First described by scientist Robert Emerson in the 1950s, the Emerson effect occurs when plants are exposed to both red light (~680 nm) and far-red light (~700 nm) simultaneously, triggering a photosynthetic synergy greater than the sum of its parts. In theory, this should result in increased plant productivity. But cannabis is a special plant, and while something may work theoretically, practice could show something completely different.
"We ran an Emerson-effect trial with both deep red and far red at the same time, and we ended up with stretchy plants and lower yields compared to the control," says Tim Crowell, founder of Faven Lighting, a company specializing in under canopy lighting solutions.
The company has recently purchased a cannabis cultivation facility to run R&D tests. However, unlike other companies that may have a similar set up, the goal of Faven is also to sell the product they grow. "This would also give us direct consumer feedback on a product grown with specific lighting strategies," Tim points out.
© Faven Lighting
Shorter flowering times
Back to the Emerson effect. Under canopy lighting has so far been available only with a specific spectrum. While it has granted growers significant increase in all aspects of yield, quantity, cannabinoid content and such, there was an aspect missing: control. That's why Faven is launching the Chroma unit line, a new under canopy lighting solution with tunable spectrum. The trials they've run on the Emerson effect laid the foundation of what Chroma allows growers to do. By adding a far-red pulse post-photoperiod, Tim and Faven were able to shave 7–10 days off flowering without compromising yield or quality. "We harvested at day 52 on a 60-day strain. The flowers looked the same, if not better, and yields were right there, maybe even up."
Chroma is designed to give cultivators high-level control over red and white light balance, offering up to 90% red spectrum and an independent far-red channel. "The ability to fine-tune light recipes means growers can dial in their end product with a new level of specificity, whether aiming for dark purple flower finishes or optimizing terpene and resin production for extracts," he points out. "If you're growing for rosin or concentrates, you'll want to finish with about 40% red. If you want more color, you increase the red toward the end. That control is what Chroma is about."
The real differentiator is the standalone far-red channel. Chroma can run low-wattage, above-700nm far-red light independently during the dark cycle, mimicking the trial setup that accelerated flowering timelines. According to the the data from their trial, trimming 10 days from a 60-day flower cycle can translate to a 20% gain in efficiency, and when paired with energy savings from lower light demand during ripening, it can push up to a 40% improvement to the bottom-line.
A unique R&D setting
Faven Lighting was able to discover the lighting strategies behind Chroma thanks to their new Sacramento-based R&D facility. "It has four rooms. Different top lights in each, HPS, LED, hybrid setups, and all combined with under-canopy lighting. The goal here is to prove theories with actual consumer-quality flower."
Each room will test various light-topology combos, including one with low ceilings to simulate vertical farm constraints. "If you're growing in 4–5 feet of vertical space, pushing light from below just makes sense. We're seeing more uniform intensity, better consistency, and yield gains." Chroma will be the centerpiece of the project. "All rooms will have Chroma units, and we'll be showcasing how spectrum shifts, especially the far-red-only applications, can make a real difference, even under height constraints. We're trying to disprove outdated assumptions and show what's really possible with smarter spectrum use."
While the company won't be hitting dispensary shelves just yet, a white-label strategy and eventual brand launch are on the horizon. "We'll probably spin off a consumer brand in a year or so, once we've got the data and product to back it up."
© Faven Lighting
In the meantime, Chroma is expected to hit the market by early August.
For more information:
Faven Lighting
favenlighting.com
