TORONTO — Toronto based CO2 GRO Inc. (“GROW”) (TSX-V: GROW) is pleased to announce a series of positive flower grow trials using dissolved CO2 spray versus no CO2 gassing at a commercial Michigan flower greenhouse.
Highlights are below:
The first two trials were done on Vinca Minor “periwinkle” flowers that were sprayed with dissolved CO2 in a large commercial greenhouse that does not use CO2 gassing. The dissolved CO2 sprayed flowers were healthier, showing 1) more branching and side shoots with bigger, thicker leaves, 2) more advanced root systems delivering more water and nutrients up to the leaves and 3) no undue stretching all of which contribute to increased value per flower plant. No additional plant growth regulators were required for the dissolved CO2 treated flowers. Additionally, these flowers were commercially ready to ship 7-10 days faster at 32-35 days versus the control flowers requiring 42 days.
The third and fourth trials were on chrysanthemums resulting in bushier plants without additional stretching with deeper, more vibrant flower coloring. Propagation times were consistently reduced by one-third to 14 days versus the control flowers requiring 21 days.
The fifth flower trial now underway for a period of five weeks is on 42,000 cordyline juvenile plants that will be commercially sold at maturity. A fully automated overhead irrigation system is systematically pulsing dissolved CO2 spray on these flowers. Early results are very promising but accelerated maturity and other features to determine the exact advantage of CO2 Foliar Spray technology on cordyline plants is two months away.
John Archibald, CEO of GROW stated "We are really pleased with these Michigan flower results as the global flower market is a $200 billion / year retail business. Flowers are more valuable than food on a greenhouse per square foot basis. Being a key part of a commercial flower operation is validating our revenue model of charging a determined portion of increased revenue based on incremental plant productivity. Our patented dissolved CO2 Foliar Spray technology simply mixes CO2 and water for both indoor and outdoor use. Most greenhouses cannot use CO2 gassing due to porosity while those in warmer drier areas like California do not have the need for enclosed glass walls. We are very excited to start outdoor grow trials shortly in California that produces a majority of North America’s vegetables which are grown year-round. The value of plants grown outside of greenhouses is 20 times greater than those grown in greenhouses.”
About CO2 GRO Inc.
GROW's mission is to accelerate all indoor and outdoor value plant growth naturally, safely, and economically using its patented advanced CO2 foliar technologies. GROW’s global target plant markets are retail food at $8 trillion per year (Plunkett Mar 2017), retail non-food plants at an estimated $1 trillion per year and legal retail cannabis that may reach $50 billion per year by 2022 (Bay St Analyst estimates).
GROW's CO2 technologies are commercially proven, scalable and easily adopted into existing irrigation systems. GROW's proven crop yield enhancements and revenue model are compelling for growers and Agri-industrial partners.
GROW's sole focus is working with its plant grower and Agri-industrial partners in proving and adopting its CO2 technologies for specific growers’ plant yield needs.
The CO2 technologies work by transferring CO2 gas into water and foliar spraying across the entire plant leaf surface area, which is a semi permeable membrane. The dissolved concentrated CO2 then penetrates a leaf's surface area naturally like nicotine naturally dissolves through human skin from a nicotine patch.
Foliar spraying of natural water, dissolved nutrients and chemicals on plant leaves has been used for over 60 years by millions of indoor and outdoor plant growers. To date, outdoor growers have not had any way to enhance plant CO2 gas uptake for faster growth.
Indoor use of CO2 gassing has enhanced plant yields for over 60 years. However, over 50% of the CO2 gas is typically lost through ventilation. Current greenhouse CO2 gassing levels of up to 1500 PPM are also not ideal for worker health and safety. GROW's safer dissolved CO2 foliar spray can be used by indoor and outdoor plant growers with minimal CO2 gas lost and greater plant bioavailability resulting in higher yields.
Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on CO2GRO's expectations, estimates and projections regarding its business and the economic environment in which it operates. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements and readers should not place undue reliance on such statements. Statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update them publicly to reflect new information or the occurrence of future events or circumstances, unless otherwise required to do so by law.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For more information, please visit www.co2gro.ca
Source: CO2 GRO Inc.
