We’ve found that touring a cannabis grow operation is a unique experience. It’s far different from traditional indoor grow operations for vegetables and ornamentals. While there are lots of commonalities, each grower also has their unique approach. Some of the differences are obvious. Other differences require a discerning eye. The closer you look – the more differences you find.
During one of our first tours, we were shocked by the amount of variability between plants. Even within the same cultivar, a controlled environment, and timer-based hydroponic system, plant health varied widely. Some of the plants were flourishing while others were clearly losing the race. In a mixed cultivar room, the differences are even more dramatic. Since many growers use either manual watering or a timer-driven drip system, we observed that it accentuates the differences between cultivars and individual plants.
Looking through a geek’s lens
As we reviewed various grow operations, we noticed the lack of state-of-the-art technology. Most growers are tied to manual processes or using timer-based systems designed for vegetables. While there are a few that are starting to head toward artificial intelligence (AI) driven solutions, the advances require time to develop before industry adoption can start. Oddly, many of those solutions are using cameras to assess the status of plants, but not closing the loop for automated actions to improve the plants. Very few systems are using “internet of things” (IoT) solutions to drive automated actions. IoT solutions have been used extensively in logistics, aviation, manufacturing and healthcare. How did cannabis growers get left behind?
We also observed that growing a consistently high-quality crop requires a lot of finesse and fine tuning. Each plant is unique, and a myriad of environmental factors create an extremely complex and interdependent system. If you change one thing (or have an environmental surprise), the impact can ripple through the rest of the grow cycle. This makes it extremely difficult to truly optimize your growing techniques through data-driven A/B testing.
Lastly, sensor capabilities (which should be the foundation of data-driven optimization) are incredibly diverse. Some are low-cost, inaccurate, and only share data when you walk past the plant. Others are extremely advanced, difficult to calibrate, and too expensive to fully instrument an entire grow operation. It’s almost like a highway system that abruptly transitions from the Autobahn to dirt roads. For the few cost-effective sensors, very few software providers have been able to coherently aggregate the data and provide an insightful, simple application to help growers manage their complex environments. Again, how did cannabis growers get left behind?
How can we advance the solutions?
We applied a new lens to the growers’ challenges. A large part of that requires listening and learning. We can’t tell an experienced grower how to do their job more effectively. However, we can listen, understand, and experiment with new techniques. Most importantly, we can give the grower control over these tools. In a nutshell, we allow them to retain control, automate the mundane activities with new tools, and give them the ability to rigorously experiment to improve their methods. Ultimately, those improved techniques become the repeatable template for their future grows.
We’ve looked at other industries and technologies to identify patterns that can help solve these challenges. Some of the most important trends that we identified include:
- Sensors that can be used in large volumes to match the grow operation size
- Controllers that are cohesively integrated with the sensors to enable automated actions
- Servers that have the ability to integrate large volumes of data to provide meaningful insights
- Monitors for exceptions to help focus on the few critical items that require attention
- Applications that are mobile and easy to use (based on the task at hand)
- Integrations between disparate systems to provide a single “control panel” for the grower’s business
- Perspectives that realize we need to blend hardware, software, and horticulture with a strong focus on innovation
The pivot to reality
The prior articles focused on WHY cannabis is worth intense focus. The items listed above are the equivalent of WHAT can be done to improve grower outcomes. However, they are the equivalent of jigsaw puzzle pieces still sitting in the box. Check out our next article to understand HOW we are bringing all of those pieces together.
It’s not fair to expect a grower to become an IT organization. Greenest Grow exists to focus on the geeky bits so you can focus on your grow business. Check out our next article for more information on how we intend to help the industry.
