Cannabis News
Plant Empowerment offers the fastest route to sustainable and profitable horticulture worldwide
Peter Geelen and Jan O. Voogt, together with Peter van Weel, were there at the beginning of the work on Het Nieuwe Telen (New Work). This year, a special edition of a magazine* celebrates fifteen years of the concept. Both Peters and Jan laid the foundations for Land Appropriation, the framework that underpins Het Nieuwe Telen. Plant Empowerment is the English term that has gained worldwide recognition for this philosophy.
In 2022 the founders created the Plant Empowerment Academy. Their aim is to support the sustainable development of greenhouse horticulture by promoting an open exchange of knowledge through an objective and independent breeding concept.
On the Plant Empowerment Academy website, the founders discuss how the concept came about. Their story goes back to 2004, and they describe it as the beginning of the “sustainability transition in Dutch horticulture”. That year, the first fully enclosed greenhouse in the Netherlands was built.
“Surprisingly, the plants in this closed greenhouse behaved very differently from what theory and experience in conventional open greenhouses would have us expect,” they recalled. “For example, the rate of crop transpiration, which depends on solar radiation and humidity, did not fit standard evaporation models. Higher greenhouse temperatures sometimes produced better results than lower temperatures, which contradicted prevailing assumptions.”
New insights through the combination of physics and plant physiology
These unexpected observations inspired a new research project on plant behavior in relation to greenhouse climate. Peter van Weel, then working at Wageningen University and Research, and Jane, at Hoogendoorn Growth Management, conducted the research.
“We discovered that some long-standing theories about plant behavior and climate control were partly incorrect, and even contradicted the basic principles of physics and plant physiology. Step by step, together with researcher Peter Geelen, we developed a new growing concept based on physiological and physical laws. 2008.”
© Plant Empowerment AcademyPeter van Weel, Peter Geelen and Jan O. Voogt, founders and authors of the Plant Empowerment cultivation concept, together with illustrator Jan Seelen for visualizations of the first book Plant Empowerment the basic principles, November 2017.
Plant Empowerment Academy
Other key milestones in the development of the concept were 2009, when Het Nieuwe Telen’s innovation program began, 2015, when Peter Geelen, Jan O. Voogt and Peter van Weel published the book ‘De basisprincipes van Het Nieuwe Telen’, and 2016. It starts from the natural behavior of plants and their inherent growth potential.
In 2018, a book in English followed, ‘Plant Empowerment, the basic principles’. The book was later translated into Dutch and Spanish. Today, the Plant Accreditation Academy manages the publication of all the books.
The founders of Plant Empowerment advocate close and open collaboration between all parties involved, including research and training institutes, extensionists and breeders, investors, suppliers, crop advisors, technical specialists, governments and other organizations. They emphasize that this intensive cooperation is essential for success. Plant Appropriation, they say, offers the fastest route to a sustainable and profitable global greenhouse industry. For more details, readers are directed to the Mission page of the Plant Empowerment Academy website.
In order to maintain the independence of the Plant Ownership Academy, the founders have stated that they cannot enter into commercial relations. Plant Empowerment Academy and Plant Empowerment Foundation are different organizations.
The Plant Empowerment Academy is, however, open to welcoming ambassadors who wish to contribute to their shared mission. Companies, institutes, distributors and organizations interested in joining the Academy as Ambassadors are invited to contact the founders through the Ambassadors page.
Plant Empowerment Digital Growth
In recent years there has been a growing interest in data-driven breeding, supported by modern computational tools such as artificial intelligence. According to the creators, the concept of Plant Empowerment is very suitable for this, as it is based on the physiology and physical principles of plants. At the same time, the sector increasingly feels the need for a unified monitoring protocol that can be used in both research and practice.
With the initiative and support of Kas als Energiebron, the authors published an additional guide at the end of 2023 called Plant Empowerment Digitaal Telen. This guide describes a structured method of crop monitoring, including the use of appropriate sensors and plant observations. It also explains the digital tools needed for practical implementation, such as dashboards. This uniform and standardized approach improves collaboration between different parties and facilitates the exchange and comparison of research and practice results. It also allows for a significant acceleration of the learning curve and overall sustainability transition.
*https://www.kasalsenergiebron.nl/content/kasalsenergiebron/docs/HNT/Magazine_15_jaar_HNT.pdf (link to Dutch magazine)
For more information:
Plant Empowerment Academy
(email protected)
www.plantempowerment.academy
Greenhouse growers are working in conditions where crop yield and energy use must be managed simultaneously. According to Timo Spruijt, Chief Customer Officer at RED Horticulture, this requires a shift from fixed lighting schedules to approaches based on plant light responses.
“Lighting is moving from static control to measured and predictable strategies,” says Timo. “That starts with understanding how plants react to light and translating that into everyday decisions.”
© RED Horticulture
This approach is based on photobiology, which links plant development to light conditions. Two parameters are central: intensity and spectrum. Light intensity affects photosynthesis, biomass accumulation and yield, while spectrum affects morphology, flowering, rooting and nutritional composition. Paul Vailhen, photobiologist at RED, points out that these factors must be managed together. “Focusing on one parameter without the other limits how plants use light. The interaction between intensity and spectrum determines photon efficiency.”
He explained that growers can use this knowledge to target harvests more precisely. “When photobiology is applied in practice, lighting becomes a management tool rather than a fixed input.”
Three areas
To support this, RED Horticulture organizes its offer around three areas: luminaires, control platform and agronomic orientation. These components are intended to respond to changes during the day and during the cultivation phases. “The needs of the plants are not constant,” says Timo. “Lighting strategies must follow these variations.”
The MyRED platform is used to translate greenhouse data into lighting decisions. Growers can monitor performance and adjust lighting strategies through a dashboard. “The platform allows producers to define and modify their light recipes and evaluate the results,” explains Timo. “It links crop data with energy use.”
He added that implementation goes beyond software. “Support continues after installation. We work with growers to set goals, apply strategies and adjust over time.”
Energy use
Energy use is a major factor in greenhouse operations. Timo connects lighting strategies directly with consumption. “Understanding how intensity and spectrum affect power use helps growers manage their energy input,” he says. “This could lead to changes in the way lighting is applied during the day.”
Automation is also part of today’s greenhouse practices. The system can adjust the lighting throughout the day according to predefined strategies. “Automation reduces manual adjustments and keeps light levels consistent,” says Timo. “It also allows control over the entire light output.”
He noted that automated control can contribute to additional energy savings beyond the performance of the luminaires. “When strategies are applied dynamically, further reductions in energy use are possible.”
Research
This is another part of the research approach. Through the Photobiology and Agronomy Research Center (PARC), RED Horticulture conducts trials under controlled conditions. Timo explains how this relates to commercial production. “Trials allow strategies to be tested before implementation. Producers can then apply these results with a clearer view of expected outcomes.”
The goal is to make photobiology applicable to different crops and growing environments. “The same principles can be adapted to different varieties and production systems,” says Timo. It concludes by returning to the role of knowledge in greenhouse management. “Understanding photobiology is the starting point. From there, growers can build lighting strategies that match crop requirements and energy constraints.”
For more information:
RED Horticulture
World Horti Center
Europe 1
2672 ZX Naaldwijk
+31 174 705 617
horticulture.red/
Cannabis News
Hawaii Lawmakers Approve Bill To Create Psychedelics Task Force Charged With Studying Psilocybin And MDMA
Another Hawaii House committee has passed the Senate-passed bill creating a psychedelic task force responsible for analyzing and making policy recommendations about providing access to breakthrough therapies like psilocybin and MDMA.
The House Finance Committee advanced the legislation to Sen. Chris Lee (D) on a 15-0 vote Tuesday. The measure, which passed the Senate last month by a 24-0 vote, will next go to the House floor before returning to the Senate for that chamber to consider final amendments.
The bill would create Creative Mental Health Therapy, a two-year review of the current scientific literature, supporting additional clinical research and developing policy recommendations for the “safe, ethical, and culturally informed implementation” of a psychedelic therapy program.
“The Legislature believes in addressing the mental health crisis affecting the State’s residents, particularly among veterans, first responders and trauma survivors,” SB 3199 reads. “Suicide remains the leading cause of preventable death, and the State must explore all safe and effective treatment options supported by scientific evidence.”
Given that the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated psilocybin and MDMA as breakthrough therapies in the treatment of serious mental health conditions, which may be subject to future control under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), Hawaii’s legislation states that the state must “proactively prepare public health, clinical and research systems for safe and equitable implementation.”
The state Department of Health said in House committee testimony that it supports the bill, noting that in light of the FDA’s action on psychedelics, it is “prudent for Hawaii to assess research readiness, regulatory implications, workforce development and culturally informed implementation pathways” before any federal rescheduling of the substances.
The Governor’s Office of Wellness and Resiliency said the bill “has an important opportunity to begin paving a planned pathway for people who need access to life-saving treatments for trauma and other mental health issues.”
“A growing body of research demonstrates that breakthrough therapies (such as MDMA and psilocybin-assisted therapies) demonstrate high efficacy and positive clinical outcomes in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders, end-of-life anxiety, eating disorders, depression, treatment-resistant, and additional conditions in terminally ill patients.”
Team members should include representatives from the State Department of Health (DOH), the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of Wellness and Resiliency (OWR), the University of Hawaii School of Medicine, and more.
Like the draft, the DOH would oversee the task force, an amendment approved by the House Health Committee last month makes the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) the responsible institution, and JABSOM’s nominee as the panel’s chairman.
The commission also adopted amendments suggested by the Department of Law Enforcement to say that its Division of Narcotics Enforcement — and not the Board of Pharmacy — would be responsible for changing the state’s scheduling of psychedelics after any federal reclassification, and to change the deadline for doing so from 90 days to 30 days.
Members note in their bill report that the state Agency for Health Planning and Development has expressed concern that psychedelics are illegal under federal law and that the task force should proceed with caution.
Finally, the panel made technical corrections for clarity, consistency, and style.
If ordered, it appears invoice would be It was first assembled in 2023 based on prior work by a separate psychedelic task force.With a similar goal of exploring avenues for therapeutic access in breakthrough drugs approved by the FDA such as psilocybin.
—
It’s Marijuana Time tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelic and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters by pledging at least $25/month, you’ll get access to our interactive maps, charts, and audio calendars so you never miss a development.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracking and become a Patreon supporter to gain access
—
Meanwhile, Hawaii senators recently passed a bill to legalize low-dose, low-potency marijuanathe legislation did not advance the necessary steps before a crucial deadline, so it is dead for the year.
A separate marijuana legalization bill, SB 2421, that contained provisions under federal reform law or amendments to the state Constitution, was delayed for action. The Senate and House panels also delayed action on a measure to sell certain hemp-derived cannabinoid products.
These actions follow Senior lawmakers in the House indicated that proposals to legalize cannabis would not move forward In the 2026 session, citing the lack of sufficient support in their chamber.
Earlier this month, a Hawaii Senate committee unanimously approved legislation to allow patients immediately enter medical cannabis after submitting their recordsinstead of waiting for the cards to be delivered, as is the case under current legislation.
A Senate committee also adopted the resolutions Asking Congress to federally legalize marijuanasupport the state’s efforts to clean up people’s criminal records and take steps to make it easier for cannabis companies to access banking services.
Another Senate panel advanced separate resolutions urging the state attorney general and the health department to seek a waiver from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Hawaii is allowed to run its cannabis program without federal interference.
user photo Wikimedia/Mushroom Observer.
Marijuana Moment is made possible with the help of readers. If you rely on our pro-cannabis journalism to stay informed, consider a monthly Patreon pledge.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) says the marijuana redistricting appeals process “remains pending” despite President Donald Trump issuing an executive order more than three months ago ordering the attorney general to pursue reform “as expeditiously as possible.”
The DEA and reform advocates filed a joint status report Monday on the agency’s interlocutory appeal of bias and improper communications with parties opposed to the redistricting.
“To date, the Movants’ interlocutory appeal to the Administrator on the Motion for Reconsideration remains pending with the Administrator,” said attorneys representing the DEA and cannabis reform advocates who are challenging the process. “No information schedule has been established.”
The agency is responsible for establishing the information schedule. But nearly a year after a former administrative law judge granted the appeal, the DEA is once again delaying the process. This is the fifth consolidated status report, with largely identical language, that the parties have submitted under the administrative litigation order.
Read more Marijuana Moment
Gushers Marijuana Monday
Cannabis Coast to Coast News with Alaina Pinto and PCM News Team. Oct.6, 2024 Introductory Promo Vid
Grow More BIG Buds On Your First Try with Topping
HOW TO MAKE A BILLION DOLLARS FROM HEMP | MATTHEW HARMON [US hemp trade deficit]
Marijuana Retail Report
Vireo Growth Acquires The Hawthorne Gardening Company – New Cannabis Ventures
From photobiology to dynamic lighting strategies in greenhouse production
Hawaii Lawmakers Approve Bill To Create Psychedelics Task Force Charged With Studying Psilocybin And MDMA
Medicare Coverage for Some Hemp-Derived Products Now Available
Afghani Bullrider Hash Wednesday
“Our system can manage equipment across 10,000+ m² using just a few wires”
Florida Workshop to Discuss What Constitutes a ‘Cartoon’ in Hemp Packaging
Mazar-i-Sharif Hash Wednesday
Re-release of the full show of Cannabis Coast to Coast news. Republican Texas DA Fires Up vs. laws;
From Finance to Wellness: Brad Zerman’s Impactful Pivot
Weak Michigan Cannabis Sales Again in July – New Cannabis Ventures
DEA’s Cole Reverses His “priorities” ; Prohibitionists Dig In; Dead & Co Celebrates 60 years in SF
New Hampshire Governor Says Federal Marijuana Rescheduling Won’t Change Her Opposition To Legalization
Your Cannabis Business: Consistent Filings Are Critical
Texas DA Fires Up for Change! Mass. Sheriff arrested on Extortion charges; GOP vs Industry in state
-
Cannabis News8 months ago“Our system can manage equipment across 10,000+ m² using just a few wires”
-
Florida8 months agoFlorida Workshop to Discuss What Constitutes a ‘Cartoon’ in Hemp Packaging
-
Video6 months agoMazar-i-Sharif Hash Wednesday
-
Video8 months agoRe-release of the full show of Cannabis Coast to Coast news. Republican Texas DA Fires Up vs. laws;
-
Video8 months agoFrom Finance to Wellness: Brad Zerman’s Impactful Pivot
-
aawh8 months agoWeak Michigan Cannabis Sales Again in July – New Cannabis Ventures
-
Video8 months agoDEA’s Cole Reverses His “priorities” ; Prohibitionists Dig In; Dead & Co Celebrates 60 years in SF
-
Best Practices8 months agoYour Cannabis Business: Consistent Filings Are Critical