March 01, 2018, VANCOUVER, B.C. – ASHBURTON VENTURES INC. (ABR-TSX:V) (ARB-FRANKFURT) (“Ashburton” or the "Company”) announces the commencement of a Zeolite Efficacy Trial with InnoTech Alberta.
The trial follows research work done in 2017 by Ashburton and is meant to determine if adding various percentages of zeolite can increase the performance properties of two commercial growing mediums that are used extensively in industry.
The trial differs from a prior study (with no involvement from InnoTech Alberta) in that it utilizes specialized growing mediums that were identified by Ashburton versus coconut coir which was used for the first study. It also will be using Hemp (Sativa) versus Cannabis (Indica) due to federal licensing regulations associated with the InnoTech facility.
The study was also designed to monitor water consumption as zeolite has known abilities to retain water. “We are seeking to measure differences in water consumption in soil blends with varying amounts of zeolite while also measuring differences in total biomass and crop yield. Fresh water consumption has become a significant factor of concern in agriculture with changing weather patterns and climate. This is especially relevant to California which has an emerging Cannabis industry. We are keen to learn whether zeolite can help to conserve water while also optimizing crop yield and soil health” stated Steve Harpur, President and COO of Ashburton Ventures Inc.
InnoTech Alberta is a subsidiary of Alberta Innovates and offers a diversified range of scientific, engineering, and technological research and testing capabilities, and the facilities to support technology scale-up. Its multi-disciplinary team has the depth of experience to work across all sectors, from energy to health to food and fibre.
The Crop Development and Management Team applies molecular, genetic, and microbiological tools to solve problems in abiotic stress, plant disease, and biosafety, related to maximizing grain and fibre yield and is led by Dr. Jan Slaski. Dr. Slaski has over 16 years’ experience in hemp research and operates an indoor grow chamber similar to many of the facilities used to grow medical marijuana in Canada.
Dr. Slaski also co-authored a Best Management Practices (BMP) guide to help Alberta greenhouse growers gain more knowledge on the production of medicinal marijuana. The BMP guide was developed using industrial hemp as a model for growing medicinal marijuana in Alberta as a greenhouse crop (https://www.greenhousecanada.com/crops/medical-marijuana/developing-bmps-for-medical-cannabis-crops-31243). The BMP guide was provided financial support from Alberta Crop Industry Development Fund, Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures and the Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association.
“We are pleased to be working with Ashburton Ventures to test the properties of zeolite as a component of commercial grow mediums” stated Dr. Slaski.
Ashburton Ventures Inc. is a Canadian-based junior exploration company focused on bringing a BC Zeolite Mine into production.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Signed “Stephen Harpur”
Stephen Harpur, CPA, CGA, President and COO
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Telephone: 1-604-683-3995; Toll Free: 1-888-945-4770; www.ashburtonventures.com
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