Volume & Risk

Much like oranges are grown in Florida, hops in Washington and tobacco in the South East, cannabis will be grown in a specific place where the microclimate is best suited for its cultivation. What we do right now is a by-product of prohibition and the current status and value of the plant. I see a day, maybe sooner than later, when we will be looking at $100/lb cannabis. What happens to operations that rely on product produced at $500/lb at that point?

This doesn’t mean the end of the cannabis industry but merely a change. It will still be profitable to grow cannabis. All of the crops I just mentioned sell for far less than $100/lb and businesses ,hell, entire industries are built around them. The heyday of cannabis as we know it will not be the future. But you can be prepared.

Learning how to cultivate in a greenhouse is clearly the next step in the evolution of cannabis cultivation. Many indoor farmers and consumers have looked down on greenhouse grown product, but with the recent changes in technology and cultivars bred specifically for that environment, those dynamics will shift. What we currently have bred for is a family of weaklings. Plants that need constant babying and bottle feeding in order to do what they should be doing naturally with far fewer inputs.

We need better genetics that can take a punch in the face and don’t wither with one hot day. In truth, this is a tough plant. Its origins stem from Central Asia, which is not exactly a lush forest landscape. The plasticity is there and we can steer this crop to be a better, more sustainable product. And we’ll need to. Those that learn too will still be standing in the long run. And on your way to see them on the outskirts of town you’ll be driving past the empty carcasses of indoor grows of Christmas past, sprouting a whole different set of weeds.

PRODUCT NEWS

At this point we all know that recycling water is not only the right thing to do but also the smart thing to do, especially in a tightening market where every penny counts. Why flush perfectly good nutrients down the drain?

Usually critics point out to the complexity in making sure that recirculated water is clean and free of pathogens. Enter Azud’s Watertech RW resue plant. No more slapping together disparate parts to make your own system. This comes prebuilt on a skid. Just plug n play baby!

In the realm of super cool new tech, Swiss company Voltiris has come up with a light harvesting system for greenhouses that does not use solar panels. This might be “bleeding edge” technology but it sure is neat.

OTHER NEWS

Can blockchain technology help save small cannabis farmers? I don’t know a whole lot about this tech but it seems promising.

Check out the latest episode of Sea of Green podcast, “Law Talkin’ Man” with Sam Kamin. New episode drops Sunday featuring these two ladies -

Stay tuned!! 

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens

Thanks for reading,

d