Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
"From Rooms to Zones: Food Safety Lessons for Cannabis Facilities" panel discussion at CannMed 2026, covering FSMA zoning, environmental monitoring, and microbial risk management.
Food manufacturers rely on FSMA-aligned Environmental Monitoring Programs (Zones 1-4) to control pathogens, validate sanitation, and prevent recalls. As cannabis cultivation and manufacturing scale, these same principles are becoming essential for facility design, airflow control, sanitation validation, and microbial risk management.
This panel translates proven food-grade safety frameworks into practical guidance for cannabis operations, moving from room-based thinking to risk-based zoning, supported by data, culture, and accountability.
Key discussion points include translating FSMA Zones 1-4 into cultivation and manufacturing environments, designing clean zones, airflow, and personnel movement to reduce cross-contamination, building effective Environmental Monitoring Programs, using rapid testing versus reference methods to support real-time decisions, and embedding food-safety culture across operations rather than just compliance teams.
Panelists:
Dr. Benjamin Miller (Moderator), COO and EVP of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, The Acheson Group
Shannon McCoy, VP, Quality and Regulatory Affairs, Organigram Global
Rafael Bombonato, Sr. Director, Quality Assurance, Curaleaf
Maria McIntyre, Head of Cannabis, bioMerieux
Hunter Holliman, Sales Consultant, TSRgrow
This panel was part of the CannMed Compliance & Regulatory Workshop, a program focused on regulatory and quality frameworks for cannabis operations.
This presentation was given at the CannMed 2026 Innovation & Collaboration Summit, held June 15-18 at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort. Visit cannmedevents.com to learn more.
"From Rooms to Zones: Food Safety Lessons for Cannabis Facilities" panel discussion at CannMed 2026, covering FSMA zoning, environmental monitoring, and microbial risk management.
Food manufacturers rely on FSMA-aligned Environmental Monitoring Programs (Zones 1-4) to control pathogens, validate sanitation, and prevent recalls. As cannabis cultivation and manufacturing scale, these same principles are becoming essential for facility design, airflow control, sanitation validation, and microbial risk management.
This panel translates proven food-grade safety frameworks into practical guidance for cannabis operations, moving from room-based thinking to risk-based zoning, supported by data, culture, and accountability.
Key discussion points include translating FSMA Zones 1-4 into cultivation and manufacturing environments, designing clean zones, airflow, and personnel movement to reduce cross-contamination, building effective Environmental Monitoring Programs, using rapid testing versus reference methods to support real-time decisions, and embedding food-safety culture across operations rather than just compliance teams.
Panelists:
Dr. Benjamin Miller (Moderator), COO and EVP of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, The Acheson Group
Shannon McCoy, VP, Quality and Regulatory Affairs, Organigram Global
Rafael Bombonato, Sr. Director, Quality Assurance, Curaleaf
Maria McIntyre, Head of Cannabis, bioMerieux
Hunter Holliman, Sales Consultant, TSRgrow
This panel was part of the CannMed Compliance & Regulatory Workshop, a program focused on regulatory and quality frameworks for cannabis operations.
This presentation was given at the CannMed 2026 Innovation & Collaboration Summit, held June 15-18 at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort. Visit cannmedevents.com to learn more.
