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> When you use yeast, you have to supply the energy for the entire system The “entire system” is a vat with yeast in it. For starters, that’s a much more space
by klmr 8y ago
> When you use yeast, you have to supply the energy for the entire system
The “entire system” is a vat with yeast in it. For starters, that’s a much more space efficient way of growing something than in plants.
Secondly, the energy you provide to the system, in brewing, is just sugar, which is incredibly cheap. In fact, given that this works well, at large scale, for beer brewing (i.e. ethanol production), why do you think it wouldn’t work well for THC production? In fact, energy consumption in commercial (especially illicit) cannabis production is a nontrivial cost factor.
- mrfusion 8y agoHow does yeast get amino acids? How does it get nitrogen for that matter? Doesn’t it need those to grow? Seems like we just give it sugar.
- vanderZwan 8y agoThe THC molecule is made from carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, and it seems to be true for all cannabinoids. So if we can extract the cannabinoids but leave the rest of the organic compounds (big "if", I know), one could theoretically recycle the other required nutrients. In which case a steady supply of sugar might indeed be enough for the most part. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrahydrocannabinol https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrahydrocannabinol [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabinoid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabinoid
- dekhn 8y agominimal media is sugar + some salts that provide Nitrogen and a few other essentials.
- klmr 8y agoYou’re right. The parent comment focussed specifically on energy, so I did as well. But obviously both cannabis plants and yeast need other nutrients. That said, a minimal yeast broth is extremely simple.
- cma 8y ago> For starters, that’s a much more space efficient way of growing something than in plants. You have to account for the land use by the sugarcane (no idea how things would net out).
- schwartzworld 8y agoSugar can come from other sources than cane. Most cheap alcohol is made from grain which has had its starches converted to sugar with enzymes. If you aren't concerned about flavor, the process is very inexpensive.