Podcast Episode Summary: 

Featured Guest: Dr. Allison Justice

• Renowned for her research-driven approach to cannabis cultivation and post-harvest science.
• Leads the conversation on smokability, drying/curing, and the importance of data-backed airflow control.
• Brings years of experience and a scientific lens to solving cultivation challenges in a maturing cannabis industry.

Pipp Horticulture x Fog City Farms Collaboration

• Discussion centers around Fog City’s vertical racking system with Fluence LEDs and Pipp airflow tech.
• Focus on multi-tier flower room environments and the complexities of airflow across different canopy levels.
• Dr. Justice provides context on the importance of maintaining environmental consistency across all tiers.

Custom Airflow & Environmental Control

• Use of automated blackout curtains, duct socks, and return air systems to tailor airflow.
• Goal: Improve control over humidity, temperature, and VPD (Vapor Pressure Deficit), especially during dry/cure.
• Allison emphasizes the challenge of ensuring airflow reaches lower tiers effectively without over-drying top tiers.

The Science of Smokability

• Dr. Justice shares her passion for exploring what makes a cannabis product "smoke well."
  • Going beyond terpenes and cultivar, and into deeper physiological variables.
  • Inspired by tobacco research—looking into chlorophyll content, sugar levels, etc.
• Acknowledges that in-depth testing is costly and time-intensive, but vital for product quality.

Dry & Cure – The Most Critical Phase

• Dr. Justice discusses how this phase often gets overlooked but has the biggest impact on final product.
• Fog City’s data collection over multiple years has helped them understand how drying conditions affect smokeability.
• Calls for the industry to standardize best practices in this area.

Ongoing Research Trial Series

• This episode marks the beginning of an airflow-focused trial series.
• Allison will return regularly (every 3 months) to share updates and insights.
• Collaborative spirit emphasized between science, engineering, and cultivation.

Final Thoughts

• Dr. Justice highlights the importance of digging deeper into the data and science behind good cannabis.
• Michael and Anders express excitement about pioneering this research and sharing knowledge with the broader community.
• Strong call to continue the conversation and grow the industry’s collective understanding.