Walk into most cannabis facilities and the grow rooms (should) look immaculate. Rows of plants under dialed-in lighting, climate systems singing, nutrient programs dialed to the decimal. However, inside the irrigation lines, a different story is often unfolding. Out of sight, out of mind isn't always applicable, sadly.
Biofilm accumulation in irrigation infrastructure is one of the most persistent and underestimated problems in CEA. Left unchecked, it creates the conditions for pathogen pressure, nutrient inconsistency, and expensive crop losses. "Yet for many operations, the solutions on offer have historically come with their own set of tradeoffs, phytotoxicity concerns, incompatibility with beneficial microbes, or chemistries so aggressive they require full crop removal before application," says Don Lund from Key Solutions Group.
© Key Solution Group
As an owner of Key Solutions Group, the manufacturer's representative for PRO-OXINE® Horticulture, a unique chlorine dioxide-based chemistry developed specifically for CEA environments, registered by the EPA as a disinfectant, sanitizer, algaecide, and fungicide, and manufactured in the United States. Don is very much aware of the space growers need to navigate. "There's a lot of chemistry on the market," Don says, "and what tends to happen on the irrigation side is that growers start dealing with biofilm and they reach for something that ends up creating phytotoxicity issues. Our chemistry is built on Integrated Disease Management (IDM) principles. The goal is to keep grows clean from the start through prevention, not to react after something's already gone wrong. Key Solutions Group is a science-based company, not a marketing-based one," he says. "That makes a real difference in this space, especially for growers who have been burned before."
One chemistry, multiple applications
What distinguishes PRO-OXINE® Horticulture is its proprietary blend of highly refined oxychloro species containing purified sodium chlorite and dual-use flexibility, according to Don. "The same chemistry, which gets activated on-site using a mild acid, can be deployed both in irrigation lines and on hard non-porous surfaces. That means a single product handles what would otherwise require multiple SKUs, reducing inventory complexity and simplifying staff training."
Activation happens through a proprietary method that allows for what Don describes as a sustained residue effect throughout the grow cycle, an essential difference from commodity chlorine dioxide products, which tend to behave in binary fashion: either inactive or fully activated while leaving primarily undesirable toxic byproducts.
© Key Solution Group
"With standard chlorine dioxide, you're either on or off," Don explains. "What the manufacturer developed for CEA specifically, allows you to manipulate ppm levels while preserving a near neutral pH, that maintains a clean and healthy irrigation environment through the grow cycle, rather than hoping for the best."
For facilities with existing biofilm problems, the protocol can be adapted accordingly. "Either initiating gradually or using an overnight shock treatment with no plants present, followed by a flush," he says. "For clean operations, the focus shifts to prevention: injecting at low ppm (2 ppm per EPA reg.) when irrigating keeps the lines clean, nutrients effective and the rootzone happy and healthy. We eliminate the need for shock between grows and its proven time and time again."
The chemistry also addresses a range of specific pathogen challenges that cannabis growers encounter regularly, including biofilm, fusarium, botrytis, HLVd, iron bacteria and more in water sources, and algae and botrytis accumulation on floors and tables. "Applications extend beyond incoming water, storage tanks, irrigation, recycled water systems, tools, facility hard surfaces, equipment and more are all within scope of effective disinfecting and sanitation with PRO-OXINE® Horticulture."
© Key Solution Group
Organic word of mouth
"What's interesting about our growth in the horticulture space is through word of mouth as we do very little true advertising and marketing. Our clients are our best form of marketing as they share their experiences with their industry contacts. Yes, we do exhibit a few cannabis and produce CEA shows a year, however, testimonials and relationship building have been very key." Don estimates around 90% of new business comes from existing customers recommending PRO-OXINE® Horticulture to peers in the industry. It's a dynamic he attributes not just to product performance, but to the company's approach to the relationship itself. "We're not selling consumables," he says. "We're selling a solution through prevention… an IDM approach. The mindset is completely different. We want growers to succeed through a proactive approach that's proven, that's Key Solutions Groups focus."
© Key Solution Group
Key Solution Group (Altoona, IA) is currently expanding its presence into Europe, Australia, and South America, while continuing to grow its cannabis and produce client base across North America. Key Solution Group is the manufacturers representative for the PRO-OXINE Horticulture and the manufacturer, Kemin Bio Solutions (Des Moines, IA; manufacturing facility in Norman, OK)
For more information:
Key Solution Group
(515) 802-2761
[email protected]
ksg-corp.com
