Cannabis News

150 acres of greenhouse projects delivered, and strong outlook for 2026

Published

1 month ago

January 2, 2026

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“This year has been exceptional for our team and our customers,” said Abe Wiebe, Founder and Director of Greenhouse Sales at Universal Fabricating. The North American manufacturer and integrator of commercial greenhouse solutions today announced the successful completion of a record year of significant growth, operational excellence and strong demand for high-tech protected crops in North America.

“Project 150 hectares in a challenging, fast-paced and competitive market is a testament to the dedication of our employees, partners and subcontractors, the strength of our supply chain and the trust growers place in our solutions.”

Double Diamond Growers’ 73-acre New Construction expansion in Ontario has recently been completed

Highlights of the 2025 project
In 2025, Universal Fab completed around 150 hectares of greenhouse projects, many of which had to be completed within tight deadlines. Projects ranged from advanced glass greenhouses to turnkey controlled environment greenhouse installations.

US expansion
Reflecting on the year, Abe has noticed a large expansion of projects in the USA. In addition to the Canadian production facility in Ontario, Universal Fabricating also has a production location in Texas. He attributes some of this growth to local expertise.

“Operating in the US gives us insight into local market conditions and consumer preferences, increasing our competitiveness,” he explained, adding that the ability to pivot between markets and supply chains provides a decisive competitive advantage across borders.

“Having a US manufacturing facility allows us to source materials domestically, avoiding the import tariffs we would otherwise incur if shipped from Canada, while continuing to leverage our Canadian manufacturing facilities for domestic projects.”

In a year characterized primarily by tariff-induced cost increases, the strategic allocation of production and materials helped the company better serve its customers.

2025 investments
In 2025, Universal Fabricating became a member of the National Association of Greenhouse Manufacturers and participated in several trade shows in North America. The company also continued to invest in engineering, automation integration and project management capabilities, further strengthening its operational base.

Construction of a 30-acre Phase 3 expansion at Undersun Acres in Staples Ontario, scheduled for completion by the end of January 2026.

Forecasts for 2026
Looking ahead to 2026, despite ongoing global uncertainties and challenges, Universal Fab enters the year with a stable order book and a healthy project pipeline, reflecting sustained demand for greenhouse capacity and modernization.

Abe expects further growth driven by new greenhouse developments and expansions in planning or execution, greater adoption of energy-saving technologies and smart climate designs, and continued investment in people, digital tools and strategic partnerships.

“We see continued momentum in 2026, particularly in high-efficiency greenhouses and innovations,” Abe added. “We will continue our focus on execution excellence, innovation and supporting producers as they sustainably scale. We have strong fundamentals and clear strategic priorities, and we will continue to deliver value to our customers in 2026 and beyond.”

For more information:
Universal Manufacturing
Abe Wiebe
Sales Director and Co-Owner
Telephone: +1 519-326-1333 ext. 219
Email: (email protected)
www.universal-fab.com

Canadian Headquarters:
1956 Setterington Drive, Kingsville, Ontario N9Y 2E5

US Division:
4131 Country Road, Sunman, Texas 75486

Related Topics:acres delivered greenhouse outlook projects strong

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New partnership to expand greenhouse drone distribution across Europe

Published

2 hours ago

February 6, 2026

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GeoCue welcomes MOST Robotics to its global distribution network. Based in Germany and serving customers throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland, MOST Robotics will offer TrueView GO LiDAR solutions and LP360 software, from GeoCue, to surveying, construction, forestry, agricultural and industrial inspection professionals looking for a complete and reliable workflow from data capture to delivery.

Founded in 2021 by Valentin Möller and Lennart Stollberg, MOST Robotics builds on deep UAV experience since 2015, offering integrated turnkey drone and sensor solutions, supported by technical consulting and first-class customer support. Their team works closely with end users to ensure technology works in real-world conditions, from flight planning to endpoint cloud processing, a full-service company for individual solutions.

MOST Robotics is expanding its portfolio of handheld SLAM LiDAR and LP360 software to directly respond to customer needs, especially for projects where flight restrictions, dense vegetation or indoor environments make aerial collection difficult. With TrueView GO and LP360, customers can complement drone surveys with ground-based SLAM capture, process aerial LiDAR and produce high-quality photogrammetric output. This approach supports rapid and accurate classification of large data sets and the creation of highly accurate digital terrain models, helping to reduce office processing time while improving the final quality of delivery.

Valentin Möller, CEO of MOST Robotics, commented: “GeoCue makes UAV LiDAR and SLAM bridges in a way that matches how our customers work in the real world. We spend a lot of time in the field with customers, which gives us practical feedback and clear ideas on what needs to be improved. GeoCue is open to this kind of input, and we’re excited to help shape each of our customers’ missions.”

Samuel Flick, GeoCue’s European Sales Manager, added: “We are delighted to welcome MOST Robotics to the GeoCue distribution network. Their technical depth and customer-first approach make them a strong partner as we continue to grow the LiDAR market in Europe. We look forward to supporting their team as they expand access to the TrueView product line, including aerial, handheld and LiDAR 360 mobile device software.”

For more information:
MOST robotics
https://mostrobotics.com/

GeoCue
https://geocue.com/

Cannabis News

USDA-APHIS grants non-regulated status to two gene-edited hemp varieties

Published

1 day ago

February 5, 2026

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USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently issued regulatory status review responses for two new gene-edited hemp varieties, determining that they are not subject to federal regulation under 7 CFR part 340. Developed by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, these gene-edited plants have been found to have no increased risk of plant pests compared to conventional hemp. This federal clearance marks an important milestone in easing the path from laboratory to commercial cultivation of precision-bred industrial crops.

Badger PMR (Dust Resistant) has full dust resistance, and Badger Zero (Cannabinoid Free) is cannabinoid free. The main innovation involves the creation of hemp varieties that are unable to produce THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive compound found in cannabis. Using CRISPR gene-editing technology to turn off specific genes responsible for THC production, the UW-Madison team has solved a major hurdle for the industry. This genetic certainty prevents crops from being “hot” — the term used when THC levels accidentally exceed the legal limit of 0.3 percent — which previously forced farmers to destroy entire fields to comply with federal law.

Beyond THC removal, researchers have also engineered varieties with higher concentrations of CBG (cannabigerol), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid valued for its potential therapeutic benefits. These advances are expected to stabilize the hemp market, providing growers with reliable, high-value and legal-compliant varieties. With the regulatory green light from the USDA, these precision-bred hemp lines are poised to revitalize the industry, providing a safer and more profitable future for farmers across the United States.

For more information:
International Service for the Acquisition of Agricultural Biotechnology Applications
Email: (email protected)
isaaa.org/default.asp

Cannabis News

Kentucky Governor Announces Medical Marijuana Gummies Are Now Available, While Pushing Lawmakers To Approve New Qualifying Conditions

Published

1 day ago

February 5, 2026

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Kentucky’s governor is urging lawmakers to give more patients legal access to medical marijuana, announcing that cannabis gummies can now be purchased at state-licensed dispensaries.

Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said Thursday that his administration has sent a letter urging legislative leadership to pass a bill that lists ALS, Parkinson’s disease, Crohn’s disease, sickle cell anemia, fibromyalgia, glaucoma, terminal illnesses and other conditions as conditions for medical cannabis.

“In most other states that have a medical marijuana program, these are conditions that are covered, and conditions that are deemed appropriate by our board of physicians and counselors,” he said. “Expanding the list could help the approximately 430,000 Kentuckians who currently lack access but face these challenges.”

The governor said state officials are “making great strides” in expanding the medical marijuana program to “increase access for those who are already eligible.”

“We currently have 510 registered professionals and over 18,500 approved cards, and those numbers continue to grow,” Beshear said, adding that regulators are making “steady progress” in accepting businesses at every step of the cannabis supply chain.

“As the supply chain expands, patients are starting to see more options online,” he said. “We can announce that gummies are on the market in Kentucky and showing progress in communities across Kentucky.”

The governor’s latest update comes about a month after he took the podium and said “not happy” with the time it’s taken to roll out the state’s medical marijuana program—but predicts that the pace of patient access will “significantly increase” in 2026.

Also last month, Beshear said two more dispensaries will open their doors “once additional product becomes available.” The The state’s first medical cannabis plant was launched in December.

The governor, who has long championed cannabis reform, he anticipated a market launch that monthwhile claiming that medical marijuana will help thousands of patients find an alternative to opioids for pain management.

He at the end of October it passed the milestone of registering 15,000 patientsbut that has grown significantly in recent weeks.

Beshear previously acknowledged that “it’s taken longer than we would have liked” to sustain the industry since he signed off on legalizing medical marijuana in 2023.

Considering this delayed implementation, he signed an executive order this year to waive renewal fees for patients who get the cards so that they are not charged again before the stores open. And another order he signed to provide protections for qualified patients who obtain medical marijuana outside of Kentucky “will remain in place.”

Beshear announced separately that in May the state launched a new online directory that allows people to see where medicinal cannabis will open next to them

He noted that the state is working to provide access to patients “as soon as possible,” which includes speeding up the licensing process. Last January, so did the governor ceremoniously issued the first medical marijuana cards in the commonwealth.

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Meanwhile, the governors sent a letter to Kentucky’s congressional delegation last yearurging them to “take decisive action to protect the constitutional rights of our law-abiding medical cannabis patients” by repealing the federal ban on possession of firearms by marijuana users.

Bipartisan Kentucky senators introduced similar legislation asked the federal representatives of the state to take corrective measuresBeshear said he agrees but would I would like to see even more significant changes at the federal level.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) warned Kentucky residents that in 2024, if they choose to participate in the state’s medical marijuana program, they will be prohibited from buying or possessing firearms under federal law.

Health professionals have been able to Patients began to evaluate the recommendations from the beginning of last December.

While there are currently no operational dispensaries for patients, Beshear also confirmed that an executive order he signed in 2023 will be in place in the interim, protecting patients. Those with medical cannabis purchased from licensed out-of-state retailers.

In the November 2024 election, Kentucky also saw more than 100 cities and counties pass local ordinances to allow medical cannabis businesses in their jurisdictions. The governor said the election results show that “the jury is no longer out” on the issue this is clearly supported by voters across party and geographic lines.

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