Glass Pharms, a UK-based company, has made public its plans to establish the first carbon-negative medical cannabis cultivation glasshouse facility. The company announced that all growing methods to be implemented in the facility would be influenced by artificial intelligence (AI).
The cannabis firm is partnering with an undisclosed infrastructure firm to bring this vision to reality. This facility would be the first of its kind not only in Europe but all over the world. The plan would be funded with about $38.5 million—about 22.5 million pounds. Once the funds are released, the construction of the new campus will begin.
The campus is said to be 2.5 hectares in size. Although the location is yet to be disclosed, reporters have established that it would be within the Southern region of England. The novelty of this greenhouse is its carbon-negative design.
A Carbon-Negative Medical Cannabis Cultivation Facility
Conventional cannabis cultivation has an immensely high carbon footprint, which scientists have been trying to reduce or significantly lower. A carbon-negative growing facility is one that leaves a neutral or negative carbon footprint in the environment. This type of facility seeks to balance the carbon emissions from the plants.
The prospect of developing the first cannabis-negative Maji Runa A facility has been a dream for many years, especially in the face of global warming being experienced this century. Recent investigations show that the current CO2 emissions in the environment are at least 150 times greater than what was present in 1850. A study reported that the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is at its highest. Currently, greenhouse gases are starting to create a crisis in the climate, in addition to causing a bunch of respiratory diseases due to their intense air pollution.
As the demand and acceptance of cannabis increase, the need for carbon-neutral or carbon-negative cultivation facilities will also increase. Scientists are still trying to create better methods to reduce carbon emissions. Still, for now, there are only a limited number of ways, the most important of which is the establishment of carbon-neutral facilities.
A Green Medical Cannabis Industry
Glass Pharm revealed that it plans to use an anaerobic digestion plant that was previously being used for a food waste plant to produce energy for the facility. The artificial intelligence-influenced growing designs would ensure that the facility maintains optimal conditions approved for the production of medical cannabis flowers.
The company's website explains that with the design to be implemented, there is very little need for the facility to rely on carbon sources. The facility's model is built so that the entire operations would result in a carbon-negative model because it employs the best practices of circular economic design.
More On The Facility's Design
To ensure a consistent harvest throughout the year, the cultivation environment in the glasshouse has to be optimal at all times and in every season. A large-scale agricultural project like this one would require a vast amount of electrical energy as well.
At least 40 percent of the facility's energy is expected to be solar-powered. The remaining 60% will be supplemented by on-site energy generation. The main objective of this plant is to be carbon negative. Many still doubt the possibility of having a carbon-neutral plant that is still powered by the very best LED lighting and glasshouse heating.
The cutting-edge, modernized design of the anaerobic digestion plant first converts food water into electricity using hot water from the plant. This electricity is then utilized for heating and cooling the greenhouse environment. The structure has an internal carbon-neutral system. Once the facility is up and running, officials will accredit it to verify its status as a carbon-neutral plant, provided everything is in order. While producing usable power, methane creation is avoided at all times (methane is one of the potent greenhouse gases that has damaging effects on the atmosphere).
With this anaerobic digestion plant and a massive solar facility on-site, combined with on-site energy production to cool and feed the plants, the net amount of green gases produced by this facility will be in the negative range. Guaranteed that all resources are being recycled with each use.
Glass Pharms' Vision
Glass Pharms is the first company in the United Kingdom to receive a permit from the Home Office to produce high-THC medical cannabis products for registered patients in the medical cannabis program across the country. The firm says that its objective is to end the inconsistent supply and unreliable quality of medical cannabis in the U.K. James Duckenfield, CEO of Glass Pharms, noted that the medical cannabis industry in the U.K. has a poor supply chain, which has been reported by unsatisfied patients across the country. He said that the company is trying to establish a secure and consistent medical cannabis supply chain in the U.K. without adding more carbon emissions to the environment. This new venture is geared towards meeting the U.K.'s net-zero targets for carbon emissions.
Flooding the UK Medical Industry With High-Quality Products
Although it might seem difficult to produce a uniform medical cannabis product of premium quality in the UK medical cannabis sector with conventional greenhouse facilities, it is achievable with Glass Pharms' proposed designs. The company's energy-efficient indoor cultivation facility will revolutionize the cultivation practice of cannabis in the country through its array of innovative methods that will be used to ensure all growing variables remain consistent throughout the year.
The end products will have uniform characteristics from which all UK patients can benefit. Supply would also be predictable all year round. Mr. Duckenfield concluded by stating that the company is quite eager to begin production and supply in 2022.
Bottom Line
This proposed venture will be the most expensive cannabis-related infrastructure investment in the UK medical cannabis industry. It will encourage more companies to invest in the sector as this substantial investment provokes absolute confidence in the industry's long-term viability. Not to mention that the carbon-negative prospect of this facility secures the country's sustainable future.
Once production and supply begin, most UK pharmacies and clinics will have access to premium medical cannabis produced under the correct regulatory standards by Glass Pharms.
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