Ask the Experts: Cultivation, Part IV: If You Were Teaching a Class on Cannabis Cultivation, What Is the Most Important Thing that Newcomers to the Field Would Need to Learn?
Zac Hildenbrand, Karan Kapoor, Autumn Karcey, and Roger Kern offer advice on the most important thing newcomers to cannabis cultivation need to learn.
Leading cultivators and researchers from the cannabis industry-Zac Hildenbrand, Inform Environmental, LLC; Karan Kapoor, KapoorAg Consulting Inc. (formerly with JC Green Inc. and Avana Canada Inc.); Autumn Karcey, Cultivo, Inc.; and Roger Kern, Agate Biosciences-participate in this round-table discussion series on cultivation. This month they offer advice on the most important thing newcomers to cannabis cultivation need to learn.
If you were teaching a class on cannabis cultivation, what is the most important thing that newcomers to the field would need to learn?
Zac Hildenbrand: The science of cultivation is a lot of more involved than putting a plant under lights and watering it occasionally. In order to produce premium, high potency plants, once must be constantly monitoring a myriad of factors such as: nutrient uptake, water quality, lighting distribution, the spectral outputs of your lights, the presence of pests and microbes, and the response of the plants to these factors, amongst others.
Karan Kapoor: I think people need to learn a basic understanding of the cannabis regulations, an understanding the importance of the quality management system, basic knowledge of horticulture and agronomy of cannabis plant, and most important ethics.
Autumn Karcey: Once you begin the path of cannabis cultivation you will find that data and real world experience is king, write down everything. I would emphasize making small, incremental steps and changes. For example, when you are considering implementing new equipment or methods in your grow, it becomes critical to track and then evaluate your progress and data. I would also add, that once you’ve achieved a solid product that you are happy with, work towards maintaining consistency and preserving the quality of that product.
Roger Kern: At Agate Biosciences, we are in the process in putting together a course for that now. It starts with choosing the right system for growing. I’m a big advocate of hydroponics and top-down drip systems. Also, it’s important to start with the right strain for your grow; pick something that’s productive, high-yield and easy to grow. An example of that would be Blue Dream. And I recommend starting with a system you can scale up as you learn to grow the plants. Finally, be proactive when it comes to pest and disease control; work with someone who is experienced in Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
Click here to read part I, part II, or part III of the "Ask the Experts: Cultivation" series.
Cannabis, US Presidential Election 2024, and Beyond: A Roundtable Discussion, Part II
December 17th 2024With the recent 2024 presidential election behind us, the future of cannabis still has many unknowns moving forward and questions still to be discussed. In this roundtable discussion with four knowledgeable industry leaders, we explore the nuanced political landscape of cannabis legalization and rescheduling in the context of the election, including state and federal policies and possible paths forward for testing standardization. Join us in the second part of a compilation of responses from Kim Anzarut, CQA, CP-FS, CEO of Allay Consulting; Susan Audino, PhD, founder of S.A. Audino & Associates, LLC; Zacariah Hildenbrand, PhD, research Professor at the University of Texas at El Paso; and David Vaillencourt, CEO of The GMP Collective.
Cannabis, US Presidential Election 2024, and Beyond: A Roundtable Discussion, Part I
December 16th 2024With the recent 2024 presidential election behind us, the future of cannabis still has many unknowns moving forward and questions still to be discussed. In this roundtable discussion with four knowledgeable industry leaders, we explore the nuanced political landscape of cannabis legalization and rescheduling in the context of the election. We discuss what drives support or opposition from both sides of the aisle, the complexities of balancing state and federal priorities, and more. Join us in the first part of a compilation of responses from Kim Anzarut, CQA, CP-FS, CEO of Allay Consulting; Susan Audino, PhD, founder of S.A. Audino & Associates, LLC; Zacariah Hildenbrand, PhD, research Professor at the University of Texas at El Paso; and David Vaillencourt, CEO of The GMP Collective.
Empowering Women in Cannabis: Susan Audino, PhD, on Inclusivity, Integrity, and Industry Challenges
December 11th 2024Founder of S. A. Audino & Associates, LLC, Susan Audino, PhD, recently co-founded Saturn Scientific, LLC, a collaboration of five experienced individuals providing unbiased evaluations on the data and science for stakeholders in the cannabis industry. In this interview with Cannabis Science and Technology, Dr. Audino shares her unexpected path into analytical science and the cannabis industry as well as the obstacles she’s faced throughout her career. She highlights the gender bias she’s observed, such as unequal recognition of credentials and workplace challenges, while advocating for inclusivity and mentorship to empower women in science. Additionally, Dr. Audino recounts her experiences of navigating the male-dominated cannabis space, pushing for transparency, collaboration, and integrity in laboratory practices. Ultimately, Audino believes fostering mutual respect and knowledge-sharing is vital for the industry’s growth and resilience.
Collaboration, Gender Diversity, and Progress: Julie Kowalski on Advancing Cannabis Science
December 10th 2024In this interview with Cannabis Science and Technology, Julie Kowalski, an experienced analytical chemist, discusses her path into the cannabis industry, starting with early work in gas chromatography. Kowalski reflects on her perspectives as a female scientist, highlighting biases she’s experienced and the benefits of gender inclusivity in the cannabis space. Greater unity and professionalism could benefit the industry as a whole, she explains. She also encourages collaboration and more women in leadership positions in order to build a stronger scientific community, and also urges women to advocate for themselves, noting that women in cannabis face unique obstacles but often demonstrate consensus-building strategies and solutions.
Gender Diversity and Innovation in the Cannabis Space: Insights from Tess Eidem, PhD
December 9th 2024Cannabis Science and Technology sat down with Tess Eidem, PhD, PCQI, member of Saturn Scientific, LLC, to discuss her journey from antibiotic research to cannabis microbiology and her observations throughout her career. Dr. Eidem highlights challenges women face in this male-dominated industry, including limited representation in leadership roles and frequent experiences of bias and discrimination. She emphasizes the importance of gender diversity in fostering innovation, improving product safety, and addressing women’s health needs in cannabis applications. Her advice to women scientists is to build strong professional relationships and carefully evaluate work environments to advance their careers in this evolving and often challenging space.
