Case Study: Client 2 - Cultivation Excellence from the Ground Up

At Urth & Fyre, we specialize in delivering top-tier consulting services to cannabis businesses, driving efficiency and profitability. One of our most challenging yet rewarding projects was with Client 2, where we started from scratch to build a state-of-the-art cultivation facility. From April 2022 to the present, our strategic planning and hands-on approach have significantly improved their operations and positioned them for future success.

Background

Industry: Controlled Environment Agriculture
Brands: Orbit
Facility: 14k ft² with ~4,416k ft² canopy (flower: ~3,456 ft², vegetative: ~960 ft²)
Lighting: 232 1000w LEDs for flowering, 60 600w LEDs for vegetative, totaling 292 lights and 268k watts
Harvest Cycle: 63 days flower, 1 day harvest, 1 day clean, 1 day load, averaging 5.6 harvests/year

Challenges

Client 2 faced numerous challenges as a ground-up project:

• Establishing a strategic plan and vision for the facility
• Designing and optimizing the entire cultivation environment
• Ensuring high microbial pass rates and consistent THC levels
• Managing costs effectively to achieve profitability

Goals

Our primary goals for this project were:

• Achieve a yield of 70 g/ft²
• Ensure 90% passing microbial rates
• Attain 22%+ THC content

Our Approach

Trevor Christensen, founder of Urth & Fyre, led a comprehensive plan that included:

1. Ground-Up Facility Design:
   • Optimized environmental ratios, lighting, latent load, sensible load, irrigation, fertigation, airflow, benching, controls, sensors, and plant density.
   • Conducted thorough facility audits and established ongoing maintenance programs.
   • Implemented robust inventory management, biosecurity, and cleaning/sanitization protocols.
   • Designed and automated post-harvest processes, including dry and cure rooms.
   • Developed and validated all associated SOPs and validation sheets.
2. Operational Enhancements:
   • Streamlined processes from clone to harvest, ensuring efficiency and consistency.
   • Focused on cost-effective solutions to reduce production costs.

Results

The results of hiring Urth & Fyre and Trevor Christensen's expertise were transformative:

Yield Improvements:

• 2024: 3,643 lbs/year (83 g/ft²)

Microbial Pass Rates:

• 2024: 95%

THC Content:

• 2024: 24%

Cost to Produce per Gram:

• 2024: $0.71

Labor Cost:

• 2024: $310,000

Financial Impact:

• Sales (Blended Sales Price: ~$950/lb): $3,460,850
• Profit: ($12,400)
• Capital Expenditure (CAPEX): $2,300,000
• ROI: -0.54%

The Urth & Fyre Difference

When Client 2 engaged with Urth & Fyre, they were embarking on an ambitious ground-up project. Trevor Christensen, with his extensive knowledge and strategic vision, meticulously planned every aspect of the facility. From the initial design phase to the implementation of advanced cultivation techniques, Trevor's hands-on approach ensured that every detail was optimized for maximum efficiency and yield.

The facility's design incorporated cutting-edge technologies and processes, resulting in significant improvements in yield, microbial pass rates, and THC content. Despite the substantial initial investment, the streamlined operations and cost-effective strategies implemented by Urth & Fyre have set the foundation for long-term profitability and success.

Trevor's expertise in facility design and operational management was instrumental in transforming Client 2 into a high-performing cultivation facility. His strategic insights and dedication to excellence were key factors in achieving the impressive results seen in 2024.

Client Testimonial

"Urth & Fyre's expertise and strategic vision were pivotal in establishing our cultivation facility. Trevor Christensen's thorough approach and dedication to excellence have laid a strong foundation for our future growth."
— Phil Coulolias, Owner

For a FREE facility profitability assessment and Biosecurity SOP, email us at trevor@urthandfyre.com .