Company joins academic-industry research effort to advance terpene science and bolster public safety

LIVERMORE, Calif., Feb. 2, 2026 — (“Nexus”), a molecular farming firm offering plant-based solutions for flavor, fragrance, and functional ingredient markets, announced today that its subsidiary, Terpene Belt Farms, is taking part as the industry research partner in a $1.23 million academic research grant. The grant, awarded by the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), supports a UCLA-led coalition investigating naturally occurring flavor compounds in cannabis flower and establishing thresholds to underpin reasonable regulations for inhalable cannabis products.

The two-year initiative, named “Characterization of Naturally Occurring Organoleptic Compounds for Inhalable Cannabis Regulation,” unites researchers from UCLA, UC Davis, S3 Collective, and Nexus to develop California’s first Flower Flavor-Compound Reference Dataset (FRD). This dataset will equip regulators with scientifically validated concentration thresholds for terpenes and volatile compounds, enabling them to distinguish genuine plant-derived cannabis flavor from prohibited additives.

“Regulators face growing demands to differentiate ‘naturally occurring cannabis flavor’ from artificial additives, yet lack comprehensive, plant-derived reference data,” said Pamela Epstein, Chief Legal & Regulatory Officer of Nexus Agriscience. “We see this collaboration with UCLA, UC Davis, and S3 Collective as a chance to bridge that gap with rigorous, regulator-ready science rooted in authentic cannabis chemistry.”

California currently bans non-cannabis flavor additives in inhalable products to reduce youth attraction, but regulators lack validated reference data to tell natural cannabis chemistry apart from added compounds. The DCC-funded research aims to resolve this by generating evidence-based benchmarks to aid enforcement, product development, and future regulatory standards.

As the industry research partner, Nexus will contribute expertise in plant-derived flavor chemistry and real-world product data. Cannabis flower samples will be exclusively sourced from DCC-licensed California dispensaries, with analytical work carried out using validated laboratory methods at Nexus’ facility.

“This project embodies the purpose of S3 Collective: to transform rigorous academic research into market-relevant standards and policy,” said David Vaillencourt, Board Chair of S3 Collective. “With Nexus Agriscience providing real-world, plant-derived chemistry expertise, we are creating California’s first scientifically validated reference dataset for cannabis flavor compounds, giving regulators the foundation needed for consistent, enforceable regulation.”

The results are anticipated to shape how inhalable cannabis products are tested, formulated, and assessed in California, and may serve as a reference for other states considering similar regulatory approaches. Nexus’ involvement reflects the Company’s broader dedication to responsible innovation, regulatory alignment, and science-driven decision-making, while clearly separating Terpene Belt’s cannabis-specific research role from Nexus’s broader natural ingredients portfolio.

About

Nexus Agriscience is harnessing hemp’s potential as a scalable source of natural ingredients for wellness, flavor, fragrance, and pharmaceutical applications. Through vertical control spanning genetics to processing, Nexus delivers chemically consistent, plant-derived ingredients to B2B partners worldwide.

Originally founded in 2019 as Terpene Belt Farms, the company expanded its scope in 2025 and rebranded as Nexus Agriscience following the acquisition of Biotech Institute’s hemp division. By integrating agricultural, chemical, and regulatory expertise, Nexus brings plant-based ingredients to global markets at commercial scale.

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SOURCE Nexus Agriscience Inc