Scientific educational event tests growing abilities by starting competitors with identical genetics

Biotech company Qualis Cannabis Corporation has announced it plans to hold a Canadian edition of The Grow-Off, a competition that tests cannabis-growing skills.

Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Colorado, the Grow-Off contests start participants off with clones of the same mother plant, and after one growing season, winners are judged based entirely on third-party lab tests. Whichever plants have the best potency, flavour and yield–measured through cannabinoids, terpenes, and sheer harvest size–win cash prizes.

“This is the first competition of its kind in Canada. We can’t wait to showcase Canadian growing expertise to the world,” said Kevin Puloski, CEO of Qualis Cannabis in a press release.

Other cannabis competitions, such as the Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam, pit different strains against each other. But competitors in the Grow-Off are all challenged to raise the best crop from the same genetic starting line. Since all of the plants are the same, it’s up to growers to determine the most ideal growing conditions.

Following The Grow-Off’s success in hosting seven separate events across multiple U.S. states, the Canadian expansion is set to highlight cultivators in the industry’s first federally legal G7 nation.

“We are very excited to bring this competition to Canada. Qualis Cannabis has impressed us with their dedication to the Cannabis space,” said Samantha Sandt, founder and CEO of The Grow-Off, the self-styled “quantitative quest for the best.”

Because it measures not just what is being grown, but how it is being produced, the contest also doubles as an opportunity to learn more about best practices in cannabis agriculture.

Both Qualis and the Grow-Off say they are firmly committed to scientific and educational sources for cannabis innovation. Their partnership will also showcase expert panels, public and private events, and access to cutting edge producer technology and services.

The event will kick off in Spring 2019 and end with a private awards ceremony in the Fall. It is open only to standard licensed cultivators in Canada.