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5 months ago

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After almost thirty years, Alfred Boot will leave Herkuplast, currently part of the Bachmann Group, and the horticulture sector. His career has paralleled a period of profound change in the industry: from manual and seasonal production to year-round automated supply chains with high demands for uniformity, hygiene and circularity. His successor, Kasper Rietvelt, is now ready to take Bachmann-Herku to the next stage.

© Arlette Sijmonsma | MMJDaily.comAlfred Boot and Kasper Rietveld

From 26 models to customized automation solutions
“I fell into it by accident,” says Boot, reflecting on 1987, when he got into horticulture after finishing trade school. “At Rover, I immediately found myself in a world where technology and practice go hand in hand.” In the mid-1990s he was asked to set up the export operation of Herkuplast, a German manufacturer of thermoformed trays that had already been operating for several years.

“We started with 26 models. All on one A4 sheet,” he recalled. At that time, most of Herkuplast’s range consisted of multi-purpose trays, while other tray manufacturers in the Dutch market had already switched to a wider range of single-use thin models. Boot saw the place to mark his career. “We had a thin-walled model, but more was required. I was given carte blanche to develop thin models. Mr. Kubern’s collaboration with the owner Herkuplast focused on exactly that: if you have a good idea, we make it happen.”

The rise of automation in the sector placed new demands on the trays. Accuracy became critical for shot plates and automated processing lines. “Centered drain holes, exact dimensions, everything had to be right. Otherwise the line would get stuck. We always prioritized that, and it got us recognition in the market.”

Alfred Boot from HerkuPlast has a new hydroponic lettuce propagation tray. 2013 at the OFA Short Course in Columbus, Ohio, the predecessor to Cultivate.

Internationalization and hygiene conditions
Along with the Dutch market, Boot also moved into international markets from the start, in France, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States and beyond. The reasoning was largely practical: in the 1990s, the sector still had a clearly defined summer break. “Production was closed for three or four weeks. The demand simply dropped. But we wanted to produce all year round, so we looked for markets that demanded it: soft fruit and cuttings propagation, for example.”

The demand for trays used in strawberry, raspberry and blueberry production enabled year-round manufacturing and became a growing market segment. “Retailers and consumers expect that. That’s reflected in volumes and specifications.”

At the same time, hygiene requirements in breeding increased with increasing virus pressure and a smaller range of approved crop protection products. “Multi-use trays are easy to clean, cheaper than injection-molded alternatives, and are pocketable. And because thermoformed trays are thinner, if something goes wrong on an automated line, you lose the tray, not the robot arm,” explains Boot.

That said, the priority has always been to maximize the use of plastic through reuse. This has also changed significantly over the decades. “When I started, plastic was treated as waste. It was thrown away or burned. That is completely out of the question today.” Herkuplast, working with partners like Van Krimpen, has invested heavily in circular solutions. “Our breeding and growing trays do not enter the consumer market. They go from the dealer to the packaging operation. In the Netherlands, the used trays are collected, shredded and reprocessed as raw material for new trays or other applications. We close the loop: our trays are made from recycled materials from day one, both multi-use HerkuPaks and single-use HerkuPaks.” What started as a personal conviction became a marketing asset and has since become a retail requirement.

Alfred Boot of Herkuplast could have taken 1,000 photos at IPM, but this time, under the Bachmann Herku banner, will be the last time - he is saying goodbye soon.© Arlette Sijmonsma | MMJDaily.comAlfred Boot at IPM 2026

Internationalization and family businesses
Boot emphasizes the importance of strong chain partners. “We believe in collaboration.” In Europe, the company has always worked with operators from “Portugal to Finland”. Outside of Europe, the company markets directly, which has taken it as far as New Zealand, trips Boot describes as memorable.

North America has also been a rewarding market. There has been significant growth. “With our reusable QuickPot trays and our expertise, we can really add value there.” Is that his favorite market? He is reluctant to pick one. “I enjoyed going there, because we could make a real difference. But the Netherlands remains, perhaps, my first place. Not only because it is our biggest market, but because a lot of it originates here, seeds, ornamental gardens, plant breeding, greenhouse construction. That is the focus of knowledge and quality. Growing with minimal waste, with biological inputs, under constant price pressure. That is not always highly appreciated by the external role. The sector requires a pragmatic mentality, but the achievements are extraordinary. are”.

This has motivated him throughout his career. “This sector is essential. You are either in food or greening the world. Is ornamental horticulture necessary? Yes, I think so.”

That’s why Herkuplast, a family business at heart, chose during the pandemic to do everything in its power to continue serving its customers. After a short stoppage, the factory was opened as soon as possible, adapted to the strict requirements of Germany. “It was a huge peak for horticulture, but the prices of raw materials also rose a lot. We took the risk of buying at high prices and continued to deliver, even though it cost us the margin. But we wanted to continue to supply our customers. The importance of continuity is too great, for our customers, for our people and for our sector.”

After the pandemic, Herkuplast entered an important period of transition. Mr. Kubern had reached his seventieth birthday, and there was no succession in the family. A sale was the expected result, and in 2024 Herkuplast was bought by the Swiss company Bachmann Group. “I’m glad it was Bachmann. Our big priority was to have a private company that understood the European market, understood horticulture and would keep the factory in Germany.” With international expansion and a motivated team launching the new Bachmann-Herku brand, ambitions are high. “And when you look at how the sector is changing, automation, robotization, AI in plant selection, it’s moving at an incredible speed. It’s fascinating.”

Luckily we still have the pictures - the Bachmann Group shows off the new Bachmann Herku brand© Arlette Sijmonsma | MMJDaily.com And with the new colleagues from Bachmann Herku, IPM 2026

goodbye
But Boot is also honest: from a professional point of view, he won’t be around to see it unfold. The end of March will be his last working day at Herkuplast. “It’s a purely personal choice. I’m not tired of work, and I’m not tired of the sector. But you only live once, and life has a lot to offer.” The caravan is ready. Together with his wife Astrid (known to many in the industry) and their dog, the couple embarks on a long-distance trek. “I’ve been abroad about 100 days a year. We definitely have triplets when the kids were little, so balancing work and family was a constant juggling act. Now we go together.”

He adds: “If I had a long horizon ahead of me at 45, I would love to do again what we did with Herku in 1997. But now I feel too old for that.” He laughs. “And over the years I have become a clone of Herkuplast myself, while the product range has changed with the acquisition. Now we are Bachmann-Herku, and the portfolio is being integrated quickly. Kasper has been working in the new company since his first day. That is also a natural process. It feels good.”

For more information:
Bachmann Herkuplast

Alfred Boot
(email protected)
Kasper Rietveld
(email protected)
+31 653 215 514

Tel.: +41 41 914 72 00
(email protected)
www.bachmann.ch

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Fluent to sell New York license and operations

Published

2 weeks ago

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July 30, 2026

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Fluent has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Etain, LLC, the Company’s New York-based operating entity. The purchase agreement was signed on July 22, 2026. The transaction provides for the sale of Etain’s Registered Entity license, certain of the Company’s New York operating assets and related New York leases for cash, subject to customary purchase price adjustments.

The Company believes the Transaction advances its strategic objectives and expects the Transaction to comply with applicable regulatory requirements in connection with the Company’s previously announced plan of arrangement for Vireo Growth Inc. (the “Deal”) while providing for an orderly transition of the New York operations to an experienced operator committed to serving patients and consumers.

Completion of the free transaction is subject to closing conditions, including, among other customary conditions, approval of the change in ownership by the New York State Cannabis Control Board and the completion of all conditions to the completion of the Agreement.

For more information:
FLUENT Corp
getfluent.com/










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Marijuana Has ‘Horrific Health Risks’ And No Medical Value, Former Trump Attorney General Claims

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2 weeks ago

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July 30, 2026

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A former US attorney general who served in President Donald Trump’s first term says marijuana poses “tremendous health risks,” has no medical value and should not be rescheduled under federal law.

“Marijuana redistricting would create a false impression that it is safe, reduce penalties for illegally selling the drug, and provide a large tax windfall to those who legally supply it,” William Barr wrote in a Wednesday op-ed for The Washington Post, Kevin Sabet, CEO of the prohibitionist organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana. “That would be a disaster.”

The opinion comes as the Trump administration moves forward with cannabis reregulation.

According to an order issued in April by US Attorney General Todd Blanche, Marijuana products regulated by a state medical cannabis license were immediately changed from Schedule I As did marijuana products approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

an administrator The hearing is looking at the broader rescheduling of marijuanawith The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has been tasked with advocating for cannabis reform highlighting the testimony about the medical benefits of marijuana and its relative safety compared to other substances such as alcohol and opioids. It included appearances by a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scientist and a doctor from New Hampshire. Medical marijuana provides relief to pain patients and can serve as an alternative to opioids.

But Sabet and Barr, who served as Trump’s attorney general from 2019-2020, argued that “the evidence presented at the hearing did not support the rescheduling of marijuana” and instead “confirmed what decades of data have shown: raw marijuana has no scientifically established medical value and is highly susceptible to abuse.”

After the parties to the hearing have filed termination rights, the DEA administrative law judge overseeing the proceedings will make a recommendation regarding rescheduling, and the agency administrator will make a final decision.

DEA Administrator Terrance Cole only organizations and individuals opposed to marijuana reform have been invited to the hearing as a designated participant – telling supporters that they do not meet the definition of “interested person” to participate because they have not been “affected or prejudiced by any rule or proposed rule that may be issued.”

—
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The former attorney general’s new opinion says “the stakes couldn’t be higher”, arguing that “marijuana today is more dangerous than ever” and that it is “addictive”, throwing out a list of alleged harm to mental and physical health.

“These unhealthy effects are a predictable result of a powerful and addictive drug being normalized, commercialized and marketed as a medicine,” Barr and Sabet say. “It would be one thing if marijuana had medical value. But there is no credible evidence that marijuana is an effective treatment for any medical condition, despite the millions of dollars spent trying to prove otherwise.”

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a 252 analysis in 2023 that concluded that marijuana had accepted medical value and should be rescheduled.

The new opposition piece also says that “rescheduling would unlock enormous revenue for the corporate marijuana industry by bringing it into a category that has not been covered by a longstanding reduction in federal drug tax deductions,” referring to a law known as 280E, which repeals Sections I and II.

“This, in turn, would allow the industry to spend even more on advertising and marketing to young people,” Barr and Sabet. he wroteArguing that “those who would lose this dragon in society are laying the foundations for another Big Tobacco”.

The Sabet organization, SAM, is one of several parties Challenging the Marijuana Redistricting Process which have been upheld by a federal Court of Appeals. those separate parts State attorneys general have filed lawsuits against cannabis reform, Opponents of marijuana legalization and a a cannabis-based biopharmaceutical corporation.

SAM’s lawsuit was signed by attorneys at Torridon Law PLLC, where Barr is a partner.

The team announced in January that it was Hiring Barr’s firm to fight cannabis rescheduling After Trump signed an executive order directing officials to quickly complete the process.

During the first Trump administration, Barr was accused by a Justice Department official Directing improper anti-company investigations into multiple cannabis company mergers– Accounting for almost a third of the division’s cases in 2019.

Several Democratic members of Congress introduced a resolution calling for an investigation into Barr’s possible impeachment, saying “abused the power of his office” to improperly investigate marijuana businesses while engaging in other allegedly illegal conduct.

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How much red light does cannabis really need?

Published

3 weeks ago

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July 26, 2026

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When growers pull out two LED fixtures side by side, the first number they usually discuss is percent red. This is an easy specification to fix. They are efficient at producing red photons and incredibly efficient at photosynthesis, and cannabis eats away at the flower. So more red must be better, right?

Not so simple. Red is an input to a spectrum, and the spectrum is an input to a room. There is no single spectrum that wins everywhere. An indoor room pushes hard, a greenhouse that soaks up sunlight, a temperamental cultivar, and aggressive yields call for something different. Knowing what each light strip actually does allows you to choose a tool that fits your grow instead of one that just has a big number on the sales page.

© JumpLights

Blue: structure
Blue (approximately 400-500 nm) gives shape to the plant. It maintains dense growth, strong stems, tight internodes and allows it to develop as desired. It also encourages stomatal opening, so the plant manages water and gas exchange better. Get blue and you’ve built a plant that can carry heavy flowers with no problem.

Green: access
Green was eliminated as the wavelength is “reflected” by plants. It turns out that it does a real job. Blue and red are absorbed above; the green goes deep into the fat and reaches the leaves that are never touched by the above photons. In a compact room, it’s the difference between plants photosynthesising from the top down and those that work only from the top. Green won’t replace your red or blue, but it does carry usable light where they can’t reach.

Red: engine
Red is the horse of the flower. It absorbs as efficiently as anything in the spectrum, and is responsible for most of the biomass you’re after. Redder generally means faster flower development, more weight and better efficiency per watt.

But red has a ceiling, and it’s tied to what you run. Push PPFD upwards with a heavy red spectrum and some cultivars begin to whiten at the top: the flower should be dense with pale, washed tips. Genetics, intensity, barrel temperature and your general environment all feed into it. If you’re using aggressive light levels, a lower red spectrum will buy you room before that becomes a problem, leaving you almost no photosynthetic punch to get it.

Far Red: More than Emerson
Far-red (700-750 nm) appears in more devices every year. It contributes little to photosynthesis on its own, but it moves plant morphology and works with red through the Emerson Enhancement Effect. Used properly, it helps to deepen the light, encourage uniformity of the canopy and encourage the response of the bloom. The key word is small. A touch of far red rounds out a spectrum; he’s not there to make a show.

Matching the red percentage with the room
Cannabis addresses the entire spectrum, not a line on a spec sheet. Reds cause flowers, but blues, greens and crimsons give the plant something it needs. Where you land in red refers to how you grow.

A lower red spectrum (30-40%) captures more blue and green, gives you better morphology, reduces the risk of photobleaching, and holds up when you’re running extreme PPFD. Moderate spectrum (40-55%) is the sweet spot in commercial greenhouses: strong photosynthetic efficiency, strong flowering, balanced growth. A high-red spectrum (70%+) makes the most sense in a greenhouse, where the sun is already giving you lots of blue and green and your supplemental light can cast effective red to fill the gap.

Where does the ETS MAX series fit in?
This is the thinking behind the JumpLights ETS MAX series. Instead of forcing a spectrum into each room, it rarely comes up because a greenhouse and a high PPFD indoor flower room are not the same problem.

  • ETS MAX 4C41% red: for indoor rooms operating at very high intensity, where photobleaching is a real risk. The wider, red bottom balance allows you to push the tops without overcooking them
  • ETS MAX 4A48% red: balanced internal spectrum that maintains high output while controlling bleaching.
  • ETS MAX 5B57% Red: A high-performance indoor option. Moderate red, marked with efficiency and flower at the same time, up to 3,450 μmol/s, with efficiency that holds the spectrum.
  • ETS MAX 7A76% red: built for the greenhouse. The sun already supplies blue and green, so this leans heavily on the complementary red, up to 3,900 μmol/s in the infrastructure most greenhouses already have in place.

Bottom line
Choosing an activity is not a competition for the highest red number. The winning spectrum is the one that matches your environment, your intensity, your genetics, and what you’re trying to produce. Combine spectrum, intensity, environmental control, light distribution and genetics, and you’ve got a lighting strategy. Keep a spec isolated and all you’ve got is a bright room.

The ETS MAX line was created around this idea: choose the spectrum of the room you actually have, indoor or greenhouse, and let the device work with your grow rather than against it.

For more information:
JumpLights
www.jumplights.com

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