While we know that artificial intelligence (AI) is an important part of the marijuana industry, the real buzz is around the use of Crispr-Cas9 gene editing technology, Vertical farming, and advanced lighting. Here are top of the latest developments in cannabis technology. Let’s dive in!..and get the full story. Here’s the scoop on each of these technologies. And don’t forget to share your insights in the comments below!
Advance Lighting
The latest advancement in vertical farming in cannabis technology is LED lighting. LED lights have two spectrums: a broad white spectrum and a targeted pink spectrum. Light levels must match to ensure proper growth. In vertical cannabis farming, light levels should be adjusted as needed to maximize plant yields. LED lights can be cleaned easily and are more energy efficient than sodium or halogen bulbs. Water recycling technologies are easier to implement with LED lighting. In addition to being environmentally friendly, LED lights also lower facility energy costs.
Another advancement in vertical farming is the use of data analytics. With today’s technology, there are 1.5 million data points being tracked in each grow chamber. These data points can give cultivators unmatched insight into plant health and yield. With this technology, cultivators of indoor marijuana seed can now control all aspects of their growing environment with unprecedented precision. This technology allows cultivators to produce consistent, high-quality cannabis with minimal variation in active ingredient levels. In fact, it is possible to control the environment and harvest levels to a milligram.
Artificial Intelligence
The future of cannabis is in your hand thanks to the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the growing process. AI can help growers capture a full picture of their crop, measure and analyze results, and even predict sales and revenue. The industry is only in its early stages, but it is expected to grow and eventually reach the point where AI and other technologies will be crucial to its success. Tom Taulli, author of Artificial Intelligence: A Non-Technical Introduction, explains how the technology is helping cannabis businesses today.
AI is already helping growers to monitor and predict the weather and climate conditions that affect their crops. Artificial intelligence can also predict potential problems, such as pest infestations, airborne diseases, and optimal growing environments. By using sophisticated algorithms, it can even identify which strains are most suitable for different medical conditions. The benefits of AI in the cannabis industry are many. Here’s how it works:
Crispr-Cas9
The Crispr-Cas9 cannabis technology is the application of genome editing to improve cannabis plants. The procedure involves embedding cannabis protoplasts in a medium containing sgRNA or agarose, followed by plant regeneration. This method avoids transgenic traits while improving cannabis plants. It can also be applied to non-transgenic Cannabis plants. Nevertheless, the method requires further optimization to ensure success.
To date, there are few commercial cannabis products available using this technology. Yet, the research has been promising. An Israeli company named CanBreed has manipulated a gene in cannabis to make it resistant to powdery mildew. This plant is the first commercially produced strain to undergo genome editing using CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology. While human scientists have genetically modified cannabis plants for centuries, CanBreed is the first commercial company to successfully carry out genome editing on a cannabis plant.