Regardless of how clean your growing facility is, there is a high chance that you have unwanted guests in your environment. Microorganisms can come from different sources and capture every nook and cranny of your facility if left unchecked. Let’s see how.
In everyday life, bacteria and other microorganisms are everywhere, from the foods we eat to our cell phones. Microorganisms spread through a process called contact or direct transmission.
Jason Tetro, Microbiology Researcher says, “The majority of microbial species -viruses, bacteria, and fungi - are coming from other humans.” He further explains that “If you’re on the commuter bus, train, subway, at day care, school, or work, you can pick up all sorts of bacteria and possibly viruses and fungi from other people.”
This does not mean that they have to physically touch one another in order to spread. For example, if a person eats food, which has been handled with dirty hands, the bacteria on those hands will most likely be transmitted to the food the person is eating.
But in other cases, microorganisms can spread through the air, as well. This form of transmission (airborne) has the potential to travel long distances, making it essential for us to curb their growth early on to prevent more damage.
More specifically, though, here are some common ways microorganisms spread.
Clothing picks up bacteria, fungi, soil, or anything else that touches it on its journey to your growing and processing rooms. So, it makes sense that clothing would be one of the biggest transmitters of microorganisms.
In fact, when people change their clothes, they get rid of 37 million microorganisms every hour. This amount is enough to cause serious problems with your entire grow, which can lead to heavy losses in business and risk the safety of your consumers.
Microorganisms don't respect boundaries. They don’t care whether they are in the growing room, greenhouse, or processing room. The only thing they want to do is find a way to multiply themselves until they can’t be contained anymore.
And one of the most common ways bacteria transmit is through the equipment and utensils used by your employees to manage your grow. These could be grass cutters, spray bottles, water cans, pruners, etc., which is why it is so important that these items are sanitized on a regular basis.
Air is an important vector for the spread of microorganisms. Bacteria, viruses, and other microbes travel via air by adhering or attaching to dust particles, moving with air currents, and even passing through ventilation systems. They can even take flight in tiny droplets of mucus sprayed into the air when someone coughs or sneezes. Or, they can float in the air and travel several feet away from a person before landing on another person or surface where they can begin growing and spreading.
Contamination through hands is a common way that pathogens can spread, but what about feet? Referred to as the “lesser evil” of all bacteria, fungi is responsible for more skin infections than any other microorganism. It thrives in warm, dark places, so it will almost always be found on your feet.
In addition, footwear is yet another often overlooked vector in the pathogen spreading process. The shoes we wear come in direct contact with the ground we walk on - which is the perfect place for microorganisms to colonize.
Microorganisms spread through direct or indirect contact - and what better way to multiply than hands?
According to researchers, “hands can harbor pathogenic species particularly within high-risk environments, such as healthcare and food-handling settings.” The worst part is that people who frequently wash their hands are more likely to have microorganisms on them than those who don’t. The same applies to gloves. If your employees wear gloves to work with your yield (as they should), they will end up transmitting the microorganisms to your crops through their gloves.
So, it is clear that you can neither ask your employees to avoid washing their hands nor tell them to do so frequently as both are equally destructive for your crops. And disposing of gloves ever so often can also be a poor financial decision.
There needs to be an alternative!
Managing microbes in crop cultivation is never an easy task. Microbes can cause all kinds of diseases and can cause major problems if not taken care of early on.
If your facility is divided into departments, these microorganisms can travel out into the environment, enter other sections of your facility, and infest every corner - which is not only bad for employees but also for customers.
Microbes and foreign sources of bacteria and molds have the power to wreak havoc on your business. But the good news is that it is possible to get rid of them early enough. And we have got something that can prevent further outbreaks and keep your harvest safe.
Chemical and alcohol disinfectants don’t last long enough to offer your facility the protection it deserves.
At Grow Defender, we realized very soon that there was a gap for strong antimicrobial products in the market. We needed something that was effective yet safe for use. So, Goldshield products were developed.
Our patented technology is so potent that it can bond with your surfaces and last as long as an entire grow cycle. You can use our antimicrobial products in your indoor growing rooms, greenhouses, and even processing units to ensure the yield is safe till the very last minute.
Since Goldshield is a complete defense system, it can be used on clothing items, hands, gloves, hard surfaces, equipment, and even air filters to prevent airborne transmission.
Our solvent-free antimicrobial products are 100% backed by science and registered with the EPA and FDA. Get in touch with our team to try Goldshield’s complete defense system and protect your business from every angle.
