Maximum Yield's Industry News | Vol. 18 Issue 02 2019 by Maximum Yield

DEEP SKY VINEYARDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PRECISION DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

LEARNING AND GROWING TOGETHER SINCE 1998

The Cutting Edge of Automated Hydroponic Technology:

BABYLON MICRO-FARMS MedXtractor

Atlas Plant TRAINER

Green Light GROWING

Introducing

by Phat Jet force power in a streamlined, efficient design. 10

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N A F W O L F D E X I M L A T I DIG Empowering Growers Since 1977 | Hydrofarm.com

Feature & Contents

Babylon Micro-Farms Originating from a university project, Babylon Micro-Farms created its automated hydroponic technology so people could grow fresh, organic produce easily and efficiently. Lee Allen caught up with the young entrepreneurs as they launched one of their flagship projects.

First Feed

Groundbreakers

12 From the Editor

34 Deep Sky Vineyard

14 Good to Grow

38 Atlas Plant Trainer

22 Industry Buzz

42 MedXtractor 46 Green Means Grow 50 Sustainable Paradigms in Organic Production 54 The Truth about Value 56 Setting Monthly Results

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VOLUME 17 NUMBER 05 February 2019

Maximum Yield Industry News is published monthly by Maximum Yield Inc. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission from the publisher. The views expressed by columnists are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of Maximum Yield or the editor.

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Lighting manufacturers will be working hard to ensure their products keep up with the latest in research and technology.”

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from the EDITOR TG Toby Gorman

o sector of the indoor growing space is evolving faster than lighting. As money pours into massive vertical farm and greenhouse projects, the race is on to learn how to grow better, healthier plants faster and more efficiently. This race has resulted in considerable funding for lighting research in both the academic and private sectors, and results from this research is transforming how we understand how light affects plants. In this issue of Maximum Yield Industry News, Dong Duong, Fluence Bioengineering’s chief innovation scientist, provides us with new research on how green light, previously thought to be of little use for plants, is actually very beneficial to plants (Green Means Grow: How Green Light Affects Plant Growth, page 46). “Because green photons are not absorbed completely by photoreceptors at the surface of the leaf, green light is able to penetrate deeper through a leaf to drive photosynthesis in chloroplasts located towards the bottom surface of the leaf and beyond,” writes Duong. In other words, while blue and red light is known to benefit the top layers of the canopy, green light drives deeper and benefits the plant lower down the stem, benefitting the entire plant. As new investment drives research and we gain a better understanding of how plants perceive and use light, lighting manufacturers will be working hard to ensure their products keep up with the latest in research and technology.

Of course, all segments of the industry are working hard to innovate. In this issue, you’ll learn more about Babylon Micro-Farms (page 30) and how its young team of entrepreneurs created an automated hydroponic technology so people could grow fresh, organic produce easily and efficiently; the simple innovation of the Atlas Plant Trainer (page 38); and MedXtractor (page 42), manufacturer of creative small-scale CO2-based cannabis oil extractors.

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1 | RediRoot Plastic Air-

Pruning Container

Hydrofarm now offers RediRoot Plastic AirPruning containers. The slatted design reduces and often eliminates circling roots, while providing an ideal environment for airroot pruning to occur. Airroot pruning is a process where a plant’s roots are pruned as they grow rather than when they are transplanted. When a root tip contacts the air, it sends a signal to the plant to produce more lateral roots, creating a dense, fibrous root structure. RediRoot’s design features raised feet for 360-degree aeration, allowing your medium to dry evenly, reducing the possibility of wet spots and root rot. — hydrofarm.com

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2 | FloraMax Ca-Mg-Fe

FloraMax products are now available in the US and Ca-Mg-Fe is a powerful cure-all for when plants look abnormal or where growth has simply slowed or stopped. It works as both a preventative and cure for problems like leaf yellowing, leaf curl, stunted growth, withered fruit-set, and bud rot. Ca-Mg-Fe is designed specifically for fast-growing, light-loving plants, especially where growing occurs under HID lighting. It also contains essential elements like copper, manganese and zinc chelates, plus molybdenum and boron. — floramax.com

3 | Reiziger Bud Booster

Bud Booster was crafted in Holland more than 20 years ago for the commercial grower to help medicinal plants build extremely large, crystal-laden colas indoors, outdoors or in the greenhouse, in hydroponics and soil. Reiziger Bud Booster is a chosen favorite by Dutch craftsmen for all short-cycle plant strains. The element-rich liquid is brimming with more than 90 different organic compounds including carbohydrates, gibberellins, auxins, cytokinins, phenols, vitamins, amino acids, and polysaccharides which help produce consistent, powerful blooms with a dense growth pattern and the desired combination of increased weight, color, flavor, and potency. — reiziger.com

4 | Liventia SOS

Soil Nutrient

SOS is an OMRI-Listed, CDFA-registered, soil improver that restores and promotes the biodiversity of the rhizosphere, increasing bioavailability of nutrients such as inorganic nitrogen (NH4 and NO3) and phosphorus (PO4). SOS contains beneficial microbes for hydroponic systems and soils. It improves absorption of organic or chemical fertilization processes, increases the percentage of germination and root density, and contributes to the movement of phytopathogenic microorganisms present in soils. SOS contains a select range of 19 microorganism strains. — liventia.net/en

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5 | CES Cal-Mag

Amplified

Hydrofarm now carries Cal-Mag Amplified from Cutting Edge Solutions — a pH-stable, all-in-one, calcium, magnesium, and iron supplement that’s safe for all plants. It is an ideal choice for supplementing your soil with pure, rapidly absorbable forms of calcium and magnesium. Coco coir growers benefit as it provides additional calcium to buffer the coco and maximize cation exchange capacity. The additional source of magnesium in Cal-Mag Amplified drives chlorophyll production and maximizes photosynthesis. Plants fortified with calcium and magnesium exhibit lush green leaves and reward growers with heavy fruits. — hydrofarm.com

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6 | Veg + Bloom

Stackswell Growth Powder

At just one gram per gallon, Stackswell plant growth powder is a superconcentrated formula that can be used in reservoirs or mixed into a concentrate for dosers and fertigation systems. Delivering your plants with more than calcium and magnesium, Stackswell is also a cation exchange enhancer and root and shoot growth stimulator. Additionally, this product contains plantderived surfactants and free amino acids. It comes in four different sized packages ranging from one to 25 pounds. — hydroponic-research.com

7 | Capna Systems Atles

8 | South Cascade

Ethanol Extractor

Capna Systems recently released Atles, its new, fully automated industrial ethanol extractor. It can process 1,100 pounds per day or 46 pounds of material per hour of fully winterized and dewaxed material. Atles is an automatic system needing no manual operation while the extraction process underway. It runs on 200-proof ethanol and evacuates and transfers an emulsion from stage to stage in a fully enclosed, recirculating closed loop. Atles requires 20x10x9 feet of clear space for safe operation. — capnasystems.com

Organics SLF-100

SLF-100 is a 100 per cent organic OMRI-Listed and Clean Green-certified enzymatic formula designed with system health in mind. The goal with SLF-100 was not to produce an enzymatic product that would target one specific material, but to provide a well-rounded plant product that would tackle many different obstacles. Some enzyme products can damage microbial populations, however, SLF-100 will not and the shelf life of this product is unlimited. It will keep your hydroponic system running smoothly and free of toxic buildup. — socascade.com

9 | Puffco Peak

Travel Pack

Puffco’s travel pack is the perfect companion for the dabber on the move. Well-built from 100 per cent silicone, it features a carb cap tether to keep a lid on stuff without the worry of it falling off. It also has a backpack for storing cotton swabs and a dab tool, along with a splash cap that keeps water where it belongs. The atomizer cover brings the whole look together. It’s even dishwasher-safe and comes in a variety of eyecatching colors. — puffco.com

10 | Vegamatrix pHyre

Vegamatrix pHyre, from Kyle Kushman’s Microbial Collection, is now offered by Hydrofarm. “pHyre” is a Paenibacillus polymyxa species, cultured for its ability to aid each plant in reaching its full genetic potential. This one-of-a-kind universal bacterium is highly efficient, simultaneously fixing nitrogen, solubilizing phosphates, and releasing potassium. Use pHyre with any nutrient system calling for microbes. Try pHyre in conjunction with Kushman’s new Veganic Super Soil Recipe (free download at vegamatrix. net) to reduce all nutrient input by 50 per cent. — hydrofarm.com

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good TO GROW

11 14

11 | Left Coast

Wholesale ECOMAX

ECOMAX (6-1-2) is an OMRI- and CDFAcertified vegan organic plant nutrient derived from neem, a renowned herb that’s been a part of traditional natural remedies for almost 5,000 years. ECOMAX is a slow-release plant nutrient that’s rich in protein, carbohydrates, macronutrients, and trace micronutrients that not only supports plant nutrition but also improves soil health and provides microbial nutrition. It also enhances uptake of other plant nutrients through chelation with macro and micronutrients in the cultivation medium. — leftcoastwholesale.com

12 | Pur PD-900SC

The PD-900SC is ideal for light commercial applications and is a selfcontained unit that can be installed for general ventilation or ducted for source capture. This air cleaner electronically removes harmful airborne pollutants such as welding fumes, oil, mist, dust, tobacco, cannabis smoke, and more while improving indoor air quality for a healthier, more efficient, and profitable environment. The machine contains an environmentally friendly filter system that simply washes clean with DAX Air Cleaner Detergent. It saves costs by recycling expensive heated or cooled air. — purdistribution.com

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13 | Grotek Precision

Nutrients

Hydrofarm now offers the Grotek Precision line, a three-part system of base nutrients designed to be a full-cycle fertilizer package. Suitable for soilless and hydroponic production systems, Grotek Precision consists of the following components: Precision Micro (provides nitrogen, potassium, and calcium for plant structure and growing fruit), Precision Grow (delivers phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and high levels of nitrogen for lush growth in the vegetative stage) and Precision Bloom (provides phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, and magnesium for increased production of flowers and fruit). — hydrofarm.com

14 | MEDXtractor

CO2 Cannabis Oil Extractors

MedXtractor’s small-scale CO2 -based cannabis oil extractors are ideal for craft marijuana growers. These wellpriced products allow craft growers to produce high-value, residual-free cannabis extracts from trim, flower, and rosin chips without breaking the bank. Using patentpending technology, MedXtractor oil extractors feature stainless steel construction with no mechanical pumps and don’t leave any hydrocarbon residue. MedXtractor can ship their extractors anywhere around the world. — medxtractor.com

MEDXtract r

15 | ClearWater Tech

C1 Mobile Disinfection System

ClearWater Tech’s C1 mobile disinfection cart provides ozone-enriched water for surface disinfection of cannabis production facilities. Wash down floors, walls, equipment, rinse barrels and tanks with the push of a button and be assured you receive the ozone you need to get the job done. Easy to maneuver, the cart replaces traditional hot water and chemicals with safe disinfection on contact. The C1 cart is best when ozone disinfection is needed in multiple locations within a facility, different buildings, larger facilities, or when you simply want the convenience of mobility.

16 | Roots Organics

CalMag

Ideal for fast-growing and heavy feeding plants, CalMag is a pure and natural blend of calcium, magnesium, and sulfur to support plants during fast growth. CalMag is derived from kieserite and gypsum and is free of added nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium. This gives growers control to supplement as needed without affecting primary fertility input ratios. CalMag is Registered Organic Input Material by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. — hydrofarm.com

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ARRIVES IN SOUTH AMERICA Cartagena, Colombia will host South America’s first commercial cannabis expo in May, featuring some of the industry’s top influencers, opportunities to network with global businesses, and the latest in grow innovation.

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rom May 9-11, 2019, the doors of Expo CannaBiz will open, signaling the arrival of the first commercial cannabis expo in Colombia and South America. Investors, exhibitors and the most renowned experts on the continent will meet in Cartagena, Colombia to open a universe of business opportunities in all aspects of the industry including cultivation, transformation, and commercialization. Presenters include Vicente Fox, former president of Mexico and strategic adviser and ambassador of Canadian company Cannabis Khiron, the first cannabis company to list on any stock exchange; Steve DeAngelo, one of the most important activists and entrepreneurs in the United States and known as the father of the legal cannabis industry; Jared Mirsky, a pioneer in marketing with one of the most awarded agencies in the world; and Juan Manuel Galán, Colombian senator and author of the medicinal cannabis legislation and several books on the evolution and the future of the fight against illicit drugs. These are just some of the experts who will analyze the present and the future of a market that has penetrated the lines of personal care, industrial applications, textiles, food, CBD-cannabidiol, and supplements, among others. Growers will experience new innovations at Expo CannaBiz from agro-inputs, greenhouses, security systems, and irrigation systems to appropriate marketing channels for both small and large growers. The expo will also feature a space where the best extraction techniques and equipment will be shared to boost the derivatives of the plant, and where commercial networks will be established between growers, manufacturers, and service companies in the sector, as well as a complete guide to licensing in the various links of the production chain. Colombia is considered by many in the industry as the country with the best conditions in all of Latin America to make investments in the Cannabis industry, offering favorable climatic conditions, low production costs, and extensive export possibilities. Michael McCune, an expert in cannabis extraction and production, said that although the industry in Colombia is in the early stages, the expansion is very fast. “I see Colombia as a global leader in the industry, with enormous production and export capabilities, which is why Canada is bringing the best of its technology and experts,” he told BBC Mundo. As an example, one of the firms, Vancouver, BC-based Chemesis International, has made investments exceeding $10 million that allows access to more than 400 hectares of crops and partnerships with more than 2,000 local producers. Since 2017, Colombia is one of the few countries in Latin America that allows the cultivation, transformation and commercialization of cannabis for medicinal and scientific purposes. The possibilities are enormous, and the most important strategic partners of the industry will be present at Expo CannaBiz, which is more than a trade fair – it is a real connection for all the players of the local industry with the international market. Expo CannaBiz is the first cannabis commercial showcase on the continent. On more than 3,400 square meters of expo floor, 150 national and international exhibitors will convene in one of the most beautiful cities in Colombia that mixes colonial architecture, history, culture, and seaside beauty in one place. For more information and the agenda of the event visit: expocannabiz.com.

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Industry BUZZ Aphria Announces New Chairman as CEO Neufeld Steps Down

Canadian cannabis company Aphria recently appointed Irwin Simon as the independent chair of its board of directors. Simon takes over from Vic Neufeld, who is also stepping down as CEO but will remain on the board. “Irwin Simon is a dynamic leader and entrepreneur who understands the complexities and responsibilities of building a successful and competitive company,” says Neufeld. Simon founded The Hain Celestial Group, a leading organic and natural products company, in 1993. As founder, president, CEO, and chairman, Simon led that company for 25 years with operations in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Neufeld quietly stepped down as chairman of the board the same day Aphria received a takeover bid from Green Growth Brands. Aphria co-founder and vice-president of growing operations Cole Cacciavillani is also stepping down. Simon and company president Jakob Ripshtein will oversee the executive team transition.

Moleaer Announces New Director of Business Development for Europe

Michiel de Jong is the new director of business development of Europe and horticulture for Moleaer Inc., a leading manufacturer of industrial-scale nanobubble generators. “We are thrilled to have someone with Michiel’s experience join our organization,” says Moleaer CEO Nick Dyner. “Michiel will help us develop the European horticulture market, which is critical to Moleaer’s growth and success.” Previously, de Jong was the sales manager for Oreon, a leading horticulture LED manufacturer. In that role he built an extensive network around the world in horticulture and helped propel Oreon’s current commercial success. “Like lighting, oxygen is a crucial element to every grower’s success,” says de Jong. “Moleaer nanobubble generators are robust and highly efficient and the company has already proven their leading role in research, product development, and marketing. I look forward to introducing the benefits of Moleaer’s nanobubble technology to growers.”

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Aurora Cannabis Acquires Mexican Pharmaceutical Manufacturer

Aurora Cannabis strengthened its positioning outside of Canada with its allstock acquisition of Farmacias Magistrales, an established Mexican pharmaceutical manufacturer and distributor. Medicinal marijuana is legal in Mexico and Farmacias reaches some 80,000 retail points as well as 500 pharmacies and hospitals across the country. The Mexican company recently got licensed to import cannabis, which Aurora says is the first and only import license granted by federal Mexican authorities as of December 2018. Additionally, Farmacias can import and store raw CBD and THC materials, manufacture products containing CBD and THC, and distribute them. Farmacias will import Aurora’s medicinal cannabis, giving the Canadian company another first-mover advantage. “This transaction positions Aurora with exclusive access to supply THC-containing medical cannabis to a large market of more than 130 million people, while also enabling us to capture the full margin of the medical cannabis we sell there,” says Terry Booth, CEO of Aurora.

PUR Distribution Expands Across Canada

Toronto-based PUR Distribution recently announced it is expanding nationwide in Canada. With a distribution center in Concord, Ont., the company plans on expanding its services and product sales. Owner Joe DiDonato says he saw an emerging need for air purification in Canada’s burgeoning cannabis industry thanks to the legalization of recreational cannabis in October last year. The company sells both small home and large commercial air purifiers that use a five-in-one filtration system combining HEPA, UVC germicidal light (non-ozone producing), VOC filter, carbon pre-filter and photo catalytic oxidation. For cannabis growers, an air purifier can kill airborne mildew and fungal diseases, eliminate spider mites, bacteria and viruses, prevent cross pollen contamination, and remove odors from pesticides and cannabis terpenes. PUR air products do not emit harmful ozone or other by-products. According to DiDonato, air purification is one of the most overlooked components of the cannabis industry.

Industry BUZZ ‘Wizard of Weed’ Named Keynote Speaker for 2019 Cannabis Conference

The keynote speaker for this year’s Cannabis Conference will be Jeremy Plumb, a.k.a. The Wizard of Weed. The conference runs from April 1-3 in Las Vegas. Plumb leads Prūf Cultivar’s research and development projects and is passionate about cultivation environment impact on cannabinoid and terpene profiles. He is co-founder of Portland’s Farma dispensary and served as a cannabis consultant for medical cannabis researchers in Israel, and was a cannabis policy advisor for several members of Congress. One of Plumb’s primary research objectives is creating predictable and reliable strains that deliver the same effects every time. He joins a distinguished list of past Cannabis Conference keynote speakers, including Robert C. Clarke, Mel Frank, and Mojave Richmond. With decades of cannabis horticulture and retail experience, Plumb’s keynote will challenge and inspire cannabis cultivation and dispensary teams looking to the future of marijuana and the burgeoning medical and retail industry.

Bowery Farming Raises $90 Million Led by GV

As Bowery Farming looks to expand its vertical farm operations, the company recently raised $90 million in Series B funding. The latest cash roundup was led by GV (formerly Google Ventures), the venture capitalist arm of Alphabet Inc. With the new funding, New York-based Bowery will scale its operations beyond its giant vertical farm in New Jersey, which produces organic leafy greens. The company plans to open multiple farms in new cities by the end of 2019, while hiring more employees and investing in new technology. Other investors for this round included global investment company Temasek, restaurateur David Barber’s Almanac Insights, and new Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. Bowery Farming operates its high-tech vertical farms with proprietary software called FarmOS, which uses machine learning to monitor plants as they grow. If a certain batch of lettuce needs less light or less humidity, the software will automatically adjust conditions in the greenhouse.

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Flowr Acquires 20 Per Cent Stake of Holigen Limited

Canadian cannabis company Flowr (a licensed producer) recently purchased a 19.8 per cent stake in Holigen, a Europeanbased cannabis company, for $4.4 million. The deal means Flowr will provide its cultivation, facility design, and construction IP for Holigen to use in the construction of its facilities in Portugal and Australia. Holigen is in the process of developing large-scale cannabis cultivation facilities and is in the final stages of obtaining one of the largest cultivation licenses for outdoor and greenhouse facilities on 72 hectares in Portugal. “The combination of Holigen’s strong management team and incredible assets along with our cultivation, design, and construction IP will create what we believe will be a worldwide leader in production,” says Tom Flow, co-CEO of Flowr. Holigen expects to complete the licensing process for its first site in Portugal by mid-2019 and expects to be one of the few licensed producers in Europe that will produce products in GMPcompliant facilities.

Washington State Doles Out First Cannabis Research License

Verda Bio, a pharmaceutical company based in Seattle, received the first cannabis research license from the state of Washington. It can now grow and process marijuana for purely research purposes from its SoDo facility. Verda Bio CEO Jessica Tonani says the company’s initial project will be breeding plants that produce minor cannabinoids (the less studied and rarer cannabis compounds). “The first year of the project is going to focus on breeding plants that produce chemicals outside of THC. We’re interested in creating plants that produce chemicals that we can study further,” says Tonani. “We don’t believe that the plants that we want to do research on exist yet.” Verda Bio can now breed those plants it needs to source the rare cannabinoids, and research how they affect humans. It took Verda Bio two years to get through the rigorous process of obtaining the license.

Abattis Purchases NutriVida Corp.

Abattis Bioceuticals recently signed a nonbinding letter of intent to buy NutriVida Corp. in an all-stock deal that’s worth up to $15 million. The acquisition helps in Abattis’ push to add cannabis growth assets after it bought Gabriola Green Farms in 2018. “This is another very significant growth milestone for Abattis,” says Rob Abenante, Abattis’ president and CEO. “Acquiring and working with NutriVida not only adds to our company’s revenue, but also expands our cannabis growth potential going forward by improving our ability to provide quality cannabis products.” NutriVida, a privately held fertilizer and nutrient firm, offers a complete line of plant products as well as a detailed feed schedule for soil and hydroponic systems to facilitate the harvest of large, healthy crops without sacrificing the environment. NutriVida also has a wide array of proprietary fertilizer brands specifically formulated for cannabis and cannabis cultivation, as well as other horticultural areas.

Hydrofarm Intends on Going Public This Year

Well-known hydroponic equipment manufacturer and distributor Hydrofarm plans on going public this year as the legal hemp and cannabis industries expand in North America. While the timing is not known, Hydrofarm CEO Peter Wardenburg notes his company is in a good position for an IPO. “There is a lot of investment capital out there — one thing that’s unique about us is that we really are the pick, axes, and shovels of the cannabis industry,” Wardenburg says. “A lot of cannabis investments to date have been touching the plant or in other aspects of the industry. Everyone across the country needs our equipment. We’re not a single category supplier. We feel like we’re in a good spot for an IPO.” It’s expected the Petaluma, CA.based company would list on the NASDAQ exchange. Hydrofarm recently secured $55 million in private equity financing. In 2017 Hydrofarm had more than $250 million in sales and it has more than 1,500 retailers across North America.

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Industry BUZZ Anuvia Plant Nutrients Wins 2018 SEAL Award

Florida-based Anuvia Plant Nutrients took home a SEAL (Sustainability, Environmental Achievement and Leadership) Award for 2018 thanks to its leadership and commitment to sustainable business practices. Anuvia was among 12 firms honored for their specific environmental and sustainability initiatives which included impact metrics, innovation, sharing of insights, and investment levels. Anuvia rated highest on both leadership and impact. “We are honored to receive this recognition,” says Amy Yoder, Anuvia Plant Nutrients CEO. “It reflects our mission to help farmers face the challenges to produce more food for a growing world population more sustainably.” Anuvia’s fertilizer technology addresses the issue of how to produce more food and do so sustainably. Anuvia manufactures homogenous, multi-nutrient enhanced-efficiency plant nutrients. Anuvia’s technology efficiently feeds plants as it feeds the soil by returning up to 16 per cent organic matter back to the soil, thereby improving soil health.

Tilray and AnheuserBusch Partner in Researching Cannabis Drinks

Anheuser-Busch InBev (Budweiser’s parent company), and Tilray recently announced a partnership to research non-alcoholic beverages containing THC and CBD. AB InBev’s participation will be through its Canadian subsidiary, Labatt Breweries. Each company will spend $50 million on the research, which is limited to Canada. Tilray will work through the research via its subsidiary High Park Company, which develops, sells, and distributes a portfolio of cannabis brands and products in Canada. “We intend to develop a deeper understanding of non-alcohol beverages containing THC and CBD that will guide future decisions about potential commercial opportunities,” says Kyle Norrington, president of Labatt Breweries. With strong track records of responsible product development and marketing in their respective industries, AB InBev and Tilray believe the legal market for THC and CBD beverages will only thrive if the industry embraces appropriate regulation of adult-use cannabis, including responsible production, marketing, sale, and consumption.

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General Filters Brings in Two New Sales Agencies

General Filters recently welcomed two new sales agencies to the company’s network of representatives. The Beene & Jennings Company, based in Texas, and Florida-based PED Associates are now working under the General Filters umbrella. Beene & Jennings was formed in 2008 and will cover the Texas and Oklahoma areas for General Filters. Their sales team has more than 100 years experience in the HVAC wholesale market. PED Associates, a manufacturer’s representative company, has been around since 1975. The firm brings great insight into the market and will work within the Florida area for General Filters. General Filters recently acquired Second Wind Air Purifier, a company that manufactures UV light air purifiers throughout North America. General Filters is a Detroit-based manufacturer of HVAC equipment and is striving to become the industry leader in air quality and filtration products.

MediPharm Labs Joins Global Cannabis Partnership

Seven new corporations, including MediPharm Labs, have joined the Global Cannabis Partnership (GCP), bringing the total number of members to 31. The GCP is a collaboration of leaders in the governmentsanctioned, adult-use recreational cannabis industry. Other companies joining the group include Cannvas MedTech, Compass Cannabis Clinic/Starbuds Canada, Constance Therapeutics, Nutrasource Pharmaceutical and Neutraceutical Services, Stainprint Technologies, and YSS by Solo. “There’s a growing interest in the GCP as more stakeholders recognize the importance and value of working together on industry-wide CSR policies and programs,” says Kim Wilson, executive director of the GCP. With representation from government, private sector, and affiliate organizations, the GCP is creating an international standard for the safe and responsible production, distribution, and consumption of legal recreational cannabis. “We’re pleased to join this industry-leading organization that is helping to connect producers and researchers around the world,” says Sybil Taylor, chief marketing officer of MediPharm Labs.

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Industry BUZZ 2018 Farm Bill Passes Making Hemp Legal in America

Thanks to the new Farm Bill, hemp is now legal across the US. On December 11 last year, the US Senate voted overwhelmingly (87-13) to pass the $867 billion bill that will also allocate billions of dollars in subsidies to American farmers, bolster farmers markets, and reject stricter limits on food stamps pushed by House Republicans. Analysts have stated hemp could grow into a $20-billion industry by 2022. “At a time when farm income is down and growers are struggling, industrial hemp is a bright spot of agriculture’s future,” tweeted Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who shepherded the hemp measure into the bill. “My provision in the Farm Bill will not only legalize domestic hemp, but it will also allow state departments of agriculture to be responsible for its oversight.” The bill takes hemp off the federal controlled substances list.

Aurora Buys Whistler Medical Marijuana in All-stock Deal

Canadian marijuana producer Aurora Cannabis continues expanding thanks to the recent purchase of Whistler Medical Marijuana, a privately held company, in an all-stock buy worth about $175 million. Whistler is one of the most recognized Canadian brands and one of the country’s original 10 licensed cannabis producers. It was also the first licensed producer to obtain organic certification from the Canadian government. “This transaction adds an iconic, organic certified BC-based brand with exceptional traction and a significant price premium in both the medical and retail markets,” says Aurora CEO Terry Booth. “We intend to accelerate the completion of Whistler’s Pemberton expansion project and leverage our domestic and international distribution channels to increase market reach for their exceptional products.” Whistler is currently working on the Pemberton facility, which when complete this summer, will boost its production capacity to 5,000 kilograms per year.

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Aphria Inks Supply Deal with Paraguayan Pharmaceutical Company

Canadian cannabis firm Aphria recently announced it has signed a letter of intent with a company in Paraguay to supply and distribute medicinal marijuana in the South American country. The deal is with Insumos Medicos S.A., a Paraguayan pharmaceutical manufacturing, import, and distribution company. It distributes to hospitals within the country. “Latin America continues to represent an important growth opportunity within the global medical cannabis industry, and we are excited to be among the first to enter the rapidly emerging market in Paraguay,” says Jakob Ripshtein, president of Aphria. As part of the proposed agreement, Insumos will undertake the registration of Aphria’s products with Paraguay’s Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare and appropriate licensing for the import of medical cannabis. Upon completion of the proposed agreement, Paraguay will become the third market in Latin America, following Argentina and Colombia, where Aphria products will be distributed.

Fluence Partners with urban-gro on LED Grow Light Integration

Fluence Bioengineering recently announced it selected urban-gro as the authorized system integrator for Fluence LED lighting products and solutions in North and South America. Fluence has launched an authorized reseller program made up of value-added resellers. Each partner in the program is trained and works with Fluence to ensure the company’s LED grow lights are properly used and optimized for each grower’s unique environment. “As a result of our collaboration with Fluence Bioengineering, urban-gro now offers commercial cultivators access to the most advanced LED lighting solutions on the market,” says urban-gro CEO Bradley Nattrass. Urban-gro, which is based in Colorado, is an agriculture technology firm as well as a systems integrator focused on commercial cultivators all around the world. The company’s ag-tech division is called Soleil Technologies. Fluence Bioengineering is a wholly-owned subsidiary of OSRAM and creates energy-efficient LED lighting solutions for commercial crop production and research applications.

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The Cutting Edge of Automated Hydroponic Technology:

BABYLON MICRO-FARMS Originating from a university project, Babylon Micro-Farms created its automated hydroponic technology so people could grow fresh, organic produce easily and efficiently. Lee Allen caught up with the young entrepreneurs as they launched one of their flagship projects. by Lee Allen

e’ve come a long way from taking a stick, digging a hole, planting a seed, and harvesting the crop. We now grow year-round instead of just seasonally, indoors and outdoors, upstairs, downstairs, in basements, on rooftops, and climbing up walls. A recent example of the wave of nextgeneration growing technology is Babylon Micro-Farms, where automated hydroponic technology is at the core of their business: they’ve developed a range of hydroponic systems that “(make) sustainable hydroponic agriculture accessible to anyone” per their website, all based around their own ‘plug-and-play’ user platform. The Babylon team consists of young entrepreneurs Alexander Olesen, Graham Smith, Sam Korn, and Will Graham, former students at the University of Virginia and the University of Colorado at Boulder, who combined their backgrounds in engineering, software development, plant biology, and marketing to offer an alternative indoor method of growing produce.

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“ During that process, we asked ourselves

WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO CREATE ‘FOOD MACHINES’

for people’s homes so everyone could have access to hydroponics.”

In their mission statement, the team notes: “We began building hydroponic systems as part of a class project where we were challenged with creating low-cost systems that could provide refugee families with alternative means of growing fresh, organic produce. During that process, we asked ourselves what it would take to create ‘food machines’ for people’s homes so everyone could have access to hydroponics. We found three restraints — cost of technology, expertise in growing, and a complex user experience. What we have done is create a complete hydroponic growing platform that addresses all three of these restraints.” Babylon provides pre-seeded trays that work in unison with their farms, eliminating the need for technical expertise. “We send it to them as and when they need it,” says Olesen. “They simply scan a QR code into their phone and insert the tray into the system. The system then kicks in and associates that crop variety with a unique growth recipe.”

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“ I saw these ideas develop from the drawing board and believe

THE VISION OF THE BABYLON TEAM IS NOT JUST REALISTIC AND ATTAINABLE, but is fundamentally necessary.” The entrepreneurs say part of their secret is their modular monitoring and control system that keeps an eye on every key variable and responds to changes in that data to create optimal growing conditions for any given plant variety, working symbiotically with their selfdeveloped nutrient dosing technology. Says Bevin Etienne, an engineer and one of their former instructors, “I saw these ideas develop from the drawing board and believe the vision of the Babylon team is not just realistic and attainable, but is fundamentally necessary to create a sustainable and equitable food supply chain with a global application impact.” “We’re creating a platform that can empower a new generation to easily participate in urban farming,” says marketing director Will Graham, noting several projects are already in place based on Babylon’s proprietary hydroponic control technology. Some of these projects include Three Notch’d Brewery in Virginia, several University of Virginia dining halls, and now the famous Boar’s Head Resort in Charlottesville at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. As part of a multi-million dollar renovation of the resort, Babylon installed a cutting-edge indoor farm in one of oldest buildings on the property, The Trout House. Situated between two lakes, the iconic building was originally used to catch fresh fish for the Four-Diamond resort’s restaurants. It has now been retrofitted into a fully-automated indoor farm that produces enough greens and herbs to make the Boar’s Head completely self-sufficient. “To maximize our efficiency in The Trout House, we are vertically growing in two eight-foot high, 12-foot long, and four-foot deep racks, giving them some 385-square-feet of growing space,” says company technical officer Graham Smith. “We expect to grow a minimum of 300 heads of lettuce per week along with other microgreens and herbs, continually experimenting with our crop mixture to produce everything that Boar’s Head wants.” Chef Dale Ford, who sought out Babylon to carry out this project, says “There are 26 menu items for us on our current menu, 13 of them are built around this. It evolves our food and beverage operation, our hospitality operation to a whole other level.”

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Running on Babylon’s proprietary automation platform, The Trout House Farm will grow rare heritage plants at the touch of a button, using no pesticides or preservatives and conserving 90 per cent of the water and energy of conventional farming. The seeds are exclusive from the historical seed bank at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, allowing the Boar’s Head to offer a locally-inspired menu with dishes evoking the region’s history with a modern twist. The heirloom crops are protected varieties that Jefferson, one of America’s Founding Fathers and an avid botanist, collected from travels abroad and made available through a partnership with the Thomas Jefferson Center for Historical Plants. “Using their cutting-edge system with our historic-type plants seems to make perfect sense. It’s old school aesthetics, very Charlottesville,” says Keith Nevison, manager of farm and nursery operations at the Jefferson Foundation’s Center for Historic Plants at Monticello. “What we do here is try to keep historic seed varieties growing, so we shared some of the things grown by Thomas Jefferson with the Babylon folks. They’ve had their best successes with two lettuce strains — Brown Dutch that goes back to Holland in the early 1700s (and is our most widely-grown lettuce of the 17 types grown in the gardens at Monticello) and Tennis Ball, that forms a little head the size of a tennis ball. It’s considered the parent of our modern ‘Boston’ (romaine) types, a non-fussy strain that should be more widely grown.” The new installation was completed in November, with the farm at the Boar’s Head “full of plants by December 1,” according to Smith. Adds Graham: “We have several other projects in development involving this proprietary growing platform that promise to make higherquality, healthier, and more nutritious produce more accessible to more people than has been previously possible.” Babylon plans to install another five similar farms in the coming months, with the aim of making hydroponic farming easy and accessible to small businesses and even individuals — a new ‘next-generation home appliance’ was unveiled in December, with plans to enter production this year.

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desert

WIN E & technology

For growing grapes in the arid, unforgiving desert of southern Arizona, technology has helped the Deep Sky Vineyard do more with less, including saving a million gallons of water in a year. by Lee Allen

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ay or night, if you’re wine-grape growing in the Deep Sky Vineyard, there are electric eyes watching your every mood, movement, and moue, constantly checking your status, and reporting directly back to the boss. Deep Sky is an Arizona boutique vineyard (20 acres in one plot, 10 on another) with 15,000 vines, each one needing to be touched at least five times a season — pruning, pulling leaves, thinning, dropping fruit, and harvesting. “But it’s this relentless attention to detail that drives us daily because 80 per cent of the wine is made right there in the field — it takes great fruit to make great wine,” says Kim Asmundson, who, along with husband Phil, make up the viticulture team that is relying on precision agriculture to set new standards in wine growing in an arid environment. Instead of going quietly into retirement, the Asmundsons bought part of a vineyard in Argentina before discovering the temperate climate of Arizona was similar to their new Malbec vines in South America, as well as a 99 per cent match to the growing soil in wine country around Burgundy, France. With absolutely no agricultural background, but coming from a hightech industry, Asmundson knew farmers relied on generations of accumulated experience and diverse data input. If he didn’t have the experience, he definitely needed the technology that powers 21st century farming by providing realtime data that translates to meaningful indicators of how the crop was doing. “Imagine receiving requests for water directly from the plants,” says Phil, with Kim adding “it’s this relentless attention to detail that makes things possible via a proprietary precision agriculture solution that takes data measurements from six different soil depths every six minutes. “These readings allow us to measure water delivered to each irrigation zone (and last year the algorithms resulted in the savings of over a million gallons, over 67,000 gallons per acre); we had near-instant updates of soil moisture and temperature; we could measure vine root uptake of the soil moisture and could evaluate vine stress based on the calculated amount of available water to the vine.” Niolabs CEO Doug Standley, a pioneer of distributed edge computing software, says, “We will be applying everadvancing algorithms and machine learning in 2019. We’re ready to scale

this innovative connected farm platform to address a global environmental and societal challenge. The niolabs patented platform jumps ahead of all the current noise and clutter about the Internet of Things by providing a truly extensible software platform that finds the ROI in IoT.” Blake Duhame was lead on the Deep Sky Vineyard project that now generates four megabytes of raw data daily on a platform optimized to run locally using little bandwidth from the cellular uplink. Continuously running the system as installed requires less than 500 watts of power, not including the sensor extensions that are batterypowered and recharged via solar. “Niolabs is a software platform that allows building digital applications easily, so we built, installed, and integrated all of the necessary hardware — up to 100 sensors throughout the cultivated acreage,” says Duhame. A software platform to develop IoT systems is a developing industry — “Although it’s projected to be a multibillion industry with the whole world transformed by a new digital era of making decisions off of real-time data, we’re still kind of in the phase of figuring out just how to apply it,” Duhame says.

“

WE’RE READY TO SCALE THIS INNOVATIVE CONNECTED FARM PLATFORM TO ADDRESS A GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIETAL CHALLENGE.

”

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In the case of the Deep Sky application, the mission was how to do more with less — better quality grapes while using fewer resources. “We showed up and did a total visualization of existing infrastructure, then we added sensors for real-time visibility. Instead of by guess and by golly, we had flow sensor values directing precision watering.

“

OVER A MILLION GALLONS OF WATER WAS SAVED LAST SEASON WHILE GROWING THE BEST GRAPES IN THE HISTORY OF THE VINEYARD, SAVING RESOURCES WHILE GROWING A BETTER CROP.

”

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Then we went into the plants and vines themselves, giving them a way to communicate,” says Duhame. Sensors were installed everywhere to accomplish most everything. Leaf wetness sensors showed moisture content. Fruit zone sensors took realtime temperature and humidity numbers. Other sensors measure soil tension. Dendrometers calculated the width of vine stock. “We went into the plants and added sensor sets in each of the 12 growing zones and used this sensor data extracted directly from the plants to determine what resources were needed and when,” says Duhame. “We now had manual or autonomous control to respond to plant needs. Our software, for example, would tell us that Zone Seven needed 12.5 gallons of water. Then it would automatically turn on the pump, open the valve to deliver water, close the valve, and move on to the next zone for new readings and new responses. Because this was now precision agriculture, over a million gallons of water was saved last season while growing the best grapes in the history of the vineyard, saving resources while growing a better crop. If you look across the landscape, this is one of the premier examples of IoT actually providing a real-world benefit.” As to the cost of instaling such a platform, the company web page says, “We elect not to share nio licensing pricing via the web,” while Duhame, now promoted to director of customer growth puts it differently: “Deep Sky was our first agricultural installation, so pricing remains a moving target, although we are in the process of developing a full-scale model turnkey operation for market. “What we’re trying to do in the ag sector specifically is partner with already-established agricultural companies that already have customers and resources and are looking for digital solutions. We want to be the silent enabler for them and are already in talks with some of the largest existing ag companies to help them enable their digital product solutions.” For Kim and Phil Asmundson at Deep Sky, they now have a lot of friends in the field keeping an eye on the crop while they monitor that input from their digital vineyard via a hand-held app which allows them more time to pour samples at the rustic handcrafted bar in their Elgin tasting room.

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#GROWBIGGEST WITH ATLAS PLANT TRAINER! 901 Pleasant St., Ste. 694, Attleboro, MA 02703 • 1+ years in business 1-207-228-2055 • atlasplanttrainer.com

Atlas Plant Trainer is a customizable, modular plant training and support solution — growers can think about it like a clicktogether tomato cage. Their product allows growers to grow their plants wide, not tall, or into any shape at all. Atlas Plant Trainer replaces stakes, cages, and ties giving cultivators everything they need for training and supporting their heavy plants inside their plant pot. Co-founder Rob Smith tells us more about the company.

WHAT DID YOU AND YOUR PARTNERS DO BEFORE STARTING ATLAS PLANT TRAINER? Prior to starting Atlas Plant Trainer, I was a full-service medical cannabis caregiver in Maine managing a 20-light grow and supplying a full range of medicine for our patients. My partner and wife, Danielle, has worked in human resources for over 15 years and chose to leave that career path to help others experience the benefits of the cannabis plant and then learning how to grow it themselves. We also own a trimming machine rental and sales company in New England called Green Harvest Solutions.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO THIS INDUSTRY?

Before growing, we had both been long-time cannabis consumers, so when there was an “industry” and the opportunity presented itself to make a living growing the plant, we jumped at it. We started out slowly when I left my job in January 2016 to focus on the businesses, but then quickly got Danielle out of the corporate grind when we were able.

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“I spent a lot of time learning how to get bigger yields

out of my plants and knew that plant training methods such as TOPPING AND LOW-STRESS TRAINING

WERE THE SOLUTION. ”

WHEN AND WHERE DID ATLAS PLANT TRAINER BEGIN?

When I first started growing, I was concerned with two things: how much I would get off of my six plants, and what they would smell and taste like when I was done. I spent a lot of time learning how to get bigger yields out of my plants and knew that plant training methods such as topping and low-stress training were the solution. Also, just like any home grower, we were limited by the number of plants we could grow. We were also limited by how tall those plants could get, like a lot of other people. As time went on, I tried many commercial solutions and a few DIY ones as well, but nothing grew with the plant as it grew. So I drew up my idea. I showed it to a couple of friends who encouraged me to move it along, and Danielle made the first contact to a product designer and we’ve worked together to bring APT to market ever since.

HOW DOES YOUR COMPANY PHILOSOPHY TRANSLATE TO OPPORTUNITIES?

Besides just helping people grow bigger plants and replacing their mold-ridden bamboo stakes, we do a lot of education on home growing. We’ve done side-by-side grows comparing products, live educational sessions on home growing, and lots of blog posts about the same subject. We believe the opportunity lies in growing your own cannabis at home, whether that’s legally or recreationally, because you know what goes into and onto your plant — keeping you safe and healthy.

WHAT DID YOU FIRST PRODUCE?

Our first prototypes left a lot to be desired. Considering we’re like an erector set or K’nex, we have a lot of the same types of pieces, so we didn’t prototype a full set until the very end. When we did, there were many

improvements that needed to be made and another four rounds of iterations on the prototypes. Finally, we got the pieces to fit together snuggly and be firm as the system grew around, over, and through the plants.

WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR STRUGGLES AS YOU STARTED THE BUSINESS? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THEM?

Atlas Plant Trainer is a very unique product that is creating a new category in a very unique market. While our competition has been around for a long time (and are cheap), they’re all very basic and limiting in functionality and they are not a long-term, sustainable solution. We’re also marketing to people that grow a federally illegal substance so traditional forms of advertising are not available to us.

HOW DID YOU GAIN MARKET SHARE AND RECOGNITION?

Honestly, any progress we’ve made can be attributed to our educational features, social media, and boots on the ground at tradeshows and in hydroponic shops. Atlas Plant Trainer needs a bit more explanation, so the hands-on approach has been key to our early successes. Maximum Yield

HAS ATLAS PLANT TRAINER MOVED OR EXPANDED SINCE THE BEGINNING? Since we’ve only been on the market since April 2018, everything has been expansion since! We’ve now shipped product to six different countries and more than half of the states. Atlas Plant Trainer is also being used on many kinds of plants, not just cannabis, but anything that has heavy flowers or fruits that need supporting.

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT PRODUCT LINE?

We currently offer Atlas Plant Trainer in two different size kits: the Autoflower Set that grows a 2x2-foot plant and the Large Plant Set that has enough pieces to easily grow a 4x4-foot structure or multiple smaller ones. We also offer discounts for multiple sets and bulk discounts for your larger gardens. We’re prototyping an attachment that will attach to the side of any hydro bucket or flood table acting as the medium for the stakes.

WHERE DO YOU DISTRIBUTE?

Currently we’re in about 20 grow stores across New England and are working on a few distribution deals in Canada, Australia, South Africa, and the UK. We’ll ship from our website anywhere in the world, just please reach out about international shipping costs first!

HOW MANY PEOPLE NOW WORK FOR ATLAS PLANT TRAINER? There are still just three of us: myself and Danielle, and our sales director, Chris.

WHAT ARE YOUR COMPANY’S STRENGTHS?

Our passion for helping people learn how to grow their own, at home. Atlas Plant Trainer is the product that helps them save time and effort while providing them with an easy way to yield more, but ultimately, we have to educate people how to get started and keep growing in order for Atlas Plant Trainer to make sense for them, and then for them to get the most out of the product. We also didn’t want to put out another product into the world that wasn’t going to last, so being a creative, sustainable solution in an otherwise replaceable world is another strength we like to boast.

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WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR PROUDEST MOMENTS?

The first as a company was our first sale, and then the first time that a grower shared with us how easy Atlas Plant Trainer was to use and how much more he enjoyed plant training now that he had the product. Final results have just started flowing in, and we’ve also been really impressed with how much more people are able to yield just by using our product and proper training techniques. Another moment happened more recently, when a fellow inventor saw the product in a grow shop and reached out to ask questions about the product creation, marketing, and go-to-market process. I always love to help other people, and this was the first time that someone reached out for advice on the product side, so I thought that was pretty cool.

WHAT SIGNIFICANT THINGS HAVE YOU LEARNED SO FAR ABOUT THE INDUSTRY?

That there’s still so much opportunity for creative entrepreneurs to start something awesome. Every day we either see a really cool new business or think of one that doesn’t exist but really should for the cannabis industry. Also, 99 per cent of people are really nice and helpful, and I haven’t found that in any other industry I’ve been a part of.

“WE ENCOURAGE

EVERYONE to try to

grow at home. It used to be way harder than it is now, so don’t be discouraged.”

SHARE YOUR FAVORITE STORY FROM A DAY ON THE JOB.

REALLY IMPRESSED “ WE’VEwithBEEN how much more people are

able to yield just by using our product and proper training techniques.”

We had a booth at MJ Biz Con in 2017, and it was the first time the whole set had been assembled in public. Remember, the pieces didn’t fit together perfectly, and the assembly appeared a bit weaker than I would’ve liked. Also, this was our first time out of New England with it, so we had a lot of nerves. Within the first 10 minutes, a couple of guys walked by, made it half way past the next booth, and slowly walked backwards until they were standing in front of our booth and Atlas Plant Trainer again. One of them asked if this was my product, which I confirmed, and he went on to say “I’ve been growing weed for 20 plus years, and you know how many times I’ve thought of this exact idea and didn’t do anything with it? This is a great idea, and needs to exist for growers, keep up the good work.” The rest of the week were filled with similar messages, but the exact wording of that will always stand out to me.

WHAT MAKES YOUR EMPLOYEES SO AWESOME? HOW DOES YOUR TEAM BOND?

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT STARTING AND GROWING A COMPANY?

We always have fun at tradeshows, and with how busy a startup can be, it’s one of the few times that we are all together doing the same thing. We always make sure to get an Airbnb- to ensure we get good bonding time off of the floor as well. Nothing like cooking a meal together to get to know each other better.

WHAT WORDS OF WISDOM CAN YOU SHARE ABOUT THE BUSINESS, THE INDUSTRY, OR THE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY?

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO INCLUDE ANYTHING FURTHER YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE.

It’s not easy, and the more that you can do to create a market for your product before you actually have a product, the better. You can also never market or sell enough.

That there still is so much opportunity. I’ve heard lots of people that think they’ve missed out on the “green rush” and I tell them all they are crazy! There are still so many states to legalize, and so many steps to take in the states that already have towards normalizing the consumption of cannabis. Also, with as small as the industry still is, it’s important to be the best business person you can be. There are only a few degrees of separation between most people, so word travels fast if you aren’t a stand-up type of individual.

We encourage everyone to try to grow at home. It used to be way harder than it is now, so don’t be discouraged. There are lots of products, like Atlas Plant Trainer, that make it easy to get started growing and then get better at growing as you stick with it. As much as you’ve enjoyed consuming the plant, I assure you that you will enjoy growing it just as much, if not more. The cannabis plant is one of the few things in this world that I’ve found that returns exactly what you invest into it. Make sure you give it love, so it provides that love back to you.

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HARD SCIENCE,

SIMPLIFIED. MEDXtract r 5614A Burbank Rd. SE, Calgary, Alberta • 4 years in business • 1.403.689.3901 • medxtractor.com

MedXtractor: History of the underlying technology

MedXtractor manufactures small-scale CO2 -based cannabis oil extractors for sale to craft growers worldwide (there are installations on three continents). Their Disruptor-series extractors are the only CO2 based extractors that don't rely on mechanical pumps and this patent-pending process brings the price down to a level that craft growers can afford. Craft growers can maximize their crop value by producing high-potency, high-purity oils without the risks associated with hydrocarbonbased extraction. MedXtractor president James Durward fills us in on the company.

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I conceived the technology after a trip to Vancouver in early 2015 where I shot a cannabis-testing video for a friend. After seeing what was happening in the cannabis dispensaries, it seemed clear to me that the future of cannabis ingestion was in concentrates. Concentrates were becoming very popular primarily because of the potency and convenience. According to some dispensary personnel, a new type of product, the cannabis vape pen, was experiencing high, growing demand. None of the dispensary people knew where the substance in the vape pen came from or how it was made — just that people wanted it and they had a hard time keeping it in stock. So I started to research this oil and how it was made. The “bleeding-edge” manufacturing method involved highdensity, pressurized CO2 that is used as a solvent to strip active cannabinoids from the cannabis plant. When the cannabinoid-saturated CO2 is released into an additional volume, the pressure and density both drop and dissolved cannabinoids precipitate for collection.

The CO2 is then cooled to the point where it changes from a gas to a liquid and then a mechanical pump is used to recirculate the liquid CO2 to repeat the process. This is referred to as a closed loop system and operates on the same principle as a home refrigerator. The available systems used large mechanical pumps and heat exchangers and were very expensive, often more than $100,000. The resultant oil is pure and potent, and the consistency is such that it can easily be used as vape pen oil and/ or for feedstock for a variety of cannabis products (edibles, sprays, tinctures, etc.). Carbon dioxide had developed a reputation for producing very high-purity oils and this was a desirable feature, particularly for medical users whose other option was hydrocarbon-based concentrates that are commonly extracted using highly-explosive butane/propane and which extracts can contain residual hydrocarbon — not a good thing. In my research, I also discovered that CO2 extraction had been around for decades and was used to decaffeinate coffee. The CO2 would be pressurized and heated to the point where it became supercritical

— think of this phase as a dense fog. In this phase, the CO2 could penetrate deep into cellular structures and, by varying the density and temperature, the solvent power could be biased toward a specified range of compounds. The CO2 would dissolve the compounds and transport them to a separate volume for separation/ collection. The big mechanical pumps were required to generate the pressures required (often more than 5000 psi). But active cannabinoids don’t reside deep within cellular structures — rather they reside on the surface of the plant in the head of a stalk-like structure called the trichome (pictured above). So, if the desired compounds didn’t reside deep inside cells, why was it necessary to generate such high pressures? And if high pressures were not required, could the big mechanical pumps be eliminated from the process? And if these expensive components could be eliminated, could the price be reduced to a point that small, butane/ hydrocarbon-using growers could afford it? I started to experiment with prototypes. Thir first one was developed around April 2015 (pictured below).

“

IT SEEMED CLEAR TO ME THAT THE FUTURE OF CANNABIS INGESTION WAS IN CONCENTRATES.”

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This was a “vent-to-atmosphere” model that did not recycle CO2. It was capable of extracting oils from plant material but was a long way from a commercial product. There were a number of iterations (pictured above). Feedback from users indicated that the process needed to be simplified as some people were having a difficult time properly operating the system. It was also clear that there needed to be a process for recapturing/recycling CO2 because venting the CO2 was too costly. Sales were intentionally stopped and a development process began to create a machine that recaptured/recycled CO2. To keep within the original patent application claims, any design had to work without the use of mechanical pumps (pictured below).

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The original machines could be retrofitted, and multiple upgrades were sold. However, the machine still seemed too complicated to operate, so a new development project was initiated to automate the entire process. The design would include computerized control allowing the user to easily input a series of commands and the machine would carry them out. The machine was also equipped with default settings to allow operation “straight out of the box” (pictured right). The machine was installed at a legal cannabis grow operation that was using one of the previous upgraded extractors. The machine in the picture was there for approximately nine months and a multitude of tests were run to determine optimum settings. There were a lot of problems as the machine, designed to be simple to operate, was extremely difficult to build and service. To make a long story short, the prototype was sold as a demo machine and the design was abandoned as it was felt it would be a nightmare to service in the field.

“

OUR EXTRACTORS OFFER A WHOLE NEW WAY FOR CRAFT GROWERS TO MAXIMIZE THEIR CROP VALUE.”

“

EVERYTHING WE DO IS DRIVEN BY OUR DESIRE TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD FOR THE CRAFT GROWER.”

Left to Right: Disruptor 16, 2oz Extractor (Expandable to 5oz)

What did you and your partners do before starting MedXtractor?

I’ve been a tech-oriented entrepreneur for over 30 years and have significant experience with startups. I am also a public-company guy — I always want to provide my investors with liquidity and have a record of doing so.

What were the start-up years like?

Startups are always exciting — building something from nothing can have great rewards — but there is a cost — long hard days and total dedication are required, often at the expense of other important life matters. Startups are not easy.

How does your company philosophy translate to opportunities? Our extractors offer a whole new way for craft growers to maximize their crop value — instead of selling their crops at deep discounts to large extraction companies, the craft growers can now produce their own oils at a cost they can easily afford.

What were some of your struggles as you started the business? How did you overcome them?

Nothing ever works as planned — but as long as you stay focused on the right direction, things will progress on the technical side. The larger issues are money and people. Startups are always in money-raising mode and it’s never easy. And when you take money from investors, a huge responsibility comes with it — and that can be a heavy burden, especially if things don’t go according to plan.

And, if the people aren’t on the same page, problems will develop — there needs to be a strong vision and everyone must work toward that vision. Cutting outliers is often necessary and always difficult. But you do what you have to do.

How did you gain market share and recognition?

Market share starts with visibility and becoming visible is expensive and a lot of work. In a word — advertising. Online ads, social media, trade magazines, partnerships, dealers — they all play a part.

Has your company moved or expanded since the beginning?

We started off in my garage and we now occupy an assembly space in an industrial park.

What is your current product line? We offer three extractor capacities: 16 oz, 5 oz, and 2 oz.

Where do you distribute?

We sell online direct and through brick and mortar dealers. Our focus is Canada and the US, but we are seeing interest from the EU as well as Australia. We get inquiries from all over the world.

What are MedXtractor’s strengths? 100 per cent customer satisfaction — damn the cost.

What are some of your proudest moments?

Hearing from satisfied customers makes it all worthwhile. We really do have some glowing reports... some are almost embarrassing.

What significant things have you learned so far about the industry? There is a huge amount of opportunity and a huge amount of noise.

What have you learned about starting and growing a company? 24/7 for years — that’s what it takes.

What words of wisdom can you share about the business, the industry, or it’s future?

Don’t blindly follow the noise — do your own research and base your opinions and operations on real data, not some third-party speculation.

Share your favorite story from a day on the job.

We have multiple safety devices (overall there are four pressure-burst disks and two thermostats) on the extractors and nowadays we typically run the extractors between 900-1200psi. But a few years back, we ran much higher pressures and one day I was pushing the limit during a high-pressure cycle when a safety-burst disk released. The CO2 was saturated with cannabis oil that filled my garage with a fine mist that coated everything — including myself and my Ducati motorcycle! Nowadays we regularly test the various system safety components but have learned to not use live raw material when doing it!

Please feel free to include anything further you’d like to share.

Everything we do is driven by our desire to level the playing field for the craft grower. We believe that if the craft grower is taking most of the risk, most of the rewards remain there. Maximum Yield

GREEN MEANS

GR W How Green Light Affects Plant Growth

In LED horticultural lighting, red and blue wavelengths were thought to be the only part of the spectrum that drove photosynthesis because chlorophylls are receptive to those colors. New research now reveals that previously dismissed green light can also drive plant growth. Fluence Bioengineeringâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chief innovation scientist Dung Duong explains the new data. by Dung Duong

he current state of the LED horticultural lighting industry would lead some to believe the world only exists in shades of red and blue. Thanks to narrow readings of research done by Dr. K.J. McRee and Dr. Katsumi Inada, a general consensus in the industry is visible ranges of red and blue light are the only wavelengths of light needed to induce photosynthesis.

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However, better analysis of the experiments conducted by McCree and Inada has shown limitations on what should be concluded from their research. It is important to recognize the discrete findings from McCree and Inada do reinforce historical experiments which reached similar conclusions, but also clearly define the boundaries in terms of technology and intent regarding how each of these experiments were performed. While McCree’s research and Inada’s research are groundbreaking for understanding the science behind photosynthesis, there have been assumptions derived by the horticultural lighting industry which are incorrect.

WHY GREEN LIGHT BECAME “INVISIBLE” IN HORTICULTURE LIGHTING

Before we can fully discuss the misconceptions around visible light, we need to discuss a couple of myths on why red and blue wavelengths are generally thought to be the only wavelengths needed to drive photosynthesis. Chlorophylls are widely recognized as being the primary photoreceptors which allow plants to draw energy from light. Chlorophylls A and B absorb the most amount of energy from the blue and red regions of the electromagnetic spectrum (Fig. 1). But chlorophylls are not the only photoreceptors that drive photosynthesis. Carotenoids are another example of photoreceptors which efficiently promote photosynthesis and will absorb energy from the violet to green regions of the electromagnetic spectrum; chlorophylls are simply the most effective.

As already established, chlorophylls are highly receptive to red and blue light (Fig. 2 a and e). Red and blue light will penetrate the top few cellular layers of a single leaf but will generally be absorbed by chlorophylls located in those top few layers. Green light behaves differently when it penetrates the top layers of the leaf (Fig. 2c) as it is not as effective at being absorbed by chlorophylls. This characteristic is beneficial as it allows green light to penetrate deeper into each layer and partially transmit through the bottom layer. When this is applied to an entire plant, this characteristic allows green light to efficiently penetrate through to the entire lower plant canopy driving greater photosynthesis throughout the entire plant. There is an important distinction to be made in research regarding conclusions that are drawn from measurements of a single leaf compared to those of an entire plant. McCree and Inada both identified biological effects associated with various wavelengths of light on single leaves of a wide variety of plants. This is represented in what is known as the action spectrum (Fig. 3). The biological effect of green photons historically may have been discounted because the green photons absorbed by carotenoids in single leaves were thought to have a negligible biological effect. However, when this seemingly negligible reaction is measured across an entire plant, the efficiency of green light on every leaf in a plant becomes much more apparent, as seen in Fig. 3.

Fig. 1 The absorption spectrum of chlorophyll A, chlorophyll B and carotenoids in vitro.

GREEN light behaves differently when it penetrates the top layers of the leaf (Fig. 2c) as it is not as effective at being absorbed by chlorophylls.”

Fig.2 Chlorophyll fluorescence profiles under direct a) red light (650nm) c) green light (532nm) e) blue light (488nm) Maximum Yield

Fig. 3 The action spectrum of photosynthesis of a single leaf as determined by Drs. McCree and Inada.

EFFICIENCY: WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE FIXTURE MAY NOT BE GOOD FOR THE PLANT

To understand this distinction of efficiency, one needs to further dissect how the photoreceptors in a plant interact with green light, particularly at the most basic level: the photon. A basic precept of plant photobiology is how green photons are mostly reflected when hitting chlorophylls at the surface of the leaf, which gives plants their greenish color. However, not all green photons are reflected. Some will pass through air interfaces in the chloroplasts and will even transmit through chlorophylls. Because green photons are not absorbed completely by photoreceptors at the surface of the leaf (Fig. 2), green light is able to penetrate deeper through a leaf to drive photosynthesis in chloroplasts located toward the bottom surface of the leaf and beyond. This reaction with green light occurs more effectively at high photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) than red light emitted at a comparable PPFD. In fact, as PPFD increases, light energy that is absorbed in the upper chloroplasts will reach a saturation point and will be dissipated as heat, while penetrating green light increases photosynthesis by exciting chloroplasts located deep in the mesophyll. And since green light penetrates much more effectively to the lower canopy, green light will help drive photosynthesis across the whole plant as it is absorbed by leaves in the lower canopy not exposed to red or blue light.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;For general growing applications, broad spectrum light, which includes red, blue, and green light should be used to ensure a plant can achieve its

full Potential.

One last thing to keep in mind is red light is more energy efficient for light fixtures to emit at high PPFD, but as is evidenced by the heat dissipation of red light, it is not used as efficiently by the plant. Green light, on the other hand, is not as efficient to emit, but is more effectively used by the whole plant.

SEEING GREEN, AGAIN

All this is not to say red or blue light do not have their own uses. Certain photomorphogenic effects can be achieved when narrow-band lighting is employed as a supplemental light. However, for general growing applications, broad spectrum light, which includes red, blue, and green light should be used to ensure a plant can achieve its full potential. While red and blue light align with peak absorption for chlorophylls A and B and can result in adequate yields, all the other antenna photoreceptors that impact secondary metabolite production are neglected and result in poor quality for the entire plant. Indeed, high-intensity discharge lights (Fig. 4 a and b) have all included green light in the past, and these bulbs typically all possess strong green wavelength emissions.

This is not to mention visual acuity green light provides by complementing red and blue to create a full and broadspectrum, perceived as white light by the human eye. This enables growers to clearly observe their plants, which is sometimes overlooked as another key contributing factor to the success of plant growth and development. The best way we have found to put this myth to rest would be to perform sideby-side trials of plants grown under narrow-band red and blue lights at high PPFD compared with plants grown under a comparable PPFD of broadspectrum light. The resulting plants and yields will most definitely speak for themselves, as it has for the many commercial growers that have employed lighting solutions with a broad-spectrum for their growing applications.

Fig. 4a Spectral distribution chart for a typical high pressure sodium light bulb.

Fig. 4b Spectral distribution chart for a typical metal halide light bulb.

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Sustainable Paradigms in Organic Production As pressure mounts to feed a growing population, a world-renowned Canadian researcher searches for answers through organic controlled environment growing while investigating new ideas in crop production.

by Lee Allen e are truly a global community, frequently struggling independently with similar problems in search of solutions that could be applied universally. One of those universal conundrums is how to feed the planet’s estimated 10 billion people milestone in 2050. Researchers are scrambling for ways to meet this challenge that is further compounded by changes brought about by global warming and compromises to environmental and resource capacities. Dr. Martine Dorais is a researcher with Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, an agronomist, a professor of phytology, and is recognized around the world for her tenacity in looking for answers through organic greenhouse growing while investigating novel approaches to organic crop production. The organic greenhouse horticulturist teaches at Université Laval in Quebec City, Canada, the first French-language university in the Americas “guiding decisionmakers who grapple with the major issues of society, who then advance and share that knowledge.” Dorais and fellow Faculté de sciences de L’Agriculture et de L’Alimentation colleagues are catalysts and agents of change in a growing sector of the global economy.

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Dr. Martine Dorais with Dr. Murat Kacira, Director of the University of Arizona College of Agriculture’s CEAC

“

As a researcher, I think we can contribute significantly to the development of highperformance growing systems that leave no negative impact on the environment.”

Dorais must listen to two voices on the organics issue, creatively growing soilless in hydroponic greenhouses on the US side of the border while Canadian National Organic Standards still refer to soil as “the required growing medium” — and that’s where her research on microbial activity plays a large part in our food future. “The main goal of optimizing the soil and growing medium performance, along with the management of fertilization, is to reach a high yield, as high as conventional agriculture, but without harmful chemicals. The idea is to keep the soil and plant healthy and to limit, or even eliminate, the use of non-renewable resources,” she says. “As a researcher, I think we can contribute significantly to the development of highperformance growing systems that leave no negative impact on the environment, systems that use natural resources in a smart way to limit resource depletion while providing tasty and healthy fruits and vegetables for all consumers.” Lecturing around the world, she recently told an overflow audience at Arizona’s Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (CEAC) that the popularity of organic food in the US continues to grow, with 83 per cent of families buying organic and millennials being the largest consumer group to do so. “And with 80 per cent of millennials expected to become parents in the next 10 to 15 years, organic agriculture in this century needs to find innovative farming systems that will produce yield while balancing multiple sustainability goals.” Because Canada prohibits hydroponic and aeroponic production — only growing in soil volume that consists of 10 per cent compost with soil regeneration and recycling procedures practiced is allowed — she spoke on a myriad of related subjects, all under the rubric of impact of soil and growing media,

nutrition and nutrient management for plant growth, quality biostimulants for physical and chemical properties of growing media, and LED lighting in indoor agriculture systems. “We need 21st century innovative farming systems to meet a growing demand that currently represents 90 billion dollars and has increased four times since 2001,” says Dorais. “Organic sales in the US are up to $47 billion, an eight per cent increase in just the last three years. And while organic agriculture is expanding, it needs to do so even more quickly because the projected future additional demand of fruits and vegetables is estimated at 2.4 billion tons annually.” It’s more than just having foods without pesticides, it’s to protect future generations and mitigate future climate change, she adds. “Where soilless organic crop production was once viewed as an inefficient growing system, a poor solution to the agriculture problem and global food security, it is today seen as an innovative farming system that can contribute to global food and ecosystem security.” In her PowerPoint presentation at the CEAC, Dorais focused on what she calls Organic 3.0 and her Canadian soil-based research on how greenhouse growing could be finetuned to be more advantageous than growing in native soil. Much of her concern centered on proper growing media and its microbial diversity in demarcated beds of peat, coir, perlite, fiber, sawdust, and biochar fertilized on weekly to monthly schedules. Noting that “microbial communities are highly contrasted among the types of fertilizers applied,” she referenced three years of biochar amendment research that uncovered higher soil biological activity, bacterial abundance, nutrients, and reduced system nitrogen leaching by up to 50 per cent, but found “little or no significant effect on leaf nutrient content, root mycorrhization, plant growth or total yield.” Her current research involves vertical organic farming with a mission “to develop vertical organic production systems for controlled environment plant factories with diseasesuppressive growing media and LEDs adapted to organic horticulture crops.” Adding emphasis to the urgency in making food production faster and with higher yields is her admonition to her audience that with the approaching 2050 deadline, “we need our research on organic horticulture farming systems to reach its productivity goal by 2030.” Maximum Yield

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the simple truth about value

Value is much more than giving your customers a good deal, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about providing your customers with useful products they feel good about. Donald Cooper provides insight on what good value really is. by Donald Cooper

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ltimately, customer ownership is all about creating, delivering, and communicating Ucompelling value. Value that grabs your target

customers, clearly differentiates you from your competitors, makes you ‘famous,’ and grows your bottom line. Customers demand value and every business promises it. But there’s a huge lack of clarity about what value really is. Let’s keep it simple; there are only three kinds of value…functional, emotional, and financial. We deliver functional value when we… • sell products and services that actually work for our target customers. • are open or available when they need us. • provide the information, coaching, and encouragement that they need to wisely choose and effectively use what we sell. • create policies and processes that make us easy, efficient, and consistent to do business with. • do what we say we will… when we said we’d do it. Next is emotional value. Most business people struggle with this one. They think it’s some airy-fairy thing that can’t be defined… and they’re dead wrong! Quite simply, we deliver emotional value when our customers feel better about themselves and the world every time they do business with us, and every time they use what they bought from us. That’s it. If we’re not delivering emotional value, we’re not really “connecting” with our customers. People will always remember how you made them feel. Financial value is No. 3. Most businesses put it as No. 1, but it has to be No. 3 because it’s a function of the previous two. We deliver financial value when our customers believe that they paid a fair and competitive price for all of the functional and emotional value that they got from us. If we don’t deliver functional and emotional value, there can be no financial value. So, the question is, are you delivering the compelling combination of functional, emotional, and financial value required to make you the ‘wise choice’ for your target customers? If not, what needs fixing, doing, or not doing to make that happen? Specifically, what action will be taken, by whom, by when, at what cost, measured how, and rewarded how to deliver more functional, emotional, and financial value in 2019?

“People will always remember how you made them feel.”

Donald Cooper, MBA, CSP, HoF, has been both a worldclass manufacturer and an award-winning retailer. Now, as a Toronto-based international management speaker and coach, he helps clients rethink, refocus, and re-energize their business to sell more, manage smarter, grow their bottom line, and have a life. Donald can be reached at 416-252-3703 or by email at donald@donaldcooper. com. For more info or to receive their free ‘straight talk’ management blog, go to donaldcooper.com.

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FORGET BIG SET MONTHLY

by Wayne Elsey When it comes to setting and reaching goals, looking at the big picture might not always be the best method. Wayne Elsey says setting goals on a month-to-month basis is more helpful in attaining those objectives.

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Let Go of the Big Goal

I’m going to tell you something that you may be surprised to hear from me if you’re someone who follows my writings. I generally believe in dreaming and doing big things, which is a theme I often express. That’s how I live my life and find success at work. However, the big goals are based “THE BIG GOALS ARE on lots of tiny steps. I’ve gotten in understanding and BASED ON LOTS OF excellent internalizing that the journey of 1,000 miles begins with the first step. That said, each of the small steps is intentional. So, if you’ve wanted to change something in your life, but have not found success, get rid of focusing on the big goals and resolutions for this year and think about the smaller parts toward living the life you want to lead.

The Making of a Habit

If you’re looking to live your life with intention and purpose, you’re in luck. You’re alive today and can reset what you want to change to move forward. It begins by taking small steps and developing habits. In as little as 21 days, you can start to create patterns that will slowly shift the course of your life. If you’re seeking to develop habits around larger themes in life, those will take a bit longer. Science has told us that it will take 66 days for long-term fundamental changes. Whether you’re looking to make small or significant changes, 21 days or 66 days both begin with Day 1.

Move Forward with Micro Results

If you’re seeking to make a change, even if it’s a big one, forget about the singular big goal which will disappear by the end of the month. Instead, think about a theme in your life and the results you want to achieve for the year. Let’s say you’re looking for a new work opportunity, break down the results you want to see into monthly action plans. For instance, take the month of March and chip away at fixing your resume –– nothing else –– until completed by the 31st of March. The result you’re seeking for March is a revised resume. In April, create another result you want to see by the end of the month. Perhaps you can say that you’re going to network with three people you know and two that you’ve never met each week of the month. By the end of the month, you’ll have spoken to at least 20 people and officially gotten yourself into the job market. Following in May, you’re going to move to the search

engines and submit your resume to 10 posted job opportunities weekly, which will provide you with 40 submissions by the end of May. Then move on with one focused result you want to see for each of the remaining months without worrying or getting overwhelmed by anything. Again, you’re looking to keep things achievable.

Why Monthly and Small Results Work

Change does not happen overnight. It would be nice if it did, but that’s not reality. There’s a reason why people say patience is a virtue. It takes patience to change, and more often than not, change comes through the incremental steps you take to achieve results. That’s why thinking about a big goal can sometimes be daunting and out of reach. Instead, if you picked an area in your life that you wanted to change, and then spent each month focusing on a small result toward the more significant change you want to see, you’d get closer to achieving what you’re looking to gain. You’d also succeed in developing habits that will move you forward in a realistic manner. When you focus daily on a regular monthly result, you build the muscle memory in your brain to slowly incorporate it as a priority, and whether it’s in 21 days or 66 days, what’s important to you will become something where your mind will focus. For example, let’s say you’ve started to network and haven’t done it in a long time. If you focus for one month exclusively on networking, as you improve and get better at it, you’ll develop the skills to keep doing it as a habit. If you’re seeking to change something in your life this year, figure out a plan for creating monthly results around the life that you want to see. By working on it in smaller parts, in different ways, you’ll ultimately achieve the change while also creating some of the habits that will stick with you and help improve your life. Wayne Elsey, CEO of Wayne Elsey Enterprises, Funds2Orgs, str@tegic, and 501C3U, has successful led organizations in the for-profit, social enterprise, and non-profit sectors. In addition to growing his companies, today he is a highly sought after public speaker and authority on topics related to leadership, branding, social activism, motivation, and community engagement. His network appearances include NBC Nightly News, Good Morning America, Today Show, & Fox News. Article Source: wayneelsey.com.

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