Recently, the MCPIR organized its first network event in its research facilities. The MCPIR is a unique collaboration project comprising 13 medical cannabis companies, which have established a research center and platform together. Just to name one, Koppert is among the 13 participants. On behalf of MCPIR Gustaaf van dern Mheen, Koppert warmly welcomed about 50 professionals in the cannabis sector during the opening of the event. Gustaaf: "At the MCPIR, our five-year initiative's goal is to investigate the most optimal cultivation methods for medicinal cannabis and create a blueprint for further professionalizing the cultivation process."
Jaime Ahumada of Delphy took the stage to stress the importance of good research: "Good research is the backbone of innovation. That's exactly what the sector needs. We expect great developments very soon. After all, we have a great wealth of horti knowledge we can capitalize on, we don't need to reinvent the wheel."
Click here to view our photo report
It goes without saying that genetics research is instrumental to the entire sector. They represent the starting point for any grower, and everyone knows that a good start is half the work. "At MCPIR, we started our genetics research from seeds because of a Dutch policy," they said. "To get the right mother plants, the phenotypic selection is crucial. To ensure we select the right phenotype, we define criteria for plant characteristics that are interesting for our research and use tandem and index selection based on quantitative measurements. For the latter, we make use of sensors and AI to render the process more efficient."
René Corsten from Delphy shared his knowledge about good mother plant management. "Getting the right cuttings from the mother plant is absolutely the key here," he said. "These need to be uniform in every aspect, from their length to their age. It's advisable to take cuttings at the same time of the day, at least 3 times a week, even though 6 times is preferable." Most of Rene's speech was focused on a crucial point for the industry: speeding up the cultivation cycle.
Finally, the time was up to have a look into the facility, which consisted of 3 different rooms. Click here to see our photo report of the event and to get a sneak peek of the facility.