Cannabis News

Using plasma to kill airborne pathogens

Published

2 weeks ago

November 26, 2025

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Whether it’s cannabis or produce, every grower faces a constant battle against mold and similar threats. Cannabis is particularly vulnerable, as its humid growing environment and the physical structure of its flowers create an ideal breeding ground for many pathogens. Fruit, vegetables and cut flowers, on the other hand, often die in large quantities as they sit in containers or trucks before reaching their final destination.

For the past two years, DDH has been working with an industrial plasma manufacturer to adapt cold plasma technology for controlled environment agricultural and shipping environments. The result is a variety of products sold under the name Quantum Clear (QC).

plasma
DDH’s Travis Higginbotham says the original inventor had used plasma technology in other sectors and was looking for a partner to bring it to agriculture and horticulture. “It took us two full years of design and testing to get the equipment to work in grow facilities, centralized HVAC systems, shipping trailers and cold rooms,” he said. The company has collected data on various USDA fruit crops, third-party air quality testing for 50 different pathogens and volatile organic compounds such as ethylene, and pilot projects with large ornamental and cannabis operators.

The appeal of this approach, Travs points out, is that the plasma field does not produce ozone, which is a concern with some current plasma technologies. The company has UL and Carb certifications, which verify that there is no ozone and that the units are safe for plant and human workplaces.

Preservation of products
The way it works is pretty simple, practically speaking, at least. Air enters on one side of the device, passes through a plasma area and exits on the other side. In this area, gases are energized into a plasma state that produces reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, including hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide. These compounds interact with airborne pathogens and organic molecules. “The idea is to create an area in the environment that breaks down the cell walls and changes the structure of certain compounds,” explains Travis.

Fruit storage and shipping environments have been an early focus. “The combination of darkness, low temperatures, humidity and well-packaged produce creates ideal conditions for mold,” he says. “Less air exchange and increased ethylene levels also encourage faster fruit ripening and smoother texture. USDA work with bananas, tomatoes, apples and strawberries showed that shipments treated with cold plasma maintained quality and had virtually no visible mold.”

Due Diligence Horticulture has designed versions of the unit for shipping containers, refrigerators, HVAC systems and growing spaces. This enables flexibility throughout the supply chain, providing redundancy and centralized air handling.

All of this potential implementation was also based on the company’s focus on safety, Travis noted, not just for the humans working in the grow rooms, but for the plants as well. Several data sets suggested neutral or positive effects on performance and quality, although the company is still gathering more information. “We’ve doubled and even tripled the application capacity without negatively affecting the pistils of cannabis flowers. The technology is gentle on the plant, but destroys pathogens.”

cannabis
For cannabis growers, interest centers on airborne pathogens associated with empty fills, including aspergillus. “Operators also want to cut down on powdery mildew losses or limit the cost and frequency of IPM interventions during flowering. Since plasma treatment can be applied from tissue culture rooms to post-harvest spaces, trials have looked at how the units behave during the crop cycle.” The graph below shows the results of a producer trial in November 2025 where the Aspergillus count was reduced by 90% after 4 days of use.

Growers of vegetables and ornamentals are also in trouble. Trials in shipping with coastal farms and cooler storage with Metrolina Greenhouses have been completed, and further work is underway in Central American Tissue Culture facilities and other controlled environments with good air exchange.

Travis emphasized that installation is easy compared to systems that rely on chemical injection. “The units are stand-alone boxes designed for different voltages and room sizes. There is no subscription service attached to the equipment, and the devices come with a standard warranty and optional extended coverage. DDH also offers financing to help manufacturers secure Quantum Clear cold plasma units.”

In various studies, the company reports an average reduction of 87.2% in airborne pathogens in less than a week and a greater reduction of over 95% when the units are run continuously for up to a month. “It’s a practical tool for growers who want to not only monitor air quality, but better understand air quality management.” he says “He’s responsible for getting the technology into the hands of producers through our testing program and QC to make sure it’s the solution they expected.”

Want to know more? tune in DDH December 10 webinarth at 10:00 a.m. PT. Click here to register.

For more information:
Due Diligence Horticulture
www.ddhort.com

Related Topics:airborne kill pathogens plasma

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Maine Officials Approve 2026 Ballot Initiative To Largely Repeal Marijuana Legalization Law For Signature Collection

Published

15 hours ago

December 9, 2025

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Maine officials have given permission to prohibition activists to begin gathering signatures for a proposal A ballot initiative that would roll back the state’s voter-approved marijuana legalization law. The measure, if passed, would also overhaul the regulatory structure of the medical cannabis program by establishing product testing requirements.

The proposal — called the “Cannabis Legalization Act and Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Act” — is a revamped version of a marijuana initiative introduced in September, sponsored by a Republican state senator and a former top staffer for then-Gov. Paul LePage (R), staunch prohibitionist.

The latest proposal, a petition approved by the Secretary of State on Monday, would remove and amend multiple sections of the current state statute, which voters approved in 2016 to effectively repeal the legalization of recreational marijuana sales.

Adults over the age of 21 would remain legal to possess 2.5 ounces of cannabis under the proposal, but a section of the law allowing home cultivation would be repealed. The sale and home cultivation of medical marijuana would be legal.

Madison Carey, who was listed as a lead petitioner in the original version of the repeal initiative and remains involved in the current campaign, told Marihuana Momenti on Tuesday that “there needs to be regulation of marijuana,” arguing that her own experience recovering from opioid misuse disorder speaks to the inadequacy of the current law.

“My hope is to raise awareness of the reality of the potential dangers of not having regulation,” he said. “I think people are fed up with the constant use — the constant (retail businesses) coming up where people can legally buy marijuana.”

Of course, repealing the voter-approved law that established the adult-licensed sales system would eliminate the current regulatory infrastructure in place, which reform advocates say helps mitigate public health and safety risks associated with the illegal market.

Rep. David Boyer (R), who led the fight to get a cannabis legalization initiative on Maine’s ballot in 2016 when he was a staff member at the Marihuana Policy Project, said voters should refuse to sign petitions for the new initiative.

“Don’t stop Maine’s progress, don’t stop signing this unfair repeal initiative,” he told Marijuana Moment on Tuesday. “Repealing the legalization of cannabis would shut down an industry larger than lobsters, potatoes and blueberries combined, costing our state jobs, revenue and economic growth.”

According to the new measure, the director of the Office of Cannabis Policy will “advance policies that promote the health and welfare of the people of the state and protect their health and safety, emphasizing the health and welfare of minors as a priority consideration in the performance of all duties.”

They should also “ensure that eligible patients maintain access to high-quality, effective, and affordable medical cannabis under this Act.”

Under the proposal, the Department of Administrative and Financial Services would create a testing program for cannabis products that would require dispensaries and dispensaries to send those products to a licensed facility for safety evaluation before dispensing them to qualified patients.

The testing facility “should ensure that cannabis or cannabis products do not exceed acceptable levels of contamination for any contaminants that are harmful to health and require testing and ensure proper labeling.”

“The department shall adopt rules establishing a testing program under this section, rules identifying the types of pollutants harmful to health, which must be tested for cannabis and cannabis products under this chapter, and rules regarding the maximum level of contamination for each pollutant,” the vote said. the initiative the text says

Additionally, regulators should administer a system to track cannabis plants from seed to the point of retail sale or disposal. That system “should be able to track cannabis plants in groups during the cultivation phase and when passing from the cultivation phase to another registrar”.

Entrepreneurs must submit at least 67,682 valid voter signatures by February 2, 2026 to be eligible for next year’s ballot. If approved by voters, the initiative would take effect on January 1, 2028.

—
It’s Marijuana Moment 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
—

Maine lawmakers passed a bill in June legalize possession of an ounce of psilocybin Adults over 21 years of age.

After a different effort in the state last year legalize psilocybin and allow adults to access the psychedelic in state-licensed facilities. But lawmakers watered down that bill—instead, they changed it to create a committee to study further reforms—and in the end it was not approved.

Meanwhile, Maine legislators in February A top marijuana official voted to investigate possible conflicts of interest.

And last year, the law that allowed people came into force now apply for legal marijuana crime records to be sealed.

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.

Cannabis News

By concentrating our portfolio, we create room for innovation and growth

Published

2 days ago

December 8, 2025

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Viscon transfers the range fork product portfolio to Flier

Viscon Plant Technology will transfer its spacer fork product portfolio (including spacer forks and fixed forks) to Flier Systems effective January 1, 2026.

“The furrows are a proven solution for spacing within the sector. By transferring this portfolio to Flier Systems, the technology will remain available to both existing and new customers, with continued quality and support. Flier Systems will take over development, sales and technical service, while Viscon Plant Technology focuses on its core activities,” the team says.

“The transfer of the fields is a deliberate strategic step to strengthen our focus on automation solutions for plant growers and young breeders. In addition to concentrating our portfolio on technologies such as tissue culture automation, phenotypic sorting and somatic embryogenesis automation, we create room for further innovation and growth. We are pleased to have found a reliable and dedicated partner in Flier Systems,” said Nigela, who will continue the same product portfolio. Viscon Plant Technology.

“Acquiring spacer forks fits perfectly into our strategy to automate the entire production process for professional plant growers. Having just introduced the upgraded SPH transplanter/sorter, we have already taken an important step in the automation of potted plants. Acquiring spacer forks is a logical addition as it allows us to offer a complete and integrated package. Viscon,” said Ad Kranendonk, Flier Systems.