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In the PLOS journal, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife published a study that is the first of its kind. The purpose of the study was to determine the environmental effects marijuana cultivation is having on the state.
What did the report find?
Scientists reported that the number of marijuana cultivation facilities have more than doubled during 2009-2012 and that marijuana cultivation is having a devastating impact on the region.
“All the streams we monitored in watersheds with large scale marijuana cultivation went dry,” said Scott Bauer, who is the lead author of the study for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Scott added, “The only stream we monitored that didn’t go dry contained no observed marijuana cultivation.”
The scientists reported that the average marijuana plant requires approximately 22.7 liters (6 gallons) of water per day. According to the report, water demand from May to September (which is growing season) exceeded stream flow in some areas.
Every problem has a solution
Over the last 30 years, cannabis breeders have been able to increase the THC content in strains through cross-breeding and technological innovation. These breeders will be able to cut costs, improve margins, and help the environment by using an aeroponic, instead of hydroponic, growing process.
Aeroponics is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment without the use of soil. Unlike hydroponics, which uses a liquid nutrient solution as a growing medium and essential minerals to sustain plant growth, aeroponics is conducted without a growing medium.
Working on a solution
Indoor Harvest, Corp. (INQD) is a Houston based developmental company focused on creating vertical farming solutions.
On September 18, 2013, Indoor Harvest entered into a material transfer agreement with Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s media lab. The company provided their aeroponic system to MITCityFarm, a research initiative at the MIT media lab. The lab is exploring the technological, environmental, social, and economic design of scalable systems that can produce affordable and high quality food.
On December 18, 2014, Indoor Harvest entered into a cannabis production pilot agreement with Tweed Marijuana (TWD: CVE) (TWMJF: OTC). Tweed will test Indoor Harvest’s aeroponic system to see if it can successfully cultivate cannabis. At the end of the study, Tweed has the option to utilize Indoor Harvest’s technology.
Outlook
Mushroomstocks does not believe that cannabis cultivation is the main party to blame for California’s drought. The state has the highest population in the United States, which means they require the most food and water. More significantly, forty percent of our produce is grown in California. Home to some of the largest produce and vegetable fields in the world, which require a lot of water on a daily basis.
Indoor Harvest‘s aeroponic growing system could be a game changer for the farming and cannabis industry. Indoor Harvest is focused on vertical farming because they believe that it maximizes plant yield in a more efficient manner. Vertical farming may be the future of growing and Indoor Harvest has the opportunity to be a part of it.
Disclosures
Mushroomstocks LLC is not a FINRA member firm. Mushroomstocks LLC is responsible for the preparation and distribution of research created in the United States. Mushroomstocks LLC is located at 40 SW 13th St. Suite 1002, Miami, FL 33130.
Technical 420 LLC, and any of its directors, officers, employees, affiliates, or subsidiaries does not accept any form of compensation from companies in return for writing reports on them. Also Technical 420 LLC, and any of its directors, officers, employees, affiliates, or subsidiaries do not hold any stock positions in companies covered by MushroomstocksLLC.
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