Source: Visual Capitalist, Forbes

Primal believes that a key factor for the future of the cannabis industry will be sustainable crop care. The toll of commercial agriculture on the world is already significant, and the addition of another major crop such as cannabis treated with traditional synthetic and chemical inputs could lead to damaging repercussions for both human health and the planet. As a cash crop, growers rely on synthetics and chemicals in order to guarantee the growth of their plants. Furthermore, synthetic pesticides on cannabis can be transferred into cannabis smoke at a rate as high as 70%, allowing chemicals to directly enter the bloodstream without undergoing first-pass metabolism by the digestive systems. However, with legalization comes regulation. As cannabis cultivation becomes more mainstream, consumers will become increasingly aware of the health dangers associated with cannabis cultivation through traditional and outdated agricultural practices. Consequently, governments have started and will continue to adopt policies in favor of safe and agro-ecological practices, further expediting the industry’s transition to safer and sustainable cultivation methods. California, perceived as a forward-thinking US state, has already set regulations for the cultivation of cannabis that governs the use of toxic chemicals.

Neem products could become key for the development of sustainable and organic cannabis in the following areas:

• Neem oil: Known as one of the most potent natural fungicides, neem oil is used to treat common cannabis blights such as powdery mildew, black spot, down mildew, rust, leafspot and botrytis.
• Neem cake: Improves the soil’s organic content while protecting cannabis roots from pests, diseases and nematodes. Increases water retention and provides minerals. Neem cake can increase yields by as much as 25%, according to early research undertaken.
• Azadirachtin: Biodegradable and non-toxic to mammals, azadirachtin disrupts the growth cycle of insects and deters them from feeding on plants. Effective against 600 species of insects.

Learn more about how the neem tree is well positioned to drive innovation and outperformance in the cannabis industry over the next century by downloading Primal’s Green Economy – Cannabis.