How to Prioritize Sustainability Regardless of Your Cultivation Facility
From its origins in western Asia to California’s famed Emerald Triangle, cannabis has been grown outdoors for thousands of years. However, as legal cannabis becomes more widespread cannabis cultivators are realizing, often out of necessity, they have more options than ever when it comes to setting up their commercial cultivation operation. Apart from the traditional outdoor grow, as cannabis has become more commercialized, indoor and greenhouse-grows have emerged as popular alternatives. In fact, a 2020 survey of cannabis growers from the Cannabis Business Times found a majority operate either entirely or partially indoors.
In a growing industry, sustainability is often overlooked. Cannabis cultivation is no different. Each cultivation method adversely affects the environment to varying degrees. Indoor cultivation (including greenhouse cultivation) comes at a high environmental cost, since it requires heating, ventilation, and air conditioning to maintain ideal temperature and humidity levels, plus its use of high-intensity grow lights which typically stay on around the clock. Indoor cannabis production alone can consume six times more energy than the average commercial business, according to a 2021 study.
Outdoor cultivation comes with its own drawbacks. This includes degrading the environment via land clearing, to its high demand for water. In addition, outdoor cultivators are increasingly turning to the use of pesticides and nutrient additives to ensure a larger crop yield. However, outdoor cultivation remains the most environmentally-friendly option. It allows cultivators to utilize the sun’s natural power, using less electricity and increasing energy efficiency.
If this is the case, why aren’t more growers cultivating outdoors?
Federal prohibition is a major barrier to building a more sustainable cannabis industry. Federal laws prohibit transporting cannabis across state lines, meaning all cannabis sold legally in a state must be grown in that state. As a result, in certain parts of the country they have no choice but to grow indoors.
If federal reform allowed for interstate commerce then states like New York and New Jersey, along with the more obvious choices such as California and Oregon, where the climate is more conducive to outdoor growing operations could supply cannabis to states such as Nevada, Arizona, South Dakota, and others where it is difficult to grow outdoors.
Luckily we don’t have to wait for federal legalization for the industry to become more environmentally-friendly. Whether you grow indoors, outdoors or in greenhouses, there are ways to incorporate sustainable practices. For indoor cultivators, switching to LED grow lights is a simple way to consume less energy. Installing equipment that relies on clean energy, such as solar or wind is another option. Outdoor cultivators should be mindful of the types of pesticides they are using, and look for a natural alternative. For indoor and outdoor grows, water use is a major concern. According to a 2021 report, legal and illicit cannabis crops combined to use nearly 2.8 billion gallons of water in 2020, with usage forecast to reach 3.6 billion gallons by 2025. Collecting rainwater is a great way to offset high water usage.
In the end, there is really no right or wrong choice when deciding which cultivation method is best for your business. It really comes down to making a choice to prioritize sustainability, regardless of the cultivation method you deploy.
