GrowerIQ Announces Cutting-Edge Sensor Technology to Prevent Crop Loss

Through Collaboration with Leading Plant Scientist, Sensor Decodes Cannabis Plant Messages

• Collaboration on world's first cannabis organic compound sensor
• Allows early pest detection, letting growers nip problem in bud
• Sensor to be integrated into GrowerIQ’s cultivation platform, compounding value of data collected

Before we get started with this post, we want to make sure that you've learnt about our cannabis cultivation software. If you haven't, we urge you to check out the linked post before you continue reading this post.

TORONTO, ONTARIO - July 4, 2019 - GrowerIQ, a seed-to-sale regulatory technology provider and developer of the first cannabis cultivation platform, and Dr. Tina Kasal-Slavik, a chemical ecologist at the Free University of Berlin, announced they entered into an agreement to commercialize the world's first cannabis plant health sensor technology, based on cutting-edge science. The sensor will decode plant messages about attack before obvious visual symptoms, allowing growers enough warning to prevent widespread crop loss.

GrowerIQ will assist in the technical development of the sensing algorithm and provide an opportunity to evaluate impact through trial deployment across a select group of their cannabis clients. Dr. Kasal-Slavik will provide plant science insight and the scientific knowledge to identify compounds associated with plant afflictions.

This represents the world's first cannabis organic compound sensor, creating an early warning system to prevent crop loss.

GrowerIQ Chief Operating Officer (COO) Andrew Wilson stated, "The commercial impact of this early warning system cannot be overstated. Here in Canada, pest and mould or mildew infestations affect crops at producers across the country. Having to wait until the infestation is large enough for a grower to take note is too late. These crop loss events are very expensive."

As a cultivator, Master Grower Shlomo Booklin offers, "Due to the medicinal nature of our crop, we are restricted in chemical use. Early detection is critical, since this helps cut pesticide use dramatically. We want to address issues before we get uncontrolled infestations! That's why Dr. Tina’s technology can be a game-changer in our industry."

According to Dr. Kasal-Slavik, the possible applications are endless, "This method can be applied to different plant species in very early stages of stress. It has the potential to lead to pesticide-free greenhouse plant production."

BECOMING A PLANT WHISPERER

Plants under duress communicate with each other and other organisms by sending and receiving specific chemicals. These messages contain clues about both attackers and severity. For example, minutes after an aphid attack, a host-plant releases a multipurpose chemical message alerting other organisms that it's being fed upon. If picked up by neighbouring plants, it’s interpreted as a warning to prepare. If received by a predatory ladybug, it's interpreted as the ringing of a dinner bell to a nearby aphid feast.

Dr. Kasal-Slavik discovered we can decode these messages to gain valuable insight. It is now possible to evaluate a plant’s health before any obvious visual symptoms of attack. This can be used to build an early warning system, alerting growers to pests and infected plants.

These sensors will be integrated seamlessly into the GrowerIQ platform, adding even more tools to the cultivator's toolbox. Read more about the technology at GrowerIQ Announces Cutting-Edge Sensor Technology to Prevent Crop Loss.

We hope that you liked this post! Now that you’re almost done with this post, we urge you to check out these related posts next to continue your learning journey (as you should never stop learning!): GrowerIQ Case Studies, GrowerIQ Media, GrowerIQ Team, GrowerIQ Partnership High North, GrowerIQ Seed, Betakit GrowerIQ, Canna Expo, Andrew Wilson, Canna Expo (pt. 2), StratCann Profile: GrowerIQ, Startup GrowerIQ, Business of Cannabis Andrew Wilson, Master Grower Insights, Maximize Returns on your Cannabis Investment and Software, and our Service Partner Program.

ABOUT GROWERIQ

GrowerIQ is a complete cannabis cultivation management platform, designed in partnership with Master Grower Shlomo Booklin. This is the first platform to integrate all facility systems, including sensors, building controls, QMS, and ERP, into a single simplified interface. The company built insights from Shlomo's 30+ years of agronomist experience right into the platform. GrowerIQ leverages proprietary machine learning technology to improve facility automation and provide cultivators with insights to improve quality and consistency. GrowerIQ is changing the way cultivators use software - transforming a regulatory requirement into a robust platform to learn, analyze, and improve crop performance. Visit GrowerIQ for more information.

Bringing together systems, data, and insights to help you grow.

ABOUT DR. TINA KASAL-SLAVIK

Tina is a postdoctoral researcher at the Molecular ecology department at the Free University of Berlin, where she investigates plant-insect interactions. However, her focus remains on developing an early warning system for biotic stress in plants. Learning from the mistakes of previous projects, Tina recognized that plant chemicals could be understood for what they really are - a part of plant communication.

ABOUT SHLOMO BOOKLIN

Shlomo, GrowerIQ's Master Grower, is a recognized cannabis expert, having worked on numerous large-scale international projects, including some of the biggest names in Canadian cannabis. Shlomo is an approved RPIC, with security clearance from Health Canada. As a consultant, he has written successful license applications for Licensed Producers around the world. Insights gained from Shlomo's decades of commercial cultivation experience have been built right into the GrowerIQ platform.

For further information:
Andrew Wilson, Chief Operating Officer
+1 (416) 299-2808
andrew@groweriq.ca

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