Franz Sima: “We created the possibility to standardize the cultivation of cannabis. Choosing the right lighting is of the utmost importance for a successful cultivation.”

Franz Josef Sima is a specialist in cannabis horticulture services of Fluence in the EMEA region Fluence and will give a talk today, Sunday, September 11th, at CB Expo & Conference, in Zurich, dedicated to “GACP from a grower's perspective”. His speech will address the obstacles of standards, why they are needed and why they elevate cannabis cultivation to a higher level.

A 4th generation producer, Franz Sima has been involved in the European cannabis industry for over 10 years, from selling clones to growing equipment. With extensive international experience, he has worked from designing European Union (EU) GMP facilities in North Macedonia to helping South African projects achieve success and their goals faster. We spoke with Franz Sima in Berlin, on the sidelines of the ICBC – International Cannabis Business Conference – and we got to know a little better what he does in his profession.

You work in Fluence's horticultural services in the cannabis industry. What exactly does your profession consist of?
Fluence's horticulture service is grower to grower support. As a result, former growers or grow consultants who used LED on their premises are now working for Fluence and supporting other growers in selecting the right LED lighting solution for their operation, preparing premises and growing practices for future use. and being a training partner while growing with LED. Fluence has Horticultural Services (HSS) specialists in America, Europe and Asia. I represent the HSS team supporting cannabis growers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

What is the purpose of Fluence being represented at conferences like ICBC or CB Expo, for example?
The cannabis industry is changing rapidly and we are seeing Europe opening up to medical and, in part, recreational cannabis. Given the current legalization stages in Germany, it makes a lot of sense to have a European cannabis event in the capital of Germany. Fluence is pleased to participate in this year's ICBC and CB Expo and connect with cannabis growers and ecosystem partners from around the world to shape Europe's cannabis industry. Fluence is contributing to conferences this year, participating in various panel discussions, hosting networking and having a stand where regional sales managers, horticultural services specialists and scientists are present to share knowledge with growers and partners and stimulate each other's business.

How do you analyze the cannabis industry in Portugal and Europe?
Looking at the many facets of the market and different growing operations around the world, we are witnessing many interesting trends in the cannabis industry, especially when it comes to cultivation practices. The aim of our horticulture service is for our customers to achieve their business goals as quickly and efficiently as possible, to ensure a faster return on investment (ROI). Some lessons were learned by other producers and do not need to be repeated by European or Portuguese producers. We bring a vast set of best practices and partners to ensure successful implementation and use of LED technologies. The legal cannabis industry in Europe is still young. Certain standards such as GAP/GACP and GMP/EUGMP can be challenging for producers.
Fluence customers in Portugal can benefit from our horticulture service team, who have already gone through the learning curve for them and also have a broad understanding of the correlations between light and other parameters in cannabis cultivation. We engage clients to use proven practices, which have already been validated on our side.

Why does light matter?
As simple as this question sounds, it is of great importance to provide a good insight into the topic of light. The cannabis plant itself, being a photoperiod plant, reacts to the period when it receives light (photoperiod). In controlled environments where cannabis is frequently grown, light intensity, light spectrum, photoperiod and the continuous cycling of these factors are very important. In addition, cannabis can absorb a lot of light – when all the relevant growth factors are understood. We created the possibility to standardize the cultivation of cannabis. We supplement in the greenhouse to add light on a gloomy day and balance this loss of light. For cannabis, continuously receiving the same level of light is the way to produce the same yield and profile of cannabinoids in flowers. Among other factors, plants need light to grow. The light intensity dictates the morphology of the plant and, indirectly, also the health of the plant. Choosing the right lighting for projects is of the utmost importance for a successful cultivation.