The 2024 “State of the Cannabis Lighting Market” report, published by Cannabis Business Times with support from Fluence, provides an in-depth analysis of lighting trends and practices among commercial cannabis cultivators. This report, which has been published annually since 2016, highlights the ongoing evolution and significant changes in cannabis lighting technology and practices.
The report emphasizes the critical relationship between cannabis and light in cultivation success. It covers various aspects of lighting, including intensity, spectral properties, uniformity, and dimming technology. The data presented in the report offers valuable insights into current industry practices and the continuing advancements in cannabis lighting.
The key trends in cannabis lighting for 2024 include:
- Continued dominance of LED lighting: LED usage has significantly increased, with 78% of cultivators using LEDs for vegetation and 77% for flowering, marking substantial growth since 2016.
- Shift in lighting decision factors: “Must be LED” has become the most important factor influencing lighting decisions for flowering, surpassing energy efficiency.
- Focus on spectral properties: Cultivators are paying close attention to red light percentages in their lighting choices, with 40-50% red being the most preferred spectral property.
- Emphasis on crop quality: 42% of growers cited crop quality as the primary consideration for choosing LEDs, followed by yield (26%) and energy efficiency (11%).
- Persistent energy management challenges: Managing energy costs remains the top lighting-related challenge for 23% of cultivators.
- Increased interest in light uniformity: While ensuring consistent lighting across crops was previously a major challenge, it has decreased significantly, possibly indicating improved solutions.
- Recognition of LED benefits: Energy efficiency (74%) and low heat output (54%) are the most commonly cited benefits of LED lighting.
- Integration of smart technology: IoT devices and sensors are becoming more prevalent in cannabis cultivation, allowing for real-time monitoring and optimization of growing conditions.
- Adoption of data-driven cultivation: Growers are increasingly using data analytics to make precise decisions about lighting schedules and other environmental factors.
- Emphasis on sustainability: There’s a growing trend towards eco-friendly practices, including the use of energy-efficient lighting systems.
These trends reflect the cannabis industry’s ongoing technological evolution, with a clear shift towards more efficient, data-driven, and quality-focused lighting solutions. By providing this detailed analysis of lighting trends and benchmarks, the 2024 “State of the Cannabis Lighting Market” report serves as a valuable resource for cannabis cultivators, researchers, and lighting manufacturers. It offers insights that can guide decision-making processes related to lighting investments, cultivation techniques, and overall operational strategies in the cannabis industry.
The full report can be downloaded here.
Image: Cannabis Business Times
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