Affinor's cannabis trial and on-site test to grow medical marijuana in Mission BC has now been completed. The main objectives of the trial was to determine if cannabis plants could grow effectively on the vertical equipment, naturally in soil without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticide, as well as, develop specific growing protocol for quick maturing high density plants with multiple harvests per year.
The initial objectives were met with the single 4 level, 16 arm, vertical tower growing 256 cannabis plants in a little over 100 square feet from clone to harvest in seven weeks, under the license holder's growing license. The vertical growing tower was divided into different zones allowing several concurrent tests to identify ideal growing conditions and methods. A proprietary sequence of lighting, pruning techniques, nutritional formula coupled with a blended vegetative / flowering cycle resulted in optimal plant size and canopy density for the vertical growing equipment. Under these growing conditions, the newly developed crop model can produce up to 5 crops per year, as well as minimize the movement of the plants. Every plant was grown 100% organically with no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.
Due to the various trials being conducted, final yields varied through the tower. However, one zone produced a reliable 15 to 20 grams per plant under a specific pruning, lighting and nutrient methods. Plans are already in motion to duplicate this protocol and build upon the developed crop model. As well, new LED lighting will be tested in parallel, creating the highest production intensity per square foot with low operating cost. Once achieved, Affinor's larger 10 level, 16 arm, tower capable of holding 640 plants in a little over 100 square feet, will be able to increase productivity over 200% when compared to 100 square feet of traditional indoor cannabis growing, for approximately half the utilities cost.
Jarrett Malnarick, President & CEO, comments, "We are very happy our initial growth trials and the product analysis proves the technology can grow cannabis organically in soil without the use of chemicals or pesticides. Medical cannabis can be a contaminated product, and we are excited to be changing the way cannabis will be commercially or personally produced. We look forward to working with our license holders to continue trials for cannabis and LED's to lower production cost and improve our proprietary crop models for high yielding, low cost, organic cannabis. We thank Mr. Sam Mellace for all his help and knowledge of the cannabis growth trial and look forward to additional improvements in the future."
