An Inside Look at an Important CEA Market Segment 

As seen in many of today’s markets, the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry is often shaped by the advent of new technologies. As the leading CEA recruiting agency, M&F Talent explores ways that new technologies influence business growth and career opportunities in the industry. 

From time to time, the team at M&F Talent enjoys writing thought leadership blogs that expand beyond the realm of staffing and recruiting. The blogs generally touch on other important topics in the industry such as new technologies and production methods. For this piece, the M&F Talent marketing team reached out to  Silver Bullet Water Treatment and GrowGeneration to get a better understanding of how new water treatment technologies are shaping the greater food production landscape. 

Silver Bullet Water Treatment is a Colorado-based company that offers water filtration and treatment technologies for farmers. Their CEA division is spearheaded by the VP of Horticulture Kyle Lisabeth. GrowGeneration is the biggest retail hydro store chain in the United States, with over 50 locations. Frank Hegardt is their Commercial Accounts Manager, as well as their water filtration expert. Both Lisabeth and Hegardt were very helpful in getting us up-to-speed on the latest developments in water technology for CEA production. 

Thought Leadership in the CEA Staffing Space 

Due to the technical nature of the market, only certain staffing agencies can handle the rigors of working in a specialized field like CEA. Yet, if a recruiter isn’t knowledgeable about the industries where they work, it is very difficult for them to find qualified candidates. This notion is only exacerbated with complex technologies such as commercial water treatment systems.  

The team M&F Talent is well-respected for thought leadership in our field. Whether it be publishing articles in magazines like Maximum Yield or taking part in panel discussions at tradeshows like Indoor AgCon, the industry trusts our opinions and insights. We enjoy speaking with companies like Silver Bullet Water Treatment and GrowGeneration about new developments in the market. 

Just as seen with previous innovations like LED grow lights, new CEA water technology is progressing the industry in new and interesting ways. Today, innovative water treatment and filtration companies are working tirelessly to give CEA growers better water quality. Even more, by focusing on important issues with water usage, they are helping establish new environmental standards for CEA production. 

How Has CEA Water Technology Changed?

Agricultural water technology has changed dramatically over the last two decades. This change is partly attributable to different focuses on crop choice. As Lisabeth tells us, “20 years ago, plants being grown in controlled environment agriculture infrastructure focused on flowers and select fruits and vegetables.” With such different aims, people of that era were not as concerned with water quality as, say, hydro leafy greens growers are today. Hegardt further elaborates, stating, that back then “agricultural water application standards were definitely lacking testing and procedure.” 

The evolution of technology has greatly influenced water filtration and treatment in CEA. Just a couple of decades ago, greenhouse water tech looked much different than it does today. According to Lisabeth, 20 years ago “simple bag and sand media filtration systems were used to remove large solids. [Yet], there was little concern with dissolved contaminants like metals or chemical residuals, and no one was using RO filtration systems” Obviously, with even the smallest CEA farms today using advanced testing, RO systems, and automated fertigation, things have changed quite a bit. 

As new water treatment technology has advanced, so have corresponding career opportunities in the CEA industry. Today, water filtration and treatment businesses employ a wide array of talented professionals – including researchers, engineers, and salespeople. 

Government Regulation

Innovations with new CEA water technology are also tied to government regulations. As we come to learn more about the importance of clean water, new rules are set in place to protect consumers as well as the environment. Hegardt puts it this way, “In 2011, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was passed. This act made water testing mandatory. Such as testing of water quality at the source, testing for sterile equipment, testing runoff, and a 10-year source evaluation.” 

With new regulations in place, comprehensive water management companies like Silver Bullet Water Treatment have engineered new technologies and established best management practices to help ensure a constant supply of clean water. Lisabeth explains, “As water supplies began to decline, competition for water resources rose, and energy costs influenced irrigation type and management. While treatment technologies began to come online, so did sensor-based data systems, autonomous management, and micro-irrigation systems.” 

Interestingly, as certain regions start to grow more competitive for available water sources, new technologies are helping with conservation efforts. In some instances, CEA operations use water more efficiently, while others might treat and reuse grey water. 

The Importance of Water Testing

Today, water quality is considered one of the most important factors in running a successful CEA operation. Yet, more goes into it than simply filtering or treating your water. A large part of CEA water tech is dedicated to testing. Hergardt feels adamantly “Having knowledge of your water quality is crucial to your growing success. It is the key to life.” Lisabeth is in agreement here, explaining “It is critical to understand what constituents are in water and how they will impact the intended use. Some are pathogenic or toxic to plants, others may not be compatible with nutrient recipes, and still, others may cause excessive maintenance issues.” 

Especially for large-scale, commercial producers, monitoring water quality is a very important job that happens daily. When it comes to hydroponic systems, even the smallest shift in PH or PPM can have catastrophic consequences on a crop. It’s no wonder that cultivation technicians dedicate a portion of their workday to testing water. 

What Happens if a CEA Producer Ignores Water Quality?

Both GrowGeneration and Silver Bullet Water Treatment have clients whose crops have suffered because they were complacent with water filtration and treatment. Hergardt illustrates, “It is key to have professional water testing done so you know what your base levels are. After that, you assess what purification system is suited to your specific needs.” Without such careful protocol, crop health can quickly decline.

Lisabeth recalls a client who “had been operating for about 3 years and had no form of sanitation or shock treatment abilities.” In time, they “began to see fluctuations in PH.” They brought Silver Bullet Water Treatment to the operation and discovered the “irrigation plumbing showed excessive amounts of biofilm accumulation, which required extensive rework to resolve.” 

Simply put, no CEA producer could survive and thrive without a quality water source fueling its operation. Water is a critical resource for CEA farms that must be both cared for and protected. As such, clean water is one piece of the puzzle in creating a sustainable CEA business and keeping people employed. 

The Environmental Benefits of New CEA Water Technology

Beyond helping growers, new CEA water technology and best management practices also are helping curb issues with environmental degradation. Lisabeth explains it like this, “CEA will continue to be put under a microscope. These farms are seen as energy and water-intensive, and it will be up to the industry as a whole to prove otherwise.  Fortunately, efficient use of water and several water recycling options exist for CEA farms. Silver Bullet sees water monitoring, auditing, and water footprint being key data metrics that every farm monitors moving forward.” 

In an interesting turn of events, advancements in CEA water technology are paying serious dividends well beyond the business world. As the global population continues to grow, water treatment technology will likely play a pivotal role in conserving and sharing resources. 

Summary

As crop producers continue to revise their methods, we see an increased interest in new CEA water technology. Importantly, growers now realize the importance of knowing exactly what is in their water. In the end, you could have the best nutrient formula on earth, but it won’t pay out if your PPM and EC levels are off the charts. In turn, you simply can’t have a profitable CEA business without a reliable water source. 

In today’s CEA market, companies like GrowGeneration and Silver Bullet are working together to educate the public on the importance of clean water. In doing so, Lisabeth and Hergardt also work tirelessly to promote the technologies and best management practices that help CEA producers, while also protecting the environment. With an array of options for new CEA water technology on the market, ranging from commercial reverse osmosis systems to cloud-based crop monitoring, the future is looking quite interesting. 

As clean water becomes an increasingly important topic in the CEA industry, it will be interesting to see how this market segmentation will impact future jobs. More than likely, we will see a rising need for CEA water system specialists like engineers, technicians, and salespeople. 

Interested in New CEA Water Technology? Talk to M&F Talent

 As the foremost recruiting service in the CEA industry, the team at M&F Talent pays close attention to the latest technological innovations in the market. Contact us to discuss how new CEA technologies impact job growth. 

Business Insights on the Indoor Farming & CEA Industry

The entire controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry is based on the propagation of different crops in vertical farms and greenhouses. As thought leaders, M&F Talent wanted to shed some light on business practices, opportunities, and challenges that come with growing the most popular controlled environment agriculture crops.

In the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry, people fuse modern technology with biological systems to produce crops in new and unique ways. From sophisticated crop management software to massive greenhouse operations, growers use diverse technologies to produce the most popular controlled environment agriculture crops. 

Whether it be food crops like leafy greens or those with medicinal properties like cannabis, each type of crop has its own nutritional and environmental needs. For these reasons, the most popular controlled environment crops are often those that can most easily be grown. Nonetheless, some CEA producers are looking at specialty crops like saffron to drive bigger profits with more valuable harvests. 

Thought Leadership in Horticulture Business Recruiting

Only certain staffing agencies can be successful doing recruitment in specialized industries like horticulture. Simply put, the better a recruiting agency understands how their client’s businesses work, the better job they can do placing top talent. It’s for reasons such as this that M&F Talent takes great pride in being thought leaders in the horticulture business. Not only are our recruiters interested in the methods, technology, and structure of CEA organizations, but we also believe in the environmental benefits of this industry.

To educate our network on the importance of the CEA industry in global food production, we publish occasional thought leadership blogs that highlight the inner workings of the market.

1. Leafy Greens

In recent years, leafy greens have risen to the top of the CEA industry as the most frequently grown type of crop. According to the Agritecture website, “in our 2021 Global CEA Census, we found that the most significant percentage of respondents (CEA growers) grow leafy greens – 58% reported growing salad greens like lettuce and arugula, while 40% reported growing other leafy greens like chard, kale, and cabbage.” 

A big reason that leafy greens are one of the most popular controlled environment agriculture crops is that they are easy to grow in tight spaces. Since plants like lettuce and arugula are short in stature and grow quickly, they work great in the tight confines of vertical farms. As Agrictechture again explains, “vertical farms produce more than 35x times as many leafy greens [in the same amount of space] as traditional soil-based farms.”

Since leafy greens tend to spoil quickly, growing them locally in CEA farms helps lessen spoilage by reducing shipping times.

2. Vine Plants

Vine plants such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers are immensely popular controlled environment agriculture crops. In fact, about 25% of all CEA farms in 2022 grow vine plant crops of some sort. In fact, in the earlier days of the CEA industry, tomatoes were the #1 crop – with 46% of all producers in 2014 growing tomatoes of some sort.

As the CEA business continues to expand, hydroponic tomatoes are slowly replacing soil-grown tomatoes as the new standard in supermarkets and restaurants. While this is doubtlessly exciting for CEA producers, Cobank explains, it should be noted that “a few large companies dominate this very competitive high-volume, low-margin market. Although the exact current hydroponic tomato acreage is unknown, it is estimated that the five largest growers hold about two-thirds of U.S. tomato acres.” As seen in most industries, efficiency is key in edging out the competition in the hydroponic tomato market. 

3. Strawberries

In recent years, strawberries have become increasingly popular controlled environment agriculture crops. This is due largely to the fact that there is a massive market demand for strawberries with an increasingly health-conscious public. To this end, Kroptek explains, “global strawberry production has grown by over 5% every year” in the past 10 years. This figure includes both CEA and traditional farming. 

In certain regions like Alaska with short growing seasons, grocers are forced to import their entire strawberry supply. Due to poor cultivation practices in other countries as well as shipping times, the quality of imported strawberries is often quite poor. This situation, as explained by Greenhouse Canada, “leaves more opportunity for local greenhouse strawberry production” where CEA crops only take “24 hours to reach store shelves.” 

4. Herbs

Fresh herbs are another important new crop for CEA growers. Whether it be oregano, mint, thyme, or basil, experts estimate about 53% of all CEA operations grow some type of fresh herbs. A big reason that herbs are such popular controlled environment agriculture crops is due to their short stature and quick growing season. To illustrate, small basil plants are easy to grow with shelving systems in verticals and greenhouses. 

According to the Michigan State University website, “growing fresh culinary herbs in controlled environments offers a multitude of benefits, including less environmental impact by reducing inputs, the ability for year-round production, and offering high-quality, flavorful and nutritious foods.” Not only is growing fresh herbs in CEA farms more environmentally responsible, but the farm-to-table movement has created a huge demand for these fresh ingredients.

5. Cannabis

While in a slightly different league than other CEA crops, cannabis has always been important to the industry. In fact, much of the technology in use for CEA food production today was originally designed for cannabis growers. From high-powered grow lights to complex atmospheric controllers, you can trace most of this technology back to the early days of cannabis.

As cannabis legalization spreads across the globe, its value as a CEA crop simply cannot be ignored. According to the industry news source MJ Biz Daily, the “combined U.S. medical and recreational cannabis sales could reach $33 billion by the end of 2022, largely driven by the opening of new adult-use markets.” Yet, the cannabis market has proven quite volatile thus far, and only a few select producers have figured out how to turn a profit in this challenging industry. 

Summary

It’s interesting to see the amount of change the CEA industry has undergone over the past decade. While tomatoes were originally the “go-to” crop for CEA producers, things have quickly shifted towards leafy greens. Primarily because leafy greens are easy to grow and have a massive market demand. Not to mention, the short shelf life of crops like lettuce and chard put local CEA growers at an advantage over industrial operations that must import harvests. 

While you can’t deny the incredible opportunities in cannabis, it seems that most cultivation companies still have a ways to go in figuring out exactly how to be profitable. Nonetheless, cannabis will certainly remain an important CEA crop, with much innovation surrounding technical developments for indoor and greenhouse growing. 

As we again look back at the CEA space 10 years from now, there is no doubt that things will again look much different than they once did. 

Questions About Popular Controlled Environment Agriculture Crops?

While the team at M&F Talent takes great pride in being exceptional horticulture recruiters, we are also passionate thought leaders in our fields of expertise. Not only does this approach aid us in locating top talent for our clients, but also gives us better insight into market trends and business opportunities.

If you have questions about recruiting top talent or working in the CEA industry, Contact Us today! 

There are many ways that controlled environment agriculture is good for the environment. In today’s society, we have become totally dependent on industrial agriculture to provide our food sources. While these food production systems have been invaluable in the advancement of the world as we know it, industrial agriculture now doing harm to the environment.

In the CEA industry of today, engineers and horticulturists have worked tirelessly to fuse cutting-edge technologies with crop production methods. In doing so, they have created some of the most sustainable agricultural practices ever known. Whether it be the efficient use of space or less fossil fuel consumption, CEA shows real promise in curbing many of our greatest environmental problems. 

As the leading staffing agency in the CEA space, M&F Talent is honored to be a part of an industry with the potential to do so much good in the world. As such, we put together this brief exploration into how controlled environment agriculture is good for the environment.

Problems with Traditional Farming Methods 

Before you can really appreciate how beneficial CEA is for the environment, you must understand problems with traditional farming methods. While practices like monocropping might not have been a big deal in the early days of industrial agriculture, such approaches can have a major impact over time. 

Some of the most notable problems with traditional farming methods include: 

• Water consumption
• Land usage
• Soil degradation
• Pollution of waterways & oceans
• Food transportation
• Disruption of the carbon cycle

As CEA technology and methods continue to advance, we are learning more about how controlled environmental agriculture can help protect the earth. 

Water Usage & CEA Growing  

One of the biggest concerns with traditional agriculture is the amount of water that is consumed by industrial farms. Incredibly, “on average, farms around the world account for 70% of all water that is consumed annually. Of that 70% used by farmers, 40% is lost to the environment due to poor irrigation systems, evaporation, and overall poor water management.” 

With CEA production, engineers have devised recirculating hydroponics systems where no water is wasted. In another example, greenhouses trap condensation and recirculate it back into the irrigation water. 

Use of Space & Vertical Farming   

Traditional farms require massive amounts of acreage to produce crops. In an incredible statistic from National Geographic Magazine, “40 percent of the Earth’s land is now given over to agriculture.” 

With vertical farms and greenhouse gardens, producers are able to stack rows of crops on top of one another. By building upwards instead of outwards, vertical farms use space more efficiently than any type of agriculture in human history. Even better, indoor gardens and greenhouses can easily be built within cityscapes to produce food all year round. 

How CEA Growing Helps the Soil   

It is well-known that industrial farms use excessive amounts of fertilizer to produce crops. In time, fertilizers and salts build up in the soil to the point of rendering it unproductive. After the damage is done, it takes many years for such soil to regain its original bio-productivity. 

By growing crops hydroponically, CEA operations don’t add any chemicals into the soil. Even better, because nutrients are delivered directly to the roots of plants in hydroponic growing, far fewer fertilizers are used in the first place.  

Protecting Waterways with CEA   

Water pollution is one of the biggest problems with traditional agriculture. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “nutrients can wash into aquatic ecosystems. There they can cause algae blooms, which can … kill fish by removing oxygen from the water.” 

As seen with soil degradation, creating crop production methods that are better insulated from local ecosystems is a great way to protect the environment. If you don’t add fertilizers to the ground in the first place, there is no way they can make it into local waterways. 

The Environmental Benefits of Locally Produced Food   

In today’s global society, crops are grown on massive farms which then ship products around the world. Not only does this system wind up delivering foods that aren’t very fresh, but we also burn massive amounts of fossil fuels shipping things like avocados around the globe. 

CEA production fits nicely with the new farm-to-table movement. Because CEA allows you to grow fresh crops anywhere on earth during any season, we no longer have to ship food such long distances. As such, CEA eliminates the need to burn fossil fuels to transport food such long distances. 

Summary   

Controlled environment agriculture is an incredible industry. By taking cutting-edge technology and fusing it with biological processes, scientists have created entirely novel ways to produce food crops. Not only does CEA production help us get fresh food easier, but it also has the potential to help us solve some of our most significant environmental issues. 

Talk to Mac & Fulton Talent Partners Today! 

At M&F Talent, we are lucky enough to work as recruiters in an industry with so much potential to do good. It will be interesting to see how the CEA industry grows and evolves over the coming years. 

Please contact info@mandfconsultants.com to learn more about our recruiting services. 

Technological Trends for Controlled Environment Agriculture

The controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry is only possible with the equipment that powers greenhouses, indoor gardens, and vertical farms. As top recruiters in the CEA space, M&F Talent takes great pride in staying up to speed on the latest technological trends in the industry. 

CEA horticulture is predicated on creating artificial environments where plants thrive. Whether it be a fertigation system or atmospheric controller, these artificial environments come to life by carefully orchestrating different pieces of CEA technology. 

CEA Thought Leadership: Equipment for Vertical Farms

To provide our clients with the best possible service, the recruiters at M&F Talent understand the key pieces of equipment for vertical farms. Moreover, we enjoy sharing our knowledge of the CEA space as thought leaders in this field.  

Equipment for vertical farms has come a long way in the past couple of decades. Whether you are growing food crops or cannabis, your choices of cultivation equipment are critical to the success of your vertical farming operation. 

For indoor growers, cultivation technology not only affects the overhead of your operation but also influences operating costs  – especially concerning electricity. More importantly, in choosing the correct vertical farming technology, you will create the optimal environment for plant growth. When it comes time to harvest, careful choices during the planning and acquisition phase will have a positive impact on your bottom line. 

Horticultural Lighting 

No matter what type of crops you are producing at your vertical farm, LED lights are the best choice for this type of indoor gardening. 

When compared to other popular grow lights such as HPS lights, LEDs do not produce very much heat when operated. Therefore, LED lights are the perfect match for the tight confines of stacked shelving in vertical farms. Please note, it would be impossible to run a vertical farm with HPS or MH lights. They would produce far too much heat for such a tight space. 

While LED lights are expensive to purchase, they use far less electricity than other popular grow lights. Even more, they run for an extremely long time and don’t need to be replaced often. As such, LED lights quickly pay themselves off when used on a commercial scale. 

Notable example: Fluence Bioengineering SPYDR 2 Series 

Environmental Controls  

When growing plants indoors, your primary goal is to mimic the outdoor conditions where your target crop thrives. The achieve the ideal environmental equilibrium, vertical farms utilize a variety of environmental control technologies. These different pieces of equipment work in unison to regulate heat, humidity, and CO2 levels within a vertical farm.

Common types of environmental controls include:

• HVAC systems 
• Environmental controllers (brains) 
• Carbon filters
• Inline fans
• Sensors 
• Garden management software 
• Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers 

Your choice of environmental control technology will change with the size and scope of your operation. Even more, you must account for the demands of the region within which you are setting up your vertical farm. 

Notable example: Link4 iPonic Commercial Controller 

Irrigation Systems 

Beyond lighting and environmental considerations, how you are going to water and feed your plants is the next critical thing to figure out for your vertical farm. Modern irrigation systems are set up to work with both recirculating and drain-to-waste hydroponic setups. Similarly, vertical farms often integrate fertigation systems with container gardens.

According to the Growspan website, “Fertigation is simply the practice of applying fertilizer via an irrigation system. Utilizing a system allows growers to reduce labor, and the dissolved nutrients that are distributed throughout the system are easily directed at and absorbed by the crops, so there is less waste. By integrating fertigation into an operation, growers can improve their yields and boost their profits.” Importantly, fertigation gives you precision control of watering, while also greatly reducing labor costs with automation. 

Notable example: Dosatron Technology 

Vertical Grow Racks  

Vertical grow racks provide the infrastructure for vertical farming operations. With vertical grow racks, you can grow rows of crops stacked on top of one another. Due to these ingenious setups, vertical farming operations are the most spatially efficient type of agriculture in the world!

Vertical grow racks are often built on wheels or rollers so they can be moved. With movable racks, rows of crops can be positioned so workers can closely inspect plants. Doing so gives you the ability to carefully comb over your crops for pathogens, bugs, diseases, and deficiencies. 

The best vertical grow racks are designed specifically for vertical farming and can handle the pressures of an indoor garden without rusting or deteriorating. 

Notable example: Pipp Horticulture Mobile Storage Systems 

Talk to M&F Talent Today!  

Looking at the CEA job market, it’s obvious that new equipment for vertical farms directly impacts recruiting and hiring practices. At the top technical recruiters in the CEA industry, M&F Talent has a long list of clients in the agriculture technology space. We also have a talent pool of leading CEA candidates in leadership, sales, and engineering positions. 

Contact us to learn more! 

Philosophical Debates in the Horticulture Industry

The modern horticulture space comprises diverse organizations and professionals who all contribute to the forward progression of the industry. Yet, with so many different technologies and practices, horticulturists occasionally diverge into distinct schools of thought. 

Looking at modern gardening, preferences between soil and hydroponic growing have come to create distinct vantage points from which these schools of thought view the world. To this end, a sharp divergence has arisen in what individuals consider “organic” between these two methodologies. 

Horticulture Thought Leadership

Since the recruiters at M&F Talent work hands-on with leading horticulturists, we are lucky enough to discuss interesting topics like the organic hydroponics debate with our network. Even more, we enjoy sharing such compelling arguments with industry peers. 

Most people’s worldviews are shaped by their experiences – perhaps nowhere is this fact more evident than in the organic hydroponics debate. As will be seen, both soil growers and hydroponic cultivators feel their methods should be considered organic according to contemporary standards and processes found in the natural world. 

The Debate on Organic Hydroponics

The United States is one of the few countries in the world that allows for the organic certification of hydroponically grown produce. Yet, for many organic soil growers, USDA approval is not enough to convince them that a crop is truly organic. In fact, the USDA’s choice to back hydroponics growers with organic certifications seems to spread paranoia through a community already steeped in mistrust of the government and big agriculture.

In an era inundated with controversy in food production – including the bullish tactics of GMO supporting mega-corporations like Monsanto – it’s not a surprise that traditional organic farmers are skeptical about hydroponics. To this end, groups like the Organic Farmers Association have made it one of their goals to discredit the organic distinction of hydroponics.

The hydroponics organic debate is being waged on a battlefield field already inundated with frustration. In this dynamic, it is all too easy to overlook what science and the natural world tell us about concepts like organics. After all, isn’t Mother Nature herself 100% organic?

Hydroponic Cultivation

Hydroponic enthusiasts purport that by fusing technology with food production, they can help curb the global food crisis. Most notably, hydroponics is an essential element in urban agriculture, where forward-looking horticulturists are transforming cityscapes from “food deserts” to vibrant agricultural centers.

The scientific argument behind hydroponics cultivation is intimately tied to environmentalism and conservation. To this end, advocates of hydroponics cultivation assert that their methods are in fact more ecologically friendly than soil-based growing. Namely because, with careful controls on inputs and outputs in their systems, hydroponics growers can produce crops with little-to-no wasted water. Also, advanced operations like vertical farms utilize far less square footage to produce crops than see with traditional soil farms.

Soil Growing

For many organic enthusiasts, the use of soil for cultivation is the only way to produce organically grown foods. Mainly because, soil growers generally mimic how plants are grown in the natural world. With organic soil cultivation (as in nature), essential plant processes occur in a dynamic community of living organisms within the soil and biosphere. As such, plants grow among a symphony of life in the fields and forests, where complex systems of microorganisms and animals interact to stimulate growth.

From a scientific standpoint, soil growers assert that hydroponics growing lacks the complexity of life present in the natural world – rendering the practice inorganic. According to Linley Dixon, Chief Scientist for the Cornucopia Institute, “the soul … of organics isn’t just about the singular crop: it’s about the ecosystem, the environment, and the planet. Proper soil-based organics ensure healthy soil for generations, allows for thriving communities of beneficial insects, and, in turn, an entire ecosystem around them.”

Organic Certification

The debate occurring between soil and hydro growers stems largely from the USDA’s organic certification process. According to the USDA website, “Overall, organic operations must demonstrate that they are protecting natural resources, conserving biodiversity, and only using approved substances.” Within this regulatory schematic, they state that “[s]ynthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used” in organic operations.

From the information provided by the USDA in their accreditation process, both hydroponics and soil growers can lay claim to the organic certification. Yet, within this debate, the confusion doesn’t really lie with what sorts of fertilizers or sprays are being used to produce organic crops. Rather, the divergence is ideological, as both parties feel they are honoring the ecological stipulations set forth by the USDA. To illustrate, hydroponic growers feel their water conversation efforts set forth in “protecting natural resources” while soil growers feel their practices defend the “biodiversity” present in the natural world.

What Does Mother Nature Say about Organic Hydroponics?

While the USDA’s views on organic certification are doubtlessly helpful in picking out key points in the hydroponics organics debate, it can’t be argued that nature is the standard in understanding the concept of organics. Therefore, looking for hydroponic plant growth in the natural world offers a viable way of demystifying this convoluted debate. As such, if plants grow hydroponically in nature, mustn’t the process be considered organic?

The defining characteristic of hydroponics is that of growing plants in nutrient-rich water, as opposed to soil. It goes without saying, that this practice stands in stark contradiction to soil cultivation, where earthen materials provide support for a plant’s root system, as well as vital nutrients. Nonetheless, by using hydroponics to grow plants, cultivators are not necessarily creating an unnatural phenomenon.

There are several edible plant species that grow exclusively in bodies of water. These “natural hydroponic” plants include wild rice, watercress, water spinach, wasabi, Chinese water chestnut, water caltrop, taro, cattail, and bulrush. Moreover, the water systems where these plants grow are often ecosystems unto themselves – offering the “biodiversity” so cherished by proponents of organic soil growing.

In looking at natural systems in lakes, ponds, and rivers, aquaponics takes the next step in developing self-sustaining ecosystems in hydroponics growing. In the mini biospheres created by aquaponic growers, fish waste provides nutrients to crops. In turn, both fish and plants are harvested as food sources.

Unlike industrial farming, where an astounding amount of energy and materials go into producing crops, aquaponics farms are known as “closed-loop” systems. Because, they don’t require any additional energy inputs (fertilizer, water, etc.) to continue to produce both foods from both fish and plants.

With such things as biodiversity, organic soil cultivators do their best to mimic the cycles of mother nature. However, can’t the same be said about aquaponics growers? Even more, soil growing is defined by large mono-crop fields of plants that have often been transplanted from the other side of the globe. To illustrate, “organic” potatoes are grown in massive farms in the central valleys of Colorado, even though these tubers are originally found in South America. Is this arrangement of plant life more “natural” or “organic” than an aquaponics operation where tilapia waste feeds lettuce greens? In the end, these questions simply boil down to preference and taste.

Summary: Organic Hydroponics and Soil Growing

The organic hydroponics debate is an offshoot of a larger question facing humankind: what is our place in the natural world? There is no easy answer to this question. Our ability to manipulate natural systems is a result of our capacity for rational thought. As such, organic hydroponics debate is largely philosophical in nature. In this debate, we are essentially assessing the place of rationality in the natural world. Mankind’s propensity to alter the “natural order of things” has developed these confusing global food systems, as well as mono-crop fields, hydroponics growing, and genetically modified foods.

In reality, all commercial farms utilize technology to manipulate nature. Through this lens, a mono-crop field of soil-grown potatoes is no more “natural” than an aquaponics operation. Moving forward, and following the lead of mother nature herself, soil and hydroponics growers should be focusing on their similarities instead of differences. Within this exchange, biodiversity is a great starting point. With more educated respect for one another’s practices, perhaps these two groups can work together to solve important issues related to world hunger, natural foods, and basic nutrition.

Looking for a Career in Hydroponics or Horticulture?

As a top recruiting service, M&F Talent enjoys engaging in thought leadership topics like the organic hydroponics debate. To get the best horticulture recruitment help, you’re well advised to only work with the most knowledgeable and experienced agencies. 

Contact us to discuss your next job search! 

Technology Highlight: AI and Controlled Environment Agriculture

In the rapidly evolving world of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), technology continues to play a central role in improving the efficiency and scalability of food production. Among the most promising innovations is Artificial Intelligence (AI), which has the potential to revolutionize horticulture by automating tasks traditionally performed by human labor. As thought leaders in the horticulture recruitment sector, M&F Talent explores how AI is shaping the future of CEA and the opportunities it presents for businesses and growers alike.

CEA and Technology

As both a process and vocation, CEA is intimately entwined with technology. As CEA gets increasingly sophisticated through technological advancements, how these developments will affect horticultural processes, and in turn, world food supplies, remains largely unknown. At the forefront of new frontiers in Controlled Environment Agriculture technology lies Artificial Intelligence (AI). This technology can potentially alter the way in which humankind procures fresh produce, largely by replacing human labor with mechanized production.

We live in a world increasingly dependent upon, and defined by technology. This notion rings true in almost every facet of day-to-day life in the twenty-first century. Similarly, for those living in the Western world, this same technology contributes to meeting our general human needs. Case in point, food is readily available for most people at grocery stores within just a short drive. Yet, our current food subsistence patterns are far from infallible. Similarly, the cultivation technology that made commercial agriculture possible is falling short on several fronts. These shortcomings are evident in pesticide and preservative-laden food sources. The same can be said about the hungry human populations in less fortunate regions of the globe.

Over the last few decades, CEA production has grown leaps and bounds in its scale and capabilities. To this end, many feel that CEA practices such as urban agriculture and vertical farming will eventually help resolve global food crises. This positive outlook is largely attributable to technological advancements in “smart” environmental controls and horticultural lighting. This cultivation technology has helped make CEA production viable, as well as profitable, on a commercial scale for the first time. Along this line of thought, sophisticated irrigation systems have also drastically reduced the amount of human labor required to propagate crops. For many CEA advocates and technology authorities, AI is the next phase in streamlining and sophisticating horticulture procedures as well as global subsistence patterns.

Why Artificial Intelligence in Controlled Environment Agriculture Technology?

There are several reasons why AI has so much potential in the world of CEA. At this point, automation is already an essential element in most CEA growing, its benefits are related to both consistency and efficiency in operations. To illustrate, smart controllers take much of the guesswork out of troubleshooting environmental issues, while fertigation  systems accomplish irrigation in a controlled and effective fashion. Nonetheless, AI has the capabilities to take these advancements even further.

Technology authorities postulate that AI can potentially circumvent human interaction with horticultural processes and garden maintenance almost in their entirety. To illustrate, according to the website Ag Funder News, “Hypothetically, it is possible for machines to learn to solve any problem on earth relating to the physical interaction of all things within a defined or contained environment…by using artificial intelligence and machine learning.” The important take away here is the idea that AI systems can actually learn, as well as make choices based upon, the objective constraints which dictate rational human decision making. Concerning both production and labor, this avant garde theory pushes notions of CEA automation to their absolute extremes. Because, this AI learning concept postulates that robots would actually be at the controls of environmental and irrigation systems that currently require human intervention in the way of fine tuning and decision making . In essence, this somewhat futuristic idea sets forth that AI could circumvent human error from these processes by removing the human labor needed to grow CEA crops.

While these ultramodern appraisals of AI and CEA cultivation can seem somewhat alarming, many see a real potential benefit in the technology. Because, humans are traditionally, well, undependable. This notion is heightened in more arduous, seasonal facets of CEA growing, where the industry is traditionally plagued by labor shortages in jobs that aren’t very attractive to even the most entry-level employees.

Many companies (in CEA and beyond) understand the struggles of finding dependable help for their businesses, with tech retail giant Amazon currently employing over 40,000 robots in its warehouse operations. In like fashion, there are several robots being developed that can handle more rudimentary CEA garden chores such as leaf pruning. When it comes to AI learning applications and higher-level jobs in CEA, it’s worth noting that even the most rudimentary human error in fertilization or irrigation can have devastating effects on crops. Large vertical farming companies such as Bowery are aware of this notion, and are currently implementing AI help in certain important facets of their operations. As such, Bowery has come to at least partially depend on the cutting-edge of AI technology as they integrate “machine learning” into their processes of environmental controls and plant care.

 Cultivation Technology, Sensors, and Data Analytics  

AI applications in CEA and beyond are entirely data driven. Within these systems, machines both gather and use information as the basis of machine learning. This sort of remote sensing, data compiling technology is already widely popular in more advanced CEA operations. This notion is especially ture regarding soil and air sensors. These controlled environment agriculture technology advancements are used to measure moisture levels in grow mediums, as well as temperature and humidity levels in the air. To this end, they give cultivators real-time updates on the working analytics of their operations.

Commercial agriculture operations are taking notions of remote sensors and data analytics to their extreme by way of drone sensing. To illustrate, some commercial farms use drones to fly over fields of crops and take precise readings of growth patterns and environmental conditions. This data informs agriculturists, in actual-time, what sort of elements their garden is lacking or burdened with. This inf allows them to make pro-active decisions in counteracting any potential problems. For the time being, drone technology in commercial agriculture is still being utilized to inform rational decision making in the human mind. However, many feel these processes will be integral with informing data matrices in the machine learning of AI technology.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Potential advances, as well as drawbacks, for AI applications in CEA can be drawn from current mainstream research To again look to the Ag Funder News website, they report: “Interviews with some of the IBM project team members … revealed that the team believed it was entirely possible to ‘algorithm’ agriculture, meaning that algorithms could solve any problem in the world.” While IBM’s claims are doubtlessly grandiose and positivistic in nature, they are not entirely unreasonable. To illustrate, major computer tech companies, such as Google and Pandora, already utilize algorithms to isolate relevant data, make decisions, and finally cater to human needs. However, all these algorithmic applications depend upon objectively derived, predictable points of data in informing the machine learning process.

When it comes to creating algorithms for agriculture, researchers have been running into countless problems. These issues all stem from the unpredictability of the natural world. To illustrate, there are countless variables that contribute to weather patterns around the globe. Moreover, the nuances of these factors are far beyond the scope of human understanding. This notion is relevant because, humankind cannot program machines to learn about environmental systems that we don’t yet understand. Also, AI cannot make the critical step in accounting for anomalous factors in weather. As such, our technology is only as strong as the data that we supply it with via our own, human-derived knowledge.

Issues with environmental predictability that plague AI applications in traditional agriculture may not seem to effect CEA production as intensely. However, there are still factors which make AI fall short in controlling CEA growing in its entirety. For instance, many greenhouse gardens are still largely at the mercy of mother nature and present challenges with anomalous weather patterns. In a similar fashion, indoor gardening operations experience problems with such irregularities as equipment failure and power outages. Needless to say, at this point, only human intervention can rectify these issues.

Summary on Controlled Environment Agriculture Technology and AI 

 CEA crop production is only as strong as the equipment and human labor that supports it. The balance between these two variables continues to shift under the pressures of new advancements with technology such as AI. This notion presents an interesting crux in modern cultivation processes, as automation can provide a more efficient platform for consistency than seen with human labor. However, machines cannot account for the rhythms of the natural world or other operational variances. Along this line of thought, many accomplished horticulturists understand the “intuitive touch” it takes to produce exceptional crops. This intuition comes as a feeling rather than as a form of objective knowledge or data. All things considered, AI and other advancements in Controlled Environment Agriculture technology seem to have their place in today’s horticultural processes. However, this tech still cannot yet match the capacity for creativity explicit in the human mind.

Work with M&F Talent to Stay Ahead in CEA

At M&F Talent, we specialize in recruiting top-tier talent for industries on the cutting edge of innovation, like controlled environment agriculture. If you’re looking to integrate advanced AI solutions and need industry experts to guide the process, our deep industry knowledge positions us as your ideal recruitment partner.

Contact M&F Talent today to find the right talent for your growing needs!

Market Insights on High-Tech Innovations in Indoor Growing

Indoor growing has evolved dramatically over the past few decades, with new technologies constantly shaping the way crops are cultivated in controlled environments. As thought leaders in the horticultural and agriculture recruiting sectors, M&F Talent highlights the latest high-tech tools that are driving the future of indoor growing. With the rapid advancement of tools and techniques, indoor growers must adopt a forward-thinking mindset when selecting the best cultivation technologies to enhance both efficiency and sustainability. 

Much of this equipment seeks to alleviate the guesswork and labor related to horticulture and cannabis cultivation. To this end, interestingly, a new cultivation technology can influence and shape one’s approach to horticulture in its entirety. As such, there is a creative “give and take” occurring between engineers and growers in the horticulture field. Within this exchange, innovations of the past inform processes of today. Yet, how this exchange will eventually come to fruition with controlled environment agriculture is anyone’s guess. Also, many more “traditional” growers see indoor gardening as an organic process, not a predictable, controlled science.

At M&F Talent, we explore the innovative equipment and software that are reshaping controlled environment agriculture (CEA), offering insights into how these technologies can transform growing operations.

Grow Room Sensors

The implementation of sensor matrices throughout grow rooms are giving modern cultivators a real-time understanding of garden environments. As most experienced indoor growers know, grow room operations are plagued by inconsistencies. These are notoriously difficult to detect in a uniform and intelligible manner. For instance, cultivation mediums retain water in varying capacities in different parts of a room. Also, many indoor gardens have drastically different environmental conditions throughout a room, as well as “dead spots” in air circulation.

To alleviate many of the environmental challenges faced with indoor gardening tech companies have devised both soil meters and atmospheric sensors. These tools are used to detect anomalies in the grow room before they express themselves negatively in plant health. Concerning moisture meters in grow mediums, they give cultivators a real-time understanding of watering needs in their gardens. This data helps growers helping avoid issues with things like over-watering. In a like fashion, individual atmospheric sensors give a reading on environmental conditions throughout a groom room and various part of a garden canopy, which can be proactively rectified to avoid issues with mold and pathogens.

Software for Indoor Growing  

One of the largest tech crazes in commercial CEA growing today has to do with software programs. Because, computers can utilize data metrics to help streamline production. For example, according to the website Fortune, the vertical farming company Bowery “has developed what it says is a proprietary software system with a robust network of sensors that takes in data in real time to determine outcomes like the quality, texture, color, and yield of its plants.” While it is evident that the sort of software being developed by Bowery is beyond the scope of the hobbyist grower, its efficacy for commercial applications is noteworthy. Because, when used in conjunction with sensors, this software can track and catalog many fine nuances of CEA growing. This practice is literally beyond the scope of human capabilities. As such, software programs can provide information on almost every aspect of a garden. In the end, providing the most efficient troubleshooting platforms indoor growing has ever known.

Shelving

Many people don’t necessarily consider shelving to be high-tech. However, the use of shelving units engineered specifically for crop and cannabis cultivation have literally revolutionized indoor growing methods in the past decade. Currently, the practice of “vertical farming” would be non-existent without these forward-looking infrastructures. Its important to note, vertical farming shelf units are engineered to do far more than “hold plants.” The most advanced units have electrical and irrigation components built into the shelves. Similarly, and in tune with vertical farming’s themes of sustainability and efficiency, these shelves integrate with macro-hydroponics systems and are easily reorganized and moved. Finally, certain brands of shelving units are motorized and can shift different parts of the garden canopy throughout the day. This action ensures the maximized usage of available light.

Robotics

It is probably no secret that commercial agriculture businesses have begun implementing robotics to handle some of the more tedious and laborious facets of cultivation, like plant pruning. However, there is also an increasing upsurge in robotics designs for the home-based, hobbyist gardener. To illustrate, the company “FarmBot” has devised a robot that handles most gardening chores for small, raised bed gardens. The design team at FarmBot put together a robot that is mounted a frame which is compatible with square or rectangular garden beds. The hardware of the FarmBot is integrated with a data analytics software. This tech can program the robot to accomplish most garden tasks, including tilling, weeding, planting, watering, and spraying. Yet, this robot gardening technology is still far from mainstream. Moreover, it retails for a hefty $4,000 price tag. Nonetheless, Farmbot presents an interesting tech tool for those gardeners interested in experimenting with the cutting-edge of home cultivation.

High-Tech Ideas for Indoor Growing Summary

As can be seen, indoor growing technology has grown exponentially in its breadth and sophistication. However, its also evident that no technology presents a cure-all for all horticultural processes and operations. That being said, a majority of new advancements in equipment and software are likely more applicable in commercial operations. Yet, this new tech provides a potential “trickle-down” into home-based tech such as the FarmBot. Some of these tools are already available at your local garden supply store. Looking forward, it will be interesting to see how technological innovations will influence gardening practices in the future.

Partner with M&F Talent to Harness the Power of Innovation in CEA

At M&F Talent, we understand the critical role that high-tech tools and equipment play in the future of indoor growing. If you need expert talent to manage and implement these innovations in your CEA operation, we are here to help.

Contact us today to find the right talent and solutions for your growing needs, and stay ahead in the rapidly evolving world of controlled environment agriculture.

Clarifying a Complex Legal Landscape for the Hemp Industry

The hemp industry in the United States is evolving rapidly, but one of the most perplexing aspects of this growth has been the legal status of hemp-based CBD. As top recruiters in the cannabis and hemp industries, Mac & Fulton Talent Partners is committed to staying informed on the latest regulatory developments and industry trends.

Hemp-based CBD products occupy a unique legal space that often confuses both consumers and businesses. While the 2018 Farm Bill made significant strides in the legalization of industrial hemp, the varying interpretations at state and federal levels leave many businesses unsure about compliance.

Industry Thought Leadership: Understanding Hemp-Based CBD

To provide our clients with the most up-to-date knowledge, the recruiters at Mac & Fulton Talent Partners make it a priority to stay on top of legal developments in the hemp and cannabis sectors. We believe in sharing this knowledge as thought leaders in the space, ensuring that our clients can make informed decisions about their business strategies.

In the rapidly changing regulatory environment, understanding the legal framework around hemp-based CBD is critical for businesses aiming to thrive in this market. From federal regulations to state-by-state variations, the legal complexities of hemp-based CBD can have a significant impact on your business operations and compliance efforts. Staying informed on these issues will ensure you’re better prepared for the future of the industry.

The 2014 Farm Bill

The US hemp-based CBD product market finds its roots in a legal loophole taken from the 2014 US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Bill. In this bill, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and DEA advised the USDA on a pilot program aimed at cultivating hemp for research purposes. Essentially, the industrial hemp section of the Farm Bill allows for “an institution of higher education or state department of agriculture” to legally cultivate and research hemp in non-profit, scholarly scenarios. So, the 2014 Farm Bill does isolate hemp cultivators and processors from federal prosecution. However, it only offers these protections in specific research and development scenarios. Moreover, by no means does the Farm Bill grant businesses the ability to sell hemp-based CBD products across the U.S.

The Indiana CBD Market in 2018

Throughout 2018, the State of Indiana came to personify the confusing nature of hemp-based CBD legality reflective of the Farm Bill’s misinterpretation. In March 2018, Governor Eric Holcomb signed a law that states, “all CBD products are legal as long as they come from hemp and contain low amounts of THC” and that all CBD products must have a QR code on their labels that is linked to production information. In other words, the traditionally conservative state where no legal marijuana or hemp initiatives even exist looked past federal regulation in the Farm Bill and beyond to allow the sale of hemp-based CBD. Yet, with this seemingly “progressive” legislation, new laws led to stricter regulations and the removal of hemp-based CBD products from store shelves. Moving forward, the changing law even left Indiana State District Attorney Curtis Hill and Governor Holcomb at odds concerning the legal status of hemp-based CBD products.

What is Hemp?

Hemp’s material applications doubtlessly make it one of the world’s most versatile plants. Nonetheless, few people know that certain varietals produce CBD. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) identifies industrial hemp as “the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part or derivative of such plant, including seeds of such plant, whether growing or not, that is used exclusively for industrial purposes (fiber and seed) with a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.” The point is, that hemp plants don’t produce enough THC to be considered psychoactive. However, they can produce ample CBD to be utilized medicinally. Therefore, federal and state legislation has attempted to draw a strict line between the legal status of cannabis and hemp. Yet, the presence of CBD in hemp makes a clear distinction between the two plant species next to impossible.

Is Hemp Based CBD Legal?

The sale of hemp-based CBD products is still illegal according to federal law. Those American-based companies who claim they can sell their products nationwide are misleading their customers. In an interview with Forbes Magazine in late 2017, DEA son Rusty Payne stated, in reference to CBD, “It’s not legal. It’s just not.” This quote still rings true in late 2018.

However, Payne continued, this time referring to parents treating sick children with CBD, “I cannot blame these people for what they’re doing … Are they breaking the law? Yes, they are. Are we going to break (a parent’s) door down? Absolutely not.” It’s reassuring that the federal government isn’t out to prosecute families who treat their sick children with hemp-based CBD. However, the back and forth concerning the substance’s legal standing adds to the overall confusion of the situation.

Perhaps hearing the DEA’s lenient standings on the matter, the FDA finally moved on CBD in late June 2018 by approving the drug Epidiolex. This represents the first-ever non-synthesized cannabis drug approved for on a national scale for use in the United States. Obviously, the approval of Epidiolex starkly contradicts the Schedule 1 Drug standing of cannabis. It does this by sanctifying the use of a plant-based compound in CBD. Many hope this movement is a harbinger of things to come concerning hemp-based CBD legalization efforts.

The 2018 Farm Bill and the Future of Hemp in the U.S.

As 2018 comes to a close, the national hemp industry has its eyes turned on the 2018 Farm Bill. In this unprecedented legislation, known as the “Hemp Farming Act of 2018,” proponents are pushing to federally legalize the entire hemp industry. This legislation includes hemp-based CBD products. With Democrats now controlling Congress after the November midterm elections, many feel the 2018 Farm Bill could see some serious traction. Yet, as with anything else in this industry, nothing is certain.

The hemp-based CBD market presents perhaps the strongest case for federal cannabis legalization to date. Conclusively, in an ever-changing landscape of regulation and legalization, it is almost impossible to understand the legal status of a product like hemp-based CBD. Unfortunately, medical patients are the ones who have the real cause for concern. This concern has primarily to do with consistent access to dependable hemp-based CBD medicines. Moving forward, consumers should be sure that hemp-based CBD comes from a licensed producer. Ideally, this practice will safeguard against impure products. In the meantime, many hopes rest in such legislation as the 2018 Farm Bill.

Looking for Top Talent in the Hemp Industry? 

As the legal landscape around hemp-based CBD continues to evolve, businesses in the cannabis and hemp industries need expert guidance to navigate these complex regulations. At M&F Talent, we specialize in providing recruitment services for the cannabis and horticulture industries, helping businesses stay ahead of industry trends and regulatory changes. 

Whether you’re looking for legal expertise, compliance officers, or other key roles, we can connect you with top-tier talent who understands the intricacies of this evolving market. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business thrive in this dynamic industry! 

Cultivation Trends for CEA Growers

The controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry has revolutionized how we grow crops for food and medicine. Within this spectrum, hydroponic cultivation has played a pivotal role in this transformation.  

Among the many factors impacting hydroponics cultivation, the choice of cultivation medium directly affects fertigation precision, operational efficiency, and plant health. As such, your chosen cultivation substrate plays a critical role in the success of any CEA operation – whether it be a hobbyist grow or commercial operation. 

CEA Thought Leadership

At M&F Talent, we stay ahead of the curve in hydroponics innovation to provide value to our CEA industry clients. In this thought leadership piece, we delve into the nuances of artificial substrates and water retention with insights from aquaponics expert Doug Millar, whose extensive experience sheds light on optimizing hydroponics systems for success.

Connections Between Artificial Substrates and Hydroponics Cultivation

The water retention of artificial substrates is an often overlooked, yet important factor, to consider in grow room design. This is a fact in vertical farming and aquaponics operations, as well as cannabis and food production. Modern gardeners choose their cultivation mediums based on several factors. These factors mainly have to do with operational logistics, fertigation programs, and environmental constraints.

When planning a hydroponics garden, all these factors should be considered before purchasing artificial substrates in bulk. To illustrate, organic soils are attractive logistically because the same soil can be reused each growing season. However, when it comes to accuracy with fertigation programs, soils inhibit accurate feeding schedules. Because, they are often heavily amended with fertilizer products. Conversely, artificial substrates generally don’t perform well outdoors in hot, arid conditions. They don’t retain water well enough to support plant growth in such extreme climates.

Artificial Substrates and Water Retention in Hydroponics Cultivation

For hydroponics cultivation, in cannabis and beyond, the use of artificial substrates is consistently growing in popularity. Most CEA horticulturists favor the use of these substrates because they are “inert.” This means they contain nearly no additional fertilizers or amendments. Point being, most artificial substrates allow growers exact control over what they are feeding their plants. This is an obvious extension of CEA methodology. The most popular types of artificial cultivation mediums are coco noir, Rockwool, Pro-Mix, clay pebbles, and perlite.

Most hobbyist gardeners are not aware of the fine nuances of horticulture relating to different cultivation mediums. This info is vital because, he exact same species and strain of a plant will grow differently in a slightly different substrate. This notion is important because, if a grower decides to switch their substrate they must pivot their entire feeding and watering methodology to accommodate for this infrastructural change. Along this line of thought, different artificial substrates retain water at different capacities. These irregularities must be accounted for in the development of successful irrigation and fertigation regimes. Yet, most horticulturists don’t have the luxury of implementing “trial and error” runs to decipher how water retention in artificial mediums will affect their garden’s overall performance.

Interview with Horticulturist Doug Millar Discussing Hydroponics Cultivation, Water Retention, and Artificial Mediums

To shed some insight into the complexities of artificial substrate growing regarding water retention, we reached out to highly-accomplished aquaponics horticulturist Doug Millar. Over the past 20 years, Millar has worked in various capacities related to hydroponics cultivation. This experience includes commercial floriculture cultivation, greenhouse equipment design, aquaponics, and vertical farming.

For the last 10 years, he has studied and worked for Symbi Biological. Simbi is a research group in the San Francisco Bay area that specializes in sustainable food systems development. Millar’s latest project at Simbi Biological is a closed-loop aquaponics system. In the project, insects, spirulina, and worms feed the fish, which in turn, feed the plants of the self-sustaining ecosystem. This cutting-edge research combines elements of traditional biology with those of indoor gardening technology. The aim of Millar’s project is to help solve food production issues worldwide. We are grateful to Millar for his time and expertise, here is what he had to say:

Of the forms of artificial mediums mentioned in this article, which is the most difficult to use and why?

Millar: “Each medium has its own learning curve. There is a difference between surviving and thriving, finding that sweet spot is really a matter of trial and error for most growers when using a new medium. I’d say clay pebbles are likely the most difficult simply because they often look dry on the top but hold moisture on the bottom. This issue often leads to problems with over-watering and pests. Materials handling is also a factor with pebbles, as all the other options are much lighter to lift and move.”

To again look to the list of artificial mediums, which type retains the most water?

Millar: “My initial answer is rockwool, but I would love to see a trial between the choices. While water holding capacity is important, I think a good adaptive zone and attentive irrigation strategy is more vital. Oxygen getting to the roots is crucial to healthy plants. Coco coir or rockwool are great at providing a good balance of air and water to the root zone. As with any of the medium choices, I think it comes down to choosing the right distribution systems for the crop with appropriately sized containers.”

Which type retains the least water? Would this be the best choice for growers in carefully controlled, indoor settings?

Millar: “It’s hard to say which of the media hold the least water due to the different shapes and particle sizes we can get nowadays. More surface area in the media typically means more water-holding capacity. Container size also has a lot to do with how much water it holds. That said, in a carefully controlled environment, I tend to not want a big water-holding capacity. This is simply due to how easily you can over water plants, which stresses the root zone.”

How does water retention in artificial mediums affect nutrient uptake in hydroponics cultivation?

Millar: “Too much retention leads to waterlogged containers and root damage. Maintaining aerobic conditions is critical to a healthy root system for optimal nutrient uptake.”

Do you utilize artificial mediums with your aquaponics projects? How is your choice of medium related to water retention?

Millar: “My primary method is deep-water culture troughs with a dissolved oxygen level at 8ppm. The plants are started in small rockwool cubes and then transplanted into two-inch net pots that float on rafts. I use rockwool [to start] simply because it’s a good place to sprout seeds and it holds together well. Obviously, the deep-water culture troughs have excellent water-holding capacity!”

You are based in California, a State with obvious issues concerning water shortages. Looking at horticulture from a conservationist’s stance, would you say that artificial cultivation practices “waste” more water than traditional soil growing?

Millar: “In my aquaponics operation, I was using about 10% of the water it takes to grow a head of lettuce in the field. I think aquaponics may be the most efficient way to grow plants. However, a well-designed hydroponics cultivation system is probably similar. Soilless growing is a great tool for society. Water-wise farming can be utilized locally in places where traditional farming cannot, like cities, deserts, and even Mars!”

“I hope that we as a society consider all the options we have available to ensure food and water system security and equity for all people. There has been some pushback about whether or not hydroponics and aquaponics can be organic. I realize field-grown producers are not excited about having more competition in the organic market. However, we have a world to feed and if all organic inputs are used to grow a crop, it’s organic to me.”

Summary  

As can be seen, hydroponics cultivators face a plethora of choices in deciding what sort of growing medium is right for them. For Millar and others, many of these choices can be boiled down to water retention issues. Judging by the advice of Millar, a good starting point in understanding how water retention in artificial mediums affects plant growth is by considering both the environment and container size. These two factors directly influence the performance of any substrate. Also, different plant species and cannabis strains react differently to wet and dry root zones. All things considered, it seems that successful hydroponics cultivation will have to account for all these unique operational factors in understanding overall garden performance.

Hydroponics Recruiting with M&F Talent 

At M&F Talent, we combine industry knowledge with recruiting expertise to help businesses in CEA and hydroponics secure top talent. Whether you’re expanding your team or seeking a career in this dynamic field, we’re here to guide you. 

Contact us today to learn more!

Cultivation Trends for Cannabis  Growers

The cannabis cultivation world is full of conflicting opinions on best practices. For commercial growers and hobbyist cultivators alike, the use of bloom boosters during the flowering stage is one of the industry’s most hotly contested topics.

Cannabis Thought Leadership

As leading recruiters in CEA and cannabis, M&F Talent strives to stay at the forefront of important industry trends. To offer valuable insights to our clients and network, we explored the science behind bloom boosters and their role in cannabis flowering. 

This thought leadership piece draws on the expertise of seasoned horticulturist and nutrient developer Aaron Hoare, who advocates for a simpler, data-driven approach to fertilizer regimens.

Introduction to Cannabis Bloom Boosters

Before the era of legal, commercial cannabis cultivation, nutrient companies almost exclusively developed and marketed their products for home growers. A common characteristic of these nutrient lines is the “all-inclusive” package that gives growers everything they need to bring plants from seedlings to harvest – including various fertilizers and a feeding schedule. 

While these branded fertilizer lines are doubtless invaluable for hobbyist growers, the more advanced agronomist is questioning the necessity of such expansive feeding schedules. As such, there is a movement of growers looking to get “back to the basics” with their cannabis flowering practices.

Bloom boosters are one of the most formidable trends in the modern gardening marketplace. Sold under catchy names and colorful packaging, nutrient companies market bloom boosters as essential fertilizers to be used during cannabis flowering. Moreover, fertilizer companies also include bloom boosters as a necessity in their feeding calendars. The kicker is, bloom booster products retail for as much as $250 for 500g. This pricing adds an additional expense to an already expensive practice.

Subject Matter Expert: Aaron Hoare

To help the readers get an expert opinion on nutrient usage and bloom boosters, we reached out to accomplished cannabis grower and fertilizer developer Aaron Hoare. Hoare is the founder of Ambrosia Cropz, a three-part powdered nutrient line founded on “bare bones” ideals of simplicity and cost-effectiveness. Hoare, like most expert gardeners, emphasizes critical analyses in cannabis cultivation. He pays particular attention to plant physiology and fertilizer programs founded on basic plant needs. This notion applies during both vegetative growth and cannabis flowering.

To gain a better understanding of fertilization methodology regarding cannabis flowering and bloom boosters, Hoare has provided a basic overview of the practices he uses in the development of his own nutrient mixes at Ambrosia Cropz. These procedures are mainly structured around both irrigation and runoff water analytics. This brief study provides some insight into the bloom booster discussion through the eyes of a professional horticulturist and fertilizer developer:

N-P-K Ratios, Water Analysis, and Parts Per Million

While the fertilizer schedules included with most modern nutrient lines are quite valuable for the novice grower, these same gardeners will likely have to learn the basic elemental analyses of fertilizers if they hope to achieve extraordinary harvests. This brings us to the N-P-K ratio featured on all fertilizer products: (N) nitrogen, (P) phosphorous, and (K) potassium.

The three aforementioned elements are known as “macronutrients” and they serve as the essential foods for all plant life. Moreover, different levels of these macronutrients are required for stimulating growth during different phases of a plant’s life. During the cannabis flowering, many horticulturists agree that vigorous flower growth requires higher levels of phosphorous and potassium combined with lower levels of nitrogen. That being said, bloom boosters generally present an N-P-K ratio somewhere in the neighborhood of 0-50-30 or 0-39-25.

According to Hoare, those cultivators looking to critically explore their fertilizer regiments, including the use of bloom boosters, should begin by testing their irrigation and runoff water with a laboratory. These lab readings will show the parts per million of each macronutrient in their water after nutrients are mixed. The test with also show the salt build-up in soil. As such, the resultant numbers provide a logical point of departure in deciding whether or not to use bloom boosters. The results can also be used to make any other necessary tweaks to a fertilizer feeding schedule.

In the development of nutrient formulas at Ambrosia Cropz, Hoare applies this analytical, data-driven approach to fertilizer development. From these studies, Hoare came to the conclusion that with cannabis flowering, the ideal “ready for plant” irrigation water analysis in parts per million should be as follows: nitrogen 125 ppm, phosphorous 60 ppm, and potassium 165 ppm. It should be noted, again, that Hoare’s figures are formulated via a holistic approach to fertilizer scheduling that takes into account variables like nutrient buildup in soil.

Most gardeners (novices and experts included), don’t have the time to consistently test their irrigation and runoff water with a laboratory to get ppm readings. However, these tests are one of the only ways for one to understand exactly what their plants are being fed. That being said, testing both irrigation and runoff water two to three times during a plant’s life will provide enough information to restructure a fertilization program founded on the basics.

For Hoare, it is a better bet to base nutrient formulations on the ppm readings of macronutrients in irrigation and runoff water rather than what is recommended on a nutrient-feeding schedule. With this critical approach, Hoare recommends a N-P-K ratio of 7-6-12 during the flowering period. Obviously, these numbers stand in stark contradiction to the 0-50-30 ratios that abound in bloom booster formulations for cannabis flowering.

What does this Mean for Cannabis Flowering?

Plants can only handle a limited amount of fertilization—of any macronutrient—before the process becomes counterproductive. This notion is where Hoare’s ppm data really comes into play concerning bloom boosters. Because, according to Hoare, an overabundance of any macronutrient in irrigation water or a growth medium will actually hinder the uptake of all macronutrients. That being said, as far as bloom boosters are concerned, a majority of standard nutrient-feeding regiments already contain sufficient phosphorous and potassium to stimulate cannabis flowering. Moreover, most expert growers agree that too much P and K can be toxic for plants and can actually retard flower growth.

With all things considered, if one wants to follow the more simplistic feeding approaches of Hoare and his contemporaries, they shouldn’t apply bloom boosters if their flowering nutrients already contain 40 – 60 ppm of phosphorous and 150 – 170 ppm of potassium when mixed with water. To reiterate, these numbers are based on a holistic approach to fertilization—taking into account factors like nutrient buildup from months of feeding. Most bloom booster formulations are created “in a vacuum,” so to speak, which don’t consider fertilization processes from planting to harvest.

Ironically enough, evolutions in modern gardening are often times stimulated by contradictions in thought and practice—like those seen in the delineations in theory presented by nutrient lines and “bare bones” horticulturists like Hoare. Concerning bloom boosters for cannabis flowering this difference in methodology could simply boil down to the experience levels of growers. For the novice gardener who doesn’t have the time, or interest, to test fertilizer formulations for maximum output, brand nutrient feeding schedules are an extremely practical choice. There is no doubt that they have given beginners the ability to produce crops unthinkable 20 years ago. That being said, if bloom boosters help these beginners achieve relatively good harvests, they should use them. However, for those more advanced, scientifically minded horticulture experts out there—the writing is on the wall. Not only are bloom boosters expensive, they are not always necessary.

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