National Agriculture Commodity Board
Researching innovative agriculture tech that can shape how cannabis farmers can approach plant tissue analysis onsite.
Cannabis farmers spend monthly on plant tissue analysis to steer crops, but results take time and methods vary. New sensor tools promise faster insight, yet farmers lack proof they match lab benchmarks, fit farm workflow, and align with The Cannabis Act.
NFCF and partners run farmer-led trials of Senseen’s Nutriscope, comparing leaf scans with lab tissue results. The project builds a common method, training, and data system so farmers use quick feedback to adjust their crop steering and lower testing spend.
Farmers rely on consistent plant tissue analysis and crop steering to protect yield and quality, but lab turnaround and cost limit how often they can test. New scanners can help, yet cannabis farming lacks shared validation, data standards, and compliance-ready workflows. Without proof against trusted lab benchmarks, producers risk decisions that can impact a high value crop by adopting ag tech that isn't industry specific.
NFCF coordinates a farmer-led trial across member farms, using a standard sampling protocol and matched lab tissue testing. Farmers scan leaves with Nutriscope, log crop steering targets, and upload results for review. Researchers and trusted labs check accuracy, flag workflow issues, and share findings with Senseen to support product changes that fit cannabis farming. We share farmer-ready report and dataset.
If Nutriscope readings drift from lab tissue benchmarks, farmers can steer crops the wrong way, raising nutrient waste, yield loss, and quality variation. Poor training or complex app steps can slow adoption. Low adoption keeps monthly tissue testing costs high for farms. Challenging learning curves, inaccuracy of results, adoptability, and commercial viability in farming operations are also risks.
NFCF and Senseen reduce risk with hands-on training, clear scan and sampling SOPs, and pairing Nutriscope scans with lab tissue runs to check accuracy and repeatability over time. The team reviews data quality, flags outliers, and documents accuracy. Senseen’s technical team supports calibration updates, while researchers and trusted labs bring experience in plant science and analytics.
A collaboration between Health Canada licensed labs, academic cannabis researchers, and farm members on proficiency trials.
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Join the Federation of Cannabis Farmers and shape the future of the cannabis farming industry, nationwide.
