatography in agricultural industries in the United States.
Soil and Fertilizer Testing
Chromatography plays a significant role in agricultural soil and fertilizer testing. Soil and fertilizer provide the foundation for successful farming, affecting everything from crop yields to livestock and overall farm operations. Some of the ways soil and fertilizer testing supports the agricultural industry include:
Using the Correct Soil
Different crops require specific nutrients to grow successfully and produce the yields that modern farming demands. Farmers can create an ideal growing environment by understanding the nutrients and other substances present in their soil and fertilizer. When a company purchases an existing farm, it can test the soil to identify chemicals that may have been used on the property previously. Chromatography also helps farmers assess soil fertility and determine which adjustments can improve yields during the following growing season.
Earning Organic Certification
To earn USDA organic certification, a farm or company must meet specific requirements regarding the substances used during food production. Gas chromatography can help inspectors and laboratories confirm that an operation avoids pesticides and other substances that could disqualify it from organic certification.
During a site visit, inspectors collect samples of soil, plant tissue, or agricultural products. Lab technicians then use chromatography to separate the samples into their individual components. This process allows scientists to identify suspect compounds and provide inspectors with an accurate report. The USDA relies on chromatography’s speed and accuracy to help determine whether organizations meet organic standards and communicate that designation to consumers.
Ensuring Food Safety
Farms, and the products that farms produce, move from the agricultural world into grocery stores, restaurant storage, and home refrigerators worldwide. Chromatography allows labs to discover more about the food produced and how it impacts health and safety. The following are two examples of chromatography playing a role in food analysis:
Measuring Nutritional Value
Understanding ingredient nutrition helps consumers, physicians, and lawmakers make health-conscious food choices. Labs play a key role in producing accurate data about the foods we purchase. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) helps identify food components, including protein and vitamin content.
Examining Additives
Additives perform a variety of functions in the foods that include them. For example, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is commonly used in infant formulas or taken as a supplement by pregnant mothers to provide omega-3 fatty acids. Analysis of products claiming to provide omega-3 fatty acids can undergo chromatography analysis for confirmation and help guide consumers on which products to trust.
However, in the same way that agricultural organizations pursue organic certifications, many consumers desire products that are additive-free. HLPC also allows labs to identify product adulteration. This information can prevent companies from falsely advertising their product as additive-free and protect consumers shopping with allergies or unique diets in mind.
Cannabis Analysis
A rapidly growing subsection of the agricultural industry is cannabis production. Producers and consumers alike require a detailed understanding of a cannabis product’s components to ensure safe and legal usage. Gas chromatography is a technique heavily relied on by the industry, both to inspect for contaminates and measure the unique components of the cannabis product.
Identifying Residual Solvents
Solvents are a key part of the process for many ingestible cannabis products. These chemicals separate the plant matter from the desired components to create isolates as well as several consistencies of concentrates. However, only Class 3 solvents such as butane or ethanol are considered safe for use.
It’s important for safety’s sake to confirm the solvent used by the company creating the product. Gas chromatography allows scientists to analyze the components of a given product and identify solvents present in the final product. After identifying the solvent as an acceptable Class 3, analysis labs measure the presence of residual solvent left behind by the process. A product is acceptable only if its residual solvent levels remain within regulatory limits.
Cannabinoid Characterization and Potency
Both the pharmaceutical and recreational industries rely on information regarding a cannabinoid’s characterization and potency. These two factors allow medical professionals and consumers to make informed decisions regarding the type of cannabinoid they use according to the desired effects. Understanding a cannabis product’s potency also helps manufacturers and resellers operate according to their state or region’s current cannabis laws.
Overall, the role of chromatography in agricultural industries is to identify the exact components of grown, consumable products. Understanding the contents of the food we eat gives us the opportunity to make the right choices for our health and safety. Lab analysis requirements also limit dangerous or mislabeled consumable products from entering the market. Without chromatography techniques, manufacturers and consumers alike would lack a complete picture of the contents of what we eat and the agricultural products we use.
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