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+5.4% Boost in Cannabis

+5.4% Boost in Cannabis

AT A GLANCE

After three months under the films, dry, trimmed harvest weights leveraging the benefits of quantum dots were reported in September of 2019. Dry yield showed an extra 2.5 lbs harvested from under the film, equivalent to a +5.4% increase in total dry yield, demonstrating effective cannabis cultivation techniques.

266 Cannabis Plants of Ice Cream Cake Strain
Little Hill Cultivators If the farm adopted the UbiGro technology across all six greenhouses on site and this yield improvement was consistently realized, it could profit an additional $49,000 per year, or an additional $196,000 over the 4-yr lifetime of the films.
Trinity Co. CA, USA.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

UbiGro® films, a revolutionary application in cannabis production, were installed at Little Hill Cultivators farm in Trinity County, California. The films were mounted flush against the inside polyethylene cover of half of a 20’x108’ greenhouse. The UbiGro film covered 133 cannabis plants while the other half of the greenhouse had no UbiGro film and served as the control for the trial. The number of control plants matched the number under the UbiGro film for a total of 266 plants that were monitored during the trial. The strain for the plant trial was the Indica-dominant Ice Cream Cake (Gelato x Wedding Cake).

All conditions were kept identical for both sides of the experiment: watering and nutrient regimen, humidity and temperature, harvesting and pruning regimen, integrated pest management regimen, etc. The cultivation team at Little Hill Cultivators made qualitative observations of the crop during the growth cycle. They noted that the plants under the UbiGro film, benefitting from the unique benefits of quantum dots, showed an obvious enhanced vegetative growth rate, exemplified by an increase in height, width, and overall foliage, filling more aisle space than their control counterparts. After three months under the films, dry, trimmed harvest weights were reported in September of 2019. Dry yield showed an extra 2.5 lbs harvested from under the film, equivalent to a +5.4% increase in total dry yield. No differences in trichome color, finishing time, bud color, bud odor/flavor, or overall quality were observed.

Little Hill Cultivators revolutionized cultivating cannabis with UbiGro® films, acting as a powerful cannabis bloom booster, in a 20’x108’ greenhouse, comparing them to a controlled group. Results after three months were impressive—UbiGro-covered plants showed heightened growth and a +5.4% increase in total dry yield, emphasizing the potential of greenhouse films in optimizing yield and quality, a testament to advanced cannabis cultivation techniques. No discernible quality differences were noted.

Discover the transformative power of UbiGro for your cannabis cultivation. Elevate your yields and quality with this exceptional cannabis bloom booster and innovative use of greenhouse films. Contact us today to redefine excellence in cultivating cannabis.

After two weeks of growth we are noticing a clear increase in overall foliage, height, and width of plants under the film. It’s night and day in there.”

– Owner, Little Hill Cultivators

+5.4% Boost in Cannabis

Specimens from both sides of the plant trial, focusing on cannabis production and cultivation techniques, were sent to CW Analytical Laboratories (Oakland, CA) for cannabinoid and terpene testing. Total terpene content for flowers grown under the UbiGro films, showcasing the benefits of quantum dots, came back slightly increased compared to flowers grown under the control side, by +7.7% (relative). Total cannabinoid content was slightly reduced for flowers grown under the UbiGro film, by -3.5% (relative). Both of these small variations are well within the error bars of the testing accuracy, which falls about ±10% (relative). Therefore, we conclude that the UbiGro film had a negligible effect on the terpene and cannabinoid content of this strain.

After ten weeks of cultivation, dry, trimmed harvest weights were reported. Dry yield measurements showed an additional 7.5 lbs of product harvested from plants under UbiGro, equivalent to a +16.0% increase in total dry yield. 

Potency Summary: Ice Cream Cake

Terpenes 

UbiGro: 1.4% 

Control: 1.3% 

Relative Change: +7.7% 

Total Cannabinoids

UbiGro: 21.25% 

Control: 22.02%

Relative Change: -3.5%

Economics

A yield enhancement improves the economics of a farm, but what is that yield enhancement worth to the farmer? Taking this experiment as a case study, we can calculate the value that the yield-boosting UbiGro film brings to the economics of the farm. During this trial, the full greenhouse produced 93.1 lbs of dried, trimmed cannabis, excluding the 2.5-lb boost realized by the half covered by UbiGro. The greenhouse will produce double that amount given two rounds of harvests per year. The farm wholesales trimmed cannabis for $1250/lb. This equates to $233,000 in wholesale revenue from this single greenhouse per year, representing a significant improvement in cannabis production. A +5.4% increase in yield translates to $12,600 increased revenues per year, showcasing the benefits of quantum dots in cannabis cultivation techniques.

To quantify the value of the increase in revenue, we must calculate the increased profit. There are variable costs associated with producing and selling this extra cannabis, including harvesting, drying/curing, trimming, packaging, and transportation. However, fixed costs are not increased with additional yield. These costs include real estate (rent/mortgage), heating/cooling, electricity, marketing, labor tied to square footage such as cleaning, seeding, vegetative labor, etc. Given that the gross margin on the baseline production of cannabis at Little Hill Cultivators is 50% (50% COGS), then we estimate a 65% gross margin on the extra production (35% COGS) realized as a result of the UbiGro spectrum. In this example, that translates to $8,170 additional profit per year from this greenhouse. Over the 4-yr life of the installed UbiGro film, the farm would benefit from $32,700 in additional profit from this greenhouse alone. If the farm adopted the UbiGro technology across all six greenhouses on site and this yield improvement was consistently realized, it could profit an additional $49,000 per year, or an additional $196,000 over the 4-yr lifetime of the films.

Greenhouse Details

Greenhouse Size: 20ft x 108ft

Increased Revenue/Year: $12,600

Increased Profit/Year: $8,170

Increased Profit over Film Life: $32,700

Increased Profit over Film Life, Farm: $196,000

The Impact of Color on your plants
Hunter McDaniel CEO & Founder UbiGro

Hunter McDaniel, PhD

Founder & CEO

 Hunter earned a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, before joining Los Alamos National Laboratory in the Chemistry Division. Ultimately the value proposition of UbiGro is about boosting crop yields and quality without the cost or energy impact of lighting. Hunter has more than fifty publications and patents, and more than 2000 total citations, h-index: 20. Hunter fundamentally believes that novel materials underpin every significant technology advancement, and he is focused on leveraging new materials to have a lasting and sustainable impact.

Meet The Team

Damon Hebert, PhD

Director of Agriculture

Damon brings a wide range of experience in agriculture, materials science, spectroscopy, and small business. During his time in Prof. Angus Rockett’s research group at The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), Hebert authored a doctoral thesis and multiple papers on the materials science of CIGS semiconductor materials, which is closely related to the materials developed at UbiQD. He also served as a consultant to Nanosolar, a CIGS nanocrystal solar cell manufacturing company. Hebert has industry experience having co-founded Dr. Jolly’s, a leading cultivation and distribution operation in Bend, OR.

Meet The Team

Tania Lafaille

Sales Representative

Tania is a UbiGro Sales Representative, with over 7 years of experience in product sales (specifically berries and avocados) covering all of North America and parts of South America. While in agriculture, Tania has cultivated strong relationships with growers and distributors, granting her a unique insight into both perspectives. That understanding, paired with her fierce dedication to results, drives her fun and fiery commitment to her craft. Tania is based in Gilroy, CA.

Meet The Team

Tyler Veyna

Sales Representative​

Tyler brings 15 years of experience in Greenhouse production and facility management of a wide range of crops in multiple states to the UbiGro team. Based in Salinas, California. “Being a fourth-generation farmer, I look to improve and empower the grower, and with UbiGro, we can do just that.”

Meet The Team

Jim Gideon

Sales Manager

Jim Gideon is an UbiGro Sales Manager, with over 25 years of greenhouse industry sales experience covering all of North America. Previously Jim has worked for Green Tek, Plazit-Polygal, Texel, Cherry Creek, and Nexus. He is based in Montgomery, AL, and Jim believes that “light is everything to the grower.”

Meet The Team

Eric Moody

Director of Sales

Eric Moody is UbiQD’s Director of UbiGro Sales. Eric has more than 6 years of experience in horticulture lighting industry, building relationships with greenhouse growers of all sizes and crops on optimal lighting for their growing operation, and most recently managed a North American sales team for PL Light Systems. Overall, Eric has been in sales leadership positions for more than 13 years. Eric brings with him a great understanding of the market and available technologies for growers, greenhouse facilities, and sales leadership. Reach Eric by phone at 541-490-6421 or by email at [email protected].

Meet The Team

Mike Burrows, PhD

VP of Business Development

Dr. Michael Burrows is UbiQd’s Vice President of Business Development. His educational background includes a Materials Science doctorate from the University of Delaware and an MBA from Duke University Fuqua School of Business. His career has specialized in the commercialization of novel electronic materials in venture-run programs for different industries including solar, biosensors, and the automotive industry. In both start-up and corporate environments, he has extensive experience in global market development, foraging supply chain partnerships, productization, and brand building. He is currently leading UbiQD’s partnership efforts in luminescent greenhouse technology, smart windows, and security ventures.

Meet The Team

Matt Bergern, PhD

Cheif Product Officer

As Chief Product Officer at UbiQD, Dr. Matt Bergren leads the company’s product development efforts, sales, and product manufacturing, including the company’s first commercial agriculture product, UbiGro. He plays a critical role in continuing the company’s path of technology development and vision of powering product innovations in agriculture, clean energy, and security.

He serves as the principal investigator for UbiQD’s contract with NASA, focused on tailoring the solar spectrum for enhanced crop production for space missions. Dr. Bergren’s leadership experience includes serving on the board of directors for the New Mexico Energy Manufacturing Institute, focused on job creation in New Mexico’s energy, and related manufacturing community.