A major breakthrough in cannabis cultivation technology, unveiled this week at the Marijuana Business Conference (MJBizCon) in Las Vegas, could have significant implications for Australia's growing medicinal cannabis industry. US-based agtech company AROYA has launched IRRIGAIT™, an innovative irrigation system that uses artificial intelligence to optimise cannabis plant growth.

The technology, showcased at North America's largest cannabis trade show, represents a significant advancement in precision agriculture for the cannabis sector, offering Australian cultivators a glimpse of future growing technologies that could revolutionise local operations.

IRRIGAIT™ eliminates traditional irrigation schedules in favour of a dynamic, data-driven approach that automatically adjusts water delivery based on real-time plant needs. The system uses a straightforward 1-10 scale that allows growers to set their cultivation strategy from "fully generative" to "fully vegetative," with the AI handling all the complex calculations and adjustments needed to achieve optimal results.

"IRRIGAIT represents a seismic shift in how growers think about irrigation," explains Christian Hertel, AROYA's Vice President of Marketing. "This essentially makes your operation self-steering—you set the course, and AROYA intelligence handles the complexities of getting you there efficiently and safely."

The system launch is accompanied by a new hardware offering - a drip and drain station that monitors water balance data, including inflow, outflow, and substrate water content. This comprehensive approach to irrigation management tracks runoff volume and electrical conductivity (EC), providing crucial feedback on nutrient dynamics and system efficiency.

For Australia's rapidly expanding medicinal cannabis industry, which operates under strict quality control requirements, the system's precision and consistency could prove particularly valuable. The technology offers:

• Continuous real-time monitoring and adjustment of irrigation every three minutes
• Automated detection of optimal soil conditions
• Complete data logging for compliance and quality assurance
• Built-in safety systems to maintain irrigation during any disruptions
• Standardised crop steering capabilities for consistent yields

The launch comes at a time when local producers are increasingly looking to automation and precision agriculture to maintain competitive advantage in the global market. While traditional agricultural irrigation systems have been available, IRRIGAIT™ represents the first purpose-built solution specifically designed for cannabis cultivation at a commercial scale.

The system's ability to maintain detailed records of all decisions and actions could prove particularly valuable for Australian producers, who must meet stringent documentation requirements under current (GMP) medicinal cannabis regulations.

AROYA, based in Pullman, Washington, has announced that the system is currently available through an early access program, though availability in the Australian market has not yet been confirmed.

For commercial cannabis cultivators interested in learning more about the technology, AROYA has indicated that information is available through their website.