Cannabis Science Conference West 2019 Morning Cultivation Keynote Speaker, Day 1

Dr. Roger Kern, President, Agate Biosciences, will give a keynote talk today in Rooms A105–A106 at 10:00 a.m. The talk is titled “Clean Practices for Clean Cannabis.” Kern recently spoke to us about his talk, what he hopes attendees will learn from it, and other sessions he's excited about attending this week.

Can you give us a little preview of your keynote talk for the 2019 Cannabis Science Conference West?Dr. Roger Kern: I’ll be talking about the importance of clean practices in controlling plant disease in the grow room. The health of the plants and the patients has always been a focus for me. Microbes and microbial decontamination were a major focus of my research efforts during my career at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Knowing how best to control both plant and human pathogens in cultivation is essential for the health of our industry.

What do you hope attendees will take away from your keynote?

Kern: I hope the attendees will leave the conference with a better understanding of what it takes to control plant disease and how to maintain a “culture of cleanliness” in their facilities.

What are you hoping to learn or take away from this year’s conference? Are there any other talks you plan to attend?

Kern: I am looking forward to all the other presentations in the cultivation track, but I am most excited about hearing the panel discussion on genetics and breeding moderated by Autumn Karcey.