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Fluence Research

At Fluence, science is not just a foundation —
It’s the force that drives every innovation we bring to cultivation.
We believe that true progress comes from rigorous research, experimental design, statistical analysis, and relentless curiosity. From our state-of-the-art Cannabis Science Center to groundbreaking collaborations with cultivation leaders, Fluence is dedicated to advancing cannabis science and empowering growers to achieve better yields, higher quality, and sustainable success. Our partnership with Texas Original is just one example of how we’re lighting the way for the future of cannabis cultivation.
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Advancing Cultivation Together:

Fluence + Texas Original

Fluence and Texas Original have partnered to drive the future of cannabis cultivation through science, innovation, and shared values. Through research at our Cannabis Research Center and real-world commercial validation, this partnership builds new insights into optimal lighting strategies, plant health, and sustainable practices. This ensures our research is tested, validated, and ready to help cultivators grow smarter, stronger, and more efficiently.

A Proven Research Methodology

Step 1

Voice of Customer

Step 2

Literature Review

Step 3

Scientific Studies

Step 4

Commercial Trials

Step 5

Meta-Analysis

Step 6

Launch & Communication

Our Research Milestones

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024 - 25
2020
Technicians adjust industrial cannabis lighting technology at Fluence Research lab.
  • Compared 4 of the most common lighting spectra, ranging in red content, and identified BW4 as the optimal spectrum for cannabis development, considering quality and yield.
  • Tested yield response to light intensity and found a 1:1 relationship up to 1850 umol/m2/s, on average, with some cultivars continuing a 1:1 response up to 2500 umol.
  • Tested the possibility for FR to drive yield above and beyond PAR light alone via the Emerson Enhancement Effect. We found that at commercial intensities, FR can be as effective as PAR light to drive yield, but doesn’t enhance yield beyond what you’d get for the same amount of PAR.
  • Tested the effects of UVB when applied for different durations during flower and found that the more UVB, the greater reduction to yield and potency.
  • Tested whether a low dose of blue light each day after the typical photoperiod could increased cannabinoid and terpene concentrations without causing the plants to revert to veg. This didn’t work; the plants re-vegged, and some yield was lost.
2021
Technicians in blue uniforms inspect LED grow lights for commercial cannabis cultivation.
  • Revisited spectrum optimization at high (>1800 umol/m2/s) PPFD’s and identified that at high intensity, red-light-fraction correlates with instance and severity of photobleaching.
  • Tested the possibility of finishing a crop cycle with high-blue light to enhance cannabinoid and terpene concentrations and found this to be ineffective.
  • Tested if cultivar-specific spectrum responses are highly conserved between relatively closely related genetics; they weren’t.
  • Tested time to harvest, spanning 48 to 64 days of flower. Cannabinoid and terpenes yields peaked at 56 days.
2022
A technician adjusts LED grow lights for cannabis on a rack in a Fluence lab.
  • Tested the effect of curing spectrum on cannabis flower chemistry and saw no significant effect on cannabinoid or terpene concentrations.
  • Tested “putting the plants to bed” with FR after a slightly extended photoperiod to increase energy delivery but maintain generative development with forced phytochrome reversion. This strategy delayed flowering and reduced yield.
  • Tested a gradient of red photon doses to begin developing correlation models of red fraction and intensity to predict photobleaching.
  • Tested a static spectrum with 55% red for growing with maximum efficacy and minimal photobleaching, but found this to still be too high of red in certain applications.
2023
A technician tests LED grow lights for cannabis in a Fluence lab; monitor shows lighting specs.
  • Compared the effects of different intercanopy spectra and concluded spectral considerations are the same as those for top lighting.
  • Compared the effects of intercanopy lighting vs subcanopy lighting and found that, while largely dependent on cultivation style, ub-canopy lighting achieves slightly higher yields when deployed with cultivation practices most common in North America.
  • Tested redistributing light from top-light-only to a combination of top light and intercanopy light, which did not increase yield, but evelvated bud grade and uniformity, thereby increasing crop value.
  • Tested emulating sunset by ramping up PPFD for the first hour of the photoperiod, and ramping down PPFD in the final hour of the photoperiod, while applying various doses of end-of-day far-red. In one cultivar, we saw an increase in yield with a decrease in potency; in two other cultivars, sunset emulation had no effect.
  • Tested the addition of FR as a means to overcome photobleaching. It didn’t work – it actually made photobleaching a little worse.
Continuing Our Commitment to Research Excellence
Close-up of Fluence LED grow light for commercial cannabis cultivation in greenhouse.

Fluence’s research program remained active in 2024 and 2025, with a continued focus on helping growers optimize spectral strategies, light intensity, and lightingplacement across diverse cultivars and environments. While findings from these studies are not yet available for public release, they continue to inform our internal product development and grower support strategies as we look ahead to future publications.

Experts Behind the Science

Portrait of man in glasses, trimmed beard, white shirt, with orange border; expert in LED cannabis grow lights technology.
Dr. David Hawley
Research and Development Lead, Cannabis Science and Horticultural Services
Leads Fluence’s science and consultation teams, focused on rigorous experimental design and advancing cultivation technologies.
Man with curly brown hair in striped shirt smiles; orange circle frame; cannabis grow light expert.
Brian Poel
Research Manager, North America
Manages scientific studies and operations, bridging experimental data and actionable strategies.
A smiling man with shaved head, beard, wearing dark shirt, in a circle; expert in cannabis lighting technology.
Taylor Kirk
Cultivation Advisor
Supports growers by applying Fluence research into practical cultivation solutions.
Bearded man in gray flat cap and blue shirt, expert in cannabis LED grow lights, with orange border.
Dr. Jason Matlock
Cultivation Advisor and Data Scientist
Supports growers by applying Fluence research into practical cultivation solutions and crunches large data to uncover additional value.
Smiling man in brown cap and gray polo, orange border; cannabis LED grow lights expert.
Franz Josef Sima
Plant Specialist
Helps cultivators across EMEA adapt advanced strategies tailored to local conditions.
A woman in a yellow sweater with curly hair, orange border, cannabis grow lights expert.
Dr. Sabrina Carvalho
Research Manager, EMEA
Partners with growers to implement environmental control and crop optimization strategies. Manages research projects and partnerships to advance international cannabis cultivation expertise.

Read About the Science

Close-up of cannabis bud and leaves under LED grow lights for commercial cultivation.
  • Science

Powerful Control. Premium Quality. Proven ROI.

Dynamic Lighting Unlock the full potential of your cannabis cultivars with dynamic spectrum control.What Is Dynamic Lighting?Dynamic lighting is one of the most advanced lighting...

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LED grow lights for cannabis illuminating dense plants in commercial cultivation rows.
  • Science

The impact of intercanopy lighting on plant growth and development

Intercanopy lighting study: A Fluence research trial to determine the influence of light intensity and light distribution on cucumbers and tomatoes Crop focus: Vine crops,...

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Cannabis plants under LED grow lights for commercial cannabis cultivation science.
  • Science

Collaborative Science: Fluence is the Lighting Partner of Wageningen University and Research (WUR)

Illuminating the Serre Red high-containment greenhouse and Netherlands Plant Eco-Phenotyping Center (NPEC) The Wageningen University campus is home to world-class researchers and state-of-the-art science facilities...

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Commercial cannabis cultivation under advanced LED grow lights for cannabis.
  • Science

Far-red: Introduction and Yield

Introduction Far-red light has been something of a controversial topic in commercial horticulture over the last five years. Regardless of crop, growers are expressing a...

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Close-up of cannabis under LED grow lights for commercial cultivation, optimized PPFD.
  • Science

About PAR, PPF, and PPFD

Understanding The Numbers If you have been researching LED horticulture lighting systems for your plant growth facility, you have likely been bombarded with a variety...

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Cannabis plants thriving under LED grow lights for commercial cannabis cultivation.
  • Science

Do Plants Use Green Light?

Absorption Spectrum vs Action Spectrum When most people think about LEDs being used for horticulture lighting, the first thing that comes to mind is a...

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Cannabis custom grow light distance infographic.
  • Science

How To Compare Grow Lights

As a refresher, PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) is a region of the electromagnetic spectrum (400 to 700 nm) that promotes photosynthesis. PPF (Photosynthetic Photon Flux)...

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Commercial cannabis cultivation with LED grow lights and vertical shelving.
  • Science

Rediscovering White Light

Broad Spectrum vs Narrow Spectrum Horticulture lighting technologies have improved dramatically over the past century, but manipulation of light spectrum is a fairly new concept....

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Cannabis bud under LED grow lights, showing trichomes and cannabis lighting effects.
  • Science

Influence of Light Intensity & Quality

Plant growth and development, such as production of leaves, stems, roots, and floral organs is a result of primary metabolic processes. Byproducts of photosynthesis are...

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Glass greenhouse roof with sunlight, illustrating cannabis lighting technology.
  • Science

Introducing the Concept of DLI to the World

Daily Light Integral (DLI) has been a widely used concept by ornamental greenhouse growers in the United States for the past few decades, but maps...

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Helping the world grow smarter.

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