14 Dec Fluence Bioengineering Illuminates MedMen Cannabis Vertical Farm in California; Increases Yield 157 Percent
MedMen deploys Fluence SPYDR and RAZR LED solutions for improved growth, development, potency and quality of flower at state-of-the-art cannabis cultivation facility
AUSTIN, TX – December 14, 2016 – Fluence Bioengineering today announced that its LED systems have been selected by MedMen, a leading cannabis firm, for its newly renovated cultivation facility in Los Angeles. The new, state-of-the-art vertical farm replaces a traditional single-tier cultivation facility, and enables MedMen to use fewer natural resources, increase overall revenue per square foot and reduce operating cost per pound.
“Being an industry leader, our goal is to stay out in front and push our company into the future,” said Damian Solomon, Director of Cultivation at MedMen. “With the Fluence LED systems, we see faster bloom cycles and a significant increase in potency, density and overall quality of flower compared to traditional HID lights. It’s clear Fluence is a perfect partner to deliver the tools and technology to help us achieve our goals.”
MedMen cannabis vertical farm with Fluence SPYDRx PLUS LED lighting systems
The new facility is optimized to increase revenue per square foot, with all phases of plant cultivation — from propagation to bloom — growing under Fluence LED lighting systems. By transforming the growing facility from a single-tier traditional indoor farm using high pressure sodium (HPS) lights into a multi-tier vertical farm with Fluence LED lights, MedMen has:
- Decreased cycle time on eight-week strains by up to 25 percent, reducing production time by 5 to 7 days for retail flower market and by 12 to 14 days for oil-extraction and derivatives markets
- Reduced the cost per pound of finished product by 75 percent
- Decreased energy consumption per light fixture by 40 percent, going from approximately 1,100 watts per light to 660 watts per light
- Reduced heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) load by approximately 35 percent per square foot of canopy
- More than doubled production per square foot; reduced land requirements by 50 percent
- Increased crop yield by 157 percent while reducing water and fertilizer usage
- Improved consistent, year-round flower quality and chemotype with denser trichrome development
“MedMen is a shining example of how the cannabis industry will evolve to embrace more ecologically friendly cultivation practices to better serve patients, consumers, the environment and financial stakeholders,” said Jerry Kieran, Chief Business Development Officer at Fluence. “We’re excited to partner with MedMen as they help pave the way for North America’s commercial cannabis-cultivation industry.”
About The SPYDR Series
The SPYDR Series delivers a broad spectrum with industry-leading photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) averaging up to 909 micromoles per meter square per second (mmol/m2/s) over a 4-by-4-foot canopy. In addition, the SPYDR Series is 69 percent more energy efficient than today’s leading high pressure sodium (HPS) fixtures1, and optimized for ultra-dense cannabis vertical farming with a 4.6-inch thin frame and close-proximity mounting height just six inches from top of canopy. Learn more: www.fluence-led.com/spydr
About RAZR
RAZRx is designed to replace fluorescent light fixtures in vertical farming applications for cannabis propagation and full-cycle microgreen, leafy green and herb production. RAZRx is 162 percent more energy efficient, while providing 350 percent more light, than comparable fluorescent lighting systems2. RAZRx is just 1.2 inches thin with a recommended mounting height just five inches from canopy for ultra-dense vertical farming. Learn more: www.fluence-led.com/technology/razr/
About Fluence Bioengineering
Fluence Bioengineering is a photobiology design company exploring physiological plant development under various levels of photosynthetically active radiation and custom spectra targeting photosynthetic and photomorphogenic responses. The company partners with leading research institutions to engineer the most powerful and efficient horticulture lighting solutions for both science and commercial applications. All Fluence systems are designed and built in Austin, TX. www.fluence-led.com
About MedMen
MedMen is a leading cannabis firm based in Los Angeles with operations and exposure across North America. The firm has two divisions; MedMen Management offers turnkey services to license holders in the areas of cultivation, extraction, production and retail operations, and MedMen Capital makes strategic investments in key markets across the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit www.medmen.com.
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1 Fluence lighting systems have a typical photon efficiency between 2.1 and 2.2 mmol/J compared to the leading DE 1000-watt HPS fixtures at 1.7 mmol/J and leading SE 1,000-watt HPS fixtures at 1.3 mmol/J: Economic Analysis of Greenhouse Lighting: Light Emitting Diodes vs. High Intensity Discharge Fixtures
2 RAZR has a photon efficiency of 2.2 mmol/J and photon output of 200 mmol/s compared to florescent lighting at .84 mmol/J and 48 mmol/s. Economic Analysis of Greenhouse Lighting: Light Emitting Diodes vs. High Intensity Discharge Fixtures