University of California Berkeley and Glass House Collaboration Leads to State-Funded Research on Cannabis Crop Yields

Executive Summary

• Glass House Brands announced its ongoing research partnership with the University of California, Berkeley, funded by a $1.8 million award from the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC).
• The DCC‑funded project will develop empirical yield models for indoor, outdoor, and mixed‑light cannabis cultivation using surveys, field observations, and remote‑sensing techniques.
• Findings are intended to improve crop‑production estimates, support regulatory oversight, and guide market forecasting for California’s legal cannabis sector.

Key Details

• Partnership began in 2024 to identify development needs in cannabis/hemp, assess university research capacity, and advance medicinal cannabinoid development.
• DCC awarded approximately $1,800,000 to UC Berkeley for the project titled “Cannabis Crop Yields: Survey & Remote Sensing.”
• Research scope includes:
• Estimating yield variability across indoor, outdoor, greenhouse, and mixed‑light systems.
• Integrating grower survey data, field‑level observations, and remote‑sensing/AI/computer‑vision techniques.
• Producing empirically grounded models to improve crop‑production estimates and regulatory forecasting.
• Expected outcomes:
• Better understanding of how propagation methods, lighting, and cultivation environments affect yields.
• Data‑driven insights for policymakers, growers, and researchers to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and product quality.
• Quotes:
• Dr. Thomas Azwell (UC Berkeley faculty director): Emphasized the impact of industry‑university collaboration on agricultural science and AI‑enabled yield improvements.
• Graham Farrar (President & Co‑founder, Glass House): Highlighted the importance of yield research for market efficiency, sustainability, and quality.

Notable Quotes

• “Understanding how yields differ based on inputs and growing techniques is essential for improving efficiency, sustainability, and quality for the market.” – Graham Farrar, President and co‑founder, Glass House Brands.

Materiality Assessment: Non‑Material – Neutral (the announcement provides strategic insight but does not contain immediate financial impact or earnings information).