"We did our test crop in early 2022 and noticed some mold issues. That's when we realized the importance of investing in air sanitization," says Takvivat Ripen, Co-Founder & CTO of Kasta. The company grows cannabis in its indoor facility in Thailand. "We opted for an indoor facility because we wanted greater control over environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, lighting, and pests. It allows for year-round production, increased crop yields, and the ability to create optimal growing conditions for specific strains."
The Thai market
The cannabis market in Thailand is still in its early stages. "Since the legalization of medical cannabis in 2018, there has been a growing demand for medicinal products. However, the recreational use of cannabis is still unclear, and regulations surrounding cultivation, distribution, and licensing are still being developed. This has created a delay in many sectors, including the cultivation and retail side," he explains.
Due to evolving regulations, strict licensing requirements, and limited access to genetics, being a cannabis grower in Thailand can be challenging. "Additionally, the market is still developing, and there may be uncertainties regarding demand and pricing. For us at Kasta, our goal has been to do everything right from the start, which includes achieving any required standards. Therefore, when any new regulations are announced we believe it's not going to impact us that much," Takvivat says.
With Thailand being an emerging market, Takvivat emphasizes that it's important to stand out as a grower. "To differentiate yourself, you have to focus on producing high-quality strains and unique genetics. Sustainable growing practices, strict quality control, and adherence to international standards are of course also important. Differentiation can also be achieved through branding, product variety, and offering value-added cannabis products," Takvivat says.
Air sanitization
After having some mold challenges in their trial crop, the company decided to invest in air sanitization technology. "Since starting our first commercial production, we've installed the ProGuard systems. We got over 20 pieces in our facility, most of them are located in the grow room and some are installed in the post-harvest room to make sure our environment is clean," Takvivat says.
"We found out that the ProGuard technology can help in many ways when it comes to air sanitization and protection," he says. "Since installing them, we noticed an immediate improvement in our room environment and air quality. The ProGuard technology helped us decrease the percentage of mold forming and helped improve our bud quality and yields."
Mike D'Ambra, Founder of Innovative Solutions, has seen a large demand for their ProGuard systems coming from Thailand. "One of the things that impressed us about working with Kasta was their commitment to differentiate themselves by creating a state-of-the-art facility that would allow them to achieve the highest quality standard possible," Mike says.
Mike explains that many environmental variables need to be accounted for and dialed in, or else mold and mildew issues can massively impact quality and yields. "You have to control your lights, humidity, temperature, and airflow, and ProGuard allows cultivators to control pathogens and create a clean room environment to help prevent contamination issues."
"ProGuard's active sanitization process was specifically designed to excel at protecting high density and high humidity cannabis environments, which makes it ideal for helping Kasta and other cultivators minimize problems and maximize their yields," Mike adds.
For more information:
Kasta
www.kastabkk.com
Innovative Solutions
Instagram: @proguardofficial
www.innovative-solutions.org