Being successful in the Canadian cannabis market isn't an easy feat. Some growers are finding their niche by focusing on quality and releasing premium-grade products. One of these growers is Cannara Biotech, which boasts a 1-million sq. ft. facility in Valleyfield, Quebec. "The criteria we select are extremely stringent, from how the cannabis smokes, looks, and tastes, to its lineage and flavor," says Nicholas Sosiak from Cannara.
The importance of genetics
As the company emphasizes in its video, "No matter how well you grow, it all comes down to selecting the right genetics." Pheno hunting plays a pivotal role in their operations. While some growers obtain starting material from nurseries—which ensures vigorous and robust plantlets—this can limit genetic diversity. Cannara, however, conducts its own pheno hunting and also propagates clones. "We're trying to find rare, undiscovered genetics," they continue.
So, how do they achieve this? "We have mega facilities here, among the largest in Quebec," says Sosiak. That's not hard to believe, considering their greenhouse spans over 1 million square feet. "We are at 40% total capacity now," he notes. Even at partial capacity, the company grows hundreds of thousands of plants. "At full capacity, we can produce 125 tons of premium-grade cannabis per year."
For the pheno hunting process, the growers at Cannara review about 4,500 genetics to ultimately select those that will be cultivated for the year. "You have to look at consistency, and we test every aspect of the plant."
It's all about knowing
As they point out, fine-tuning genetics requires a deep understanding of plant growth, its life cycle, and its water and nutrient needs. "And we do that through trial and error." The mission of the over 400 employees at Cannara is to dial in each plant until it grows consistently.
In addition, Cannara utilizes highly advanced technological facilities. "They have every bell and whistle you can imagine," they point out. They can precisely control temperature, nutrients, and irrigation schedules to ensure consistent product quality.
The company propagates about 14,000 clones per week. From there, they check and qualify the plants to ensure they meet Cannara's high standards. "It's unique how we qualify the plants. We make sure they fit our profile for that specific genetic," Sosiak says. Out of the 1,500 clones they select, they keep 1,000 for flowering, while the rest are disqualified. "We never keep any unevenness in our canopy," they conclude.
For more information:
Cannara Biotech
www.cannara.ca