In this Byers Scientific podcast interview, Josh Rembusch, Vice President of Business Development at Byers Scientific, and Eliane Khoury, Founder and CEO of VFA Solutions, discuss how electrostatic purification is an emerging chemical-free alternative to pesticides for cannabis plant health.

With commercial cannabis crop yield being an ongoing priority for cultivators, being able to use safe and effective solutions for overall plant health is paramount. In addition, with more states in the U.S. implementing stronger regulations around pesticide use, now is the ideal time to consider viable chemical-free alternatives to traditional pesticides.

Thankfully, electrostatic purification is emerging as a chemical-free alternative to pesticides to stop the spread of plant disease, as well as for worker safety.

Since 2007, VFA’s patented ASPRA® electrostatic precipitation and filtration technology has been used in hospitals, schools, agriculture and industrial facilities throughout Europe as a safe and effective indoor air quality (IAQ) solution. Byers Scientific is excited to bring this cutting-edge air purification technology to North America.

The combined Byers Scientific and VFA offering is ideal for commercial cannabis as it brings together next-generation intelligent odor control with clean and energy efficient air purification for healthier cultivation spaces.

As noted in the podcast, ASPRA® has been tested by various third parties. Of particular relevance to commercial cannabis cultivation, ASPRA® technology was tested to see how it performs in indoor commercial agriculture spaces. Even in a high humidity (~80%) environment, a single ASPRA® Aura unit was tested for the removal of known plant threat, Botrytis, and yielded impressive results under difficult conditions. In an actual application where the size and number of ASPRA® units would be specified based on the volumetric measurements of the cultivation space and proper humidity controls would be in place, commercial cannabis cultivators should see even greater removal efficiency of Botrytis and other threats to plant health through the use of this technology.

The following are some highlights from this interview:

  • Why electrostatic purification is a cost-effective insurance policy for commercial cannabis cultivators. (:40)
  • More about how ASPRA® is a chemical-free alternative to pesticides for plant health. (2:14)
  • How third parties have vetted ASPRA® as a safe solution and how it has been tested against a UV system in a flower cultivation case study. (9:51)
  • How the combined VFA and Byers Scientific solution is ideal for fighting dust, fine particles and odorous compounds. (13:27)
  • Why the Byers MT-Series of molecular filtration systems with ASPRA® is a future-focused solution. (18:43)

Are you ready to make your commercial cannabis operation safer for plants and people? Click here to learn more about the Byers Scientific and VFA partnership, and please contact us here to learn more about how we can help.