Maximizing Efficiency in Cannabis Cultivation: Insights from Dave Hawley & Travis Higgenbotham

The cannabis industry is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and with that evolution comes the need for cultivators to refine their operations for efficiency, sustainability, and profitability. At the Fluence booth, Dr. David Hawley, Principal Scientist at Fluence, sat down with Travis Higgenbotham, founder of Due Diligence Horticulture, to discuss how cannabis cultivators can adapt to changing market demands and economic pressures. Here are some key takeaways from their conversation.

Optimizing for Profitability: The Four Pillars of Cultivation

With a background in traditional horticulture, Higgenbotham brings a unique perspective to cannabis cultivation, emphasizing the importance of efficiency. He highlights four key pillars that growers must consider: unit time, unit area, unit yield, and unit energy.

• Unit Time: Reducing the time required for cultivation cycles can increase the number of harvests per year, improving efficiency and profitability. For example, shortening flowering cycles from 10 weeks to 7.5 weeks while maintaining yield enables cultivators to maximize production per square foot annually.
• Unit Area: Maximizing the use of available growing space helps cultivators produce more per square foot, enhancing output without expanding facilities. Efficient spatial management is key to reducing wasted resources.
• Unit Yield: Implementing techniques to increase yield per plant, such as optimizing light exposure and nutrient strategies, ensures higher returns. Strategic planning in plant density and care can significantly impact output.
• Unit Energy: Managing energy consumption efficiently, especially given the high costs in some regions, helps reduce operational expenses and improve sustainability. According to Higgenbotham, “We have a facility in Maryland where the cost per kilowatt hour is six cents, and then we have a facility in Desert Hot Springs, California, where it can go as high as 85 cents. Energy efficiency is key to surviving in this industry.”

By balancing these four factors, growers can enhance productivity while keeping costs under control.

The Role of Technology & Capital in Cultivation Success

As automation and AI begin to play a larger role in traditional agriculture, cannabis cultivators are slowly exploring these innovations. However, Higgenbotham warns that automation is not a silver bullet just yet. “In cannabis, unlike in other traditional horticultural markets, we don’t yet have scale on our side,” he notes. “Most production facilities don’t have the budget to invest in automation like transplanting lines or palletized bench systems, nor do they have the scale to benefit from those investments.” Instead, he advises cultivators to focus on building predictable, consistent perpetual growing schedules. By tightening operations, growers can reduce downtime, improve labor efficiency, and increase output.

The Lighting Factor: A Low-Hanging Fruit for ROI

Lighting remains one of the most critical and costly aspects of cannabis cultivation. Many facilities still use outdated HPS systems, which limit their potential yield and drive-up operational expenses. Higgenbotham emphasizes the financial impact of transitioning to LED: “If a facility is tapped on electrical capacity, they need to select a lighting solution that optimizes the use of that electricity. With the right technology, 1% more light equals 1% more yield—it wins every time.” Hawley agrees, reinforcing the importance of economic considerations when selecting lighting: “For us, we do this ROI analysis and look at the economics before making recommendations. It’s not just about better technology; it’s about making sure it makes financial sense for the grower.”

Final Thoughts: The Future of Cannabis Cultivation

While cannabis cultivation still has a long way to go before reaching the efficiency levels of traditional crops like tomatoes or lettuce, progress is being made. Genetic advancements, increased use of data-driven crop modeling, and more disciplined business practices are helping growers stay competitive in an unpredictable market. Higgenbotham sums it up best: “Humans don’t grow plants—the environment we manage grows plants. Cultivators need to focus on infrastructure, efficiency, and cost per pound if they want to survive long-term.” As the industry matures, those who embrace a data-driven approach, invest wisely in technology, and continuously optimize their operations will be the ones who thrive.