Grodan, the global leader in innovative stone wool growing media solutions for the professional horticulture industry, in collaboration with F1 SeedTech, the leading breeder of F1 hybrid cannabis seeds, is pleased to announce the successful completion of a pioneering cannabis cultivation trial program.
Conducted at the state-of-the-art CRIC Labs in Montreal, the program began in October 2023 and built on a 2022 European collaborative study which also demonstrated remarkable potential to improve yield, resource efficiency, and consistency of cannabis crops grown in stone wool media with F1 hybrid seeds.
This research program, which includes five trials, highlights significant advancements in cannabis production and input efficiency.
"This trial proves that stone wool produces a more efficient and beneficial growing environment when compared to organic growing media, which is shown through the grams of flower produced per liter of water and nutrients," said Frank Janssen, Product Development Manager at Grodan. "The size of the substrate significantly impacts irrigation frequency and volume. Specifically, the volume of growing media required for organic substrates is typically larger compared to stone wool. This necessitates more frequent irrigation, meaning more water and nutrients are used in organic media cultivations."
Key findings of the trial program:
- Yield: Achieved a maximum production rate of 9,4 kg/m² (1.93 lbs/ft²) of dried cannabis flower annually.
- Higher resource efficiency compared to organic growing media: The trial focused on water and light efficiency ratios, showing that growers can achieve more yield without increasing their relative spend on inputs such as light, water and nutrients compared to organic growing media.
- Consistency: Demonstrated high uniformity in plant growth and final product quality.
Grodan and F1 SeedTech are committed to helping licensed growers stay ahead of the rapid advancements in the cannabis industry. Over the next year, they will further explore the potential of stone wool with F1 hybrid seeds in cannabis cultivation. Detailed results and insights from the trial results and insights will be shared at upcoming industry events and through various publications.
