DIRECTOR OF MANUFACTURING, RESEARCH, & DEVELOPMENT
With Chris Durand leading our R&D Department, we strive to build world class products for cannabis cultivators every day. Many ideas never become products due To our strict performance requirements.
Here’s our approach:
1
MARKET ANALYSIS
Athena® R&D studies market trends and customer feedback to identify demands and gaps in the current product offerings.
2
FORMULA DEVELOPMENT
R&D then develops new or improved nutrient formulations based on research findings and market needs, ensuring they are effective and safe for cannabis.
3
REGULATORY APPROVAL
Next, the R&D team ensures all new formulations comply with legal and regulatory requirements before proceeding to full-scale production and launch.
4
PROTOTYPE TESTING
They create prototype products and test them in controlled environments to evaluate efficacy, safety, and stability.
5
FIELD TESTING
Then, Athena R&D conducts extensive field trials with growers to test the real-world effectiveness and compatibility of the nutrient products with various cannabis strains.
6
PROCEDURE DEVELOPMENT
Through strenuous R&D Testing, Athena® is able to finalize SOPs helping growers at any scale have success with our products.
2022-2024 R&D ACHIEVEMENTS:
2022-2023
2022
UTAH STATE PARTNERSHIP
Utah State partnership with Bruce Bugbee furthers R&D trials, leads to development of Fade.
2022
TISSUE CULTURE KIT
Developing the Tissue Culture Kit and giving the community access to tissue culture.
2023
NEW DRY MANUFACTURING PROCESS
The Athena® Manufacturing process for Pro Line is now free flowing, eliminating bricking.
2023
TONY BUCKETS PARTNERSHIP
@_Tony_buckets Full RDWC SOP dropping July 2024.
2023
ATHENA® HANDBOOK
Developed the Athena® Handbook with a new Precision Irrigation Strategy SOP.
2024
2024
UC DAVIS EFFICACY TRIALS IPM
New SOPs for aphids, whitefly, thrips, fungus gnats, and powdery mildew.
2024
BLENDED LINE WITH FADE
The Athena® R&D team finished 24 months of trials for Blended Line with Fade. Procedure releases June 2024.
2024
PLANT CELL TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIP
Partnered with Plant Cell Technology for the development of new Tissue Culture Media releasing July 2024
