Toronto, ON, March xx, 2018, – The Flowr Corporation (“Flowr”), an emerging Canadian cannabis leader and Hawthorne Gardening Company (“Hawthorne”), a subsidiary of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company that focuses on gardening products and systems that help people live happier, healthier lives, today announced an exclusive strategic R&D alliance.
This alliance brings together two world-leading organizations to construct and operate the first purpose-built research and development facility in North America dedicated exclusively to innovations in the cannabis industry.
Located adjacent to Flowr’s flagship cultivation facility in Kelowna, British Columbia, the facility will support scientists from both organizations. Areas of R&D will include nutrient formulations, lighting and environmental systems, irrigation, growing media, and integrated cultivation systems in support of Hawthorne brands such as Botanicare, Gavita, General Hydroponics and Can-Filters. Researchers will also develop cultivars for specific growing conditions and therapeutic purposes.
“We currently work with a broad range of licensed cannabis producers, but we have an especially deep respect for Flowr’s facility construction and cultivation teams based on their unparalleled expertise and experience” said Chris Hagedorn, CEO of Hawthorne. “We look forward to collaborating with Flowr to spearhead a new era of innovation in the emerging cannabis industry.”
The new 50,000 square foot R&D facility will combine laboratories, indoor and greenhouse grow suites, training areas and genetics breeding areas in a single building. Construction will begin in second quarter 2018. The facility is expected to open in early 2019.
“Our alliance with Hawthorne gives us a unique opportunity to combine their deep expertise in cultivation products and systems with our industry-leading expertise in cannabis grow facility construction and cannabis cultivation techniques” said Tony Giorgi, CEO of Flowr. “We’re excited about the advancements this alliance will bring to us, to Hawthorne, and to the cannabis industry.”
The R&D facility will reinforce the Okanagan region’s status as a hub for advanced cannabis research and contribute to economic development in the area. New scientific and technical staff will be added to Flowr’s construction and cultivation teams already working at Flowr’s seven-acre campus located at the boundary of Kelowna and Lake Country. The facility also represents a significant investment by Hawthorne in the region, adding to Flowr’s substantial investment in cultivation facilities.
credit:420intel.com