We are all acutely aware of the complex set of headwinds the cannabis industry is facing. Supply chain shortages continue to drive up capital improvement costs, cannabis surplus in the U.S. is forcing retailers to sell their products at deep discounts and inflation hangs over consumers worldwide. It’s tough out there. But, since Fluence’s inception, we have experienced the resilience of this industry. Cannabis professionals by nature are adaptive and creative. In spite of today’s obstacles, their forward-looking ingenuity has never shone brighter.
The industry’s resilience and innovation are clear in this year’s “State of the Cannabis Lighting Market” report. For the first time ever, at least 70% or more of study participants from commercial indoor or greenhouse operations with supplemental lighting used LEDs in propagation, vegetation and/or flowering. Moreover, LED usage has increased by more than 50 percentage points since the study’s first year in 2016. These numbers are not only massively impressive, but also demonstrate a deeply inspiring shift being driven by a collective grower commitment to instill innovation into the craft of cultivation and deliver top-tier products to consumers.
Cultivators are looking for technological advancements for greater control over factors such as light intensity, spectra and energy costs. They’re interested in fostering sustainability throughout their supply chains. They have pushed lighting companies to produce realistic, usable fixtures for facility retrofits and are continuously exploring optimal lighting strategies through solutions such as side, intercanopy and sub-canopy lighting.
The pioneering spirit and relentless pursuit of excellence that cannabis growers have always brought to the industry has never been more apparent.
The pioneering spirit and relentless pursuit of excellence that cannabis growers have always brought to the industry has never been more apparent. At Fluence, we are committed to meeting their ambition, purpose and vision with best-in-class tools and technology to realize success. We work closely with growers to increase average yields and advance their scientific understanding of light’s impact on plant genetics and quality.
This year’s report and the industry-leading research performed by our global team of horticulture experts continue to affirm the important role of lighting in achieving even more efficient and productive economies of scale. Being led by science means we’re dedicated to delivering technology that improves the interaction between light and life and to helping our cultivation partners drive operational efficiencies at every stage of their grows.
To helping the world grow smarter, together,
David Cohen, CEO, Fluence