Results of Third Dissolved CO2 Foliar Spray Cannabis Trial Demonstrates Continued Dramatic Increases in Value



TORONTO, Oct. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Toronto based CO2 GRO Inc. (“GROW” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: GROW, OTCQB: BLONF) is pleased to announce another successful cannabis trial with a minimum 45% increase in cannabis bud value (74% including THC increase) using GROW's patented dissolved CO2 Foliar Spray technology. The strain trialed is a hybrid commonly known as Great White Shark. CO2 Foliar Spray was applied to 120 commercial cannabis plants compared to 120 commercial control group cannabis plants which did not have CO2 Foliar Spray or CO2 gas applied.

CO2 Foliar Spray bud weight increased 25% versus the control group bud weight. Average growth speed was 28% faster to cannabis bud flowering for the CO2 foliar group versus the control group. Vegetative growth is 60% of a full cannabis plant grow cycle giving a growth increase of a net 17%. All cannabis grow trials to date show the potential to grow one more cannabis crop per year by indoor cannabis producers that currently grow 5.5 crops per year. Bud quality results from Health Canada accredited laboratory SGS Canada Inc. (“SGS”) analyzing both dissolved CO2 buds and control buds showed a 19% increase in THC concentration in the dissolved CO2 group buds.

Considering bud weight increase, growth speed and THC increase, the total bud value increase using dissolved CO2 Foliar Spray is 74% greater than the control buds with no CO2 applied.

Importantly, there was no indication of the presence of any powdery mildew, while increasing the number of times that the plants were sprayed using the combined water and CO2 gas employed in the CO2 GRO Foliar Spray system.

SGS analyzed samples from both the control group and the plants using the CO2 GRO Foliar Spray technology and found no banned pesticides or additives. Both crops passed all Health Canada banned substances regulations.

John Archibald, CEO of GROW stated "We are really pleased with the major increase in bud value and the further cannabis trial knowledge garnered. These positive results reflect what we see in all our other plant trials in the non-cannabis area. Our patented dissolved CO2 Foliar Spray technology simply mixes CO2 and water. More exciting is the huge potential of value plants grown outside greenhouses where CO2 Foliar Spray is the only means of bringing CO2 enhancement to outdoor plants. Our successes in bringing new CO2 access will only accrete value to our shareholders.”

About CO2 GRO Inc.

GROW's mission is to accelerate all indoor and outdoor value plant growth naturally, safely, and economically using its patented advanced CO2 foliar technologies. GROW’s global target plant markets are retail food at $8 trillion per year (Plunkett Mar 2017), retail non-food plants at an estimated $1 trillion per year and legal retail cannabis that may reach $50 billion per year by 2022 (Bay St Analyst estimates).

GROW's CO2 technologies are commercially proven, scalable and easily adopted into existing irrigation systems. GROW's proven crop yield enhancements and revenue model are compelling for growers and Agri-industrial partners.

GROW's sole focus is working with its plant grower and Agri-industrial partners in proving and adopting its CO2 technologies for specific growers’ plant yield needs.

The CO2 technologies work by transferring CO2 gas into water and foliar spraying across the entire plant leaf surface area, which is a semi permeable membrane. The dissolved concentrated CO2 then penetrates a leaf's surface area naturally like nicotine naturally dissolves through human skin from a nicotine patch.

Foliar spraying natural nutrients and chemicals on plant leaves has been used for over 60 years by millions of indoor and outdoor plant growers. To date, outdoor growers have not had any way to enhance plant CO2 gas uptake for faster growth.

Indoor use of CO2 gassing has enhanced plant yields for over 60 years. However, over 50% of the CO2 gas is typically lost through ventilation. Current greenhouse CO2 gassing levels of up to 1500 PPM are also not ideal for worker health and safety. GROW's safer dissolved CO2 foliar spray can be used by indoor and outdoor plant growers with minimal CO2 gas lost.

Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on CO2GRO's expectations, estimates and projections regarding its business and the economic environment in which it operates. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements and readers should not place undue reliance on such statements. Statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update them publicly to reflect new information or the occurrence of future events or circumstances, unless otherwise required to do so by law.

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