Growing Smarter: How Lighting & Technology Drive Cultivation Profitability - Mikhail Sagal, TSRgrow

In this episode of Grow Sessions, host Mark Doherty sits down with Mikhail Sagal, CEO of TSRgrow, for “Growing Smarter: Getting More from Every Watt with Intelligent Grow Lighting,” a conversation about how intelligent grow lighting, remote power, data, and automation are helping cultivators make smarter decisions across the entire facility.Mark and Mikhail discuss how centralized power and connected lighting systems can improve reliability, simplify maintenance, provide greater visibility into energy use, and support more precise lighting strategies. They also dive into under-canopy, side, and 360-degree lighting, including how redistributing light throughout the plant can improve uniformity, yield, and labor efficiency—while still requiring the right HVAC, dehumidification, irrigation, and electrical infrastructure to support increased plant demand.The conversation also looks at the bigger shift happening across cultivation: moving away from simply building bigger and adding more equipment toward smarter facility design, better system integration, data-driven decisions, and long-term profitability. Tune in to hear where intelligent grow lighting is headed next—and what it really means to get more from every watt.About Mikhail SagalMikhail Sagal is the Co-Founder and CEO of TSRgrow, a global cultivation technology company where intelligent LED lighting, remote power, and integrated cultivation software come together to help commercial cultivators achieve greater precision, efficiency, and consistency.Under Mikhail's leadership, TSRgrow has developed a connected cultivation platform that transforms lighting from a standalone fixture into a source of real-time data and precision environmental control. By integrating intelligent LED lighting, remote power servers, and their GROWHub software platform, TSRgrow helps cultivators improve consistency, reduce operating costs, optimize plant performance, and increase profitability.Mikhail brings more than 16 years of experience in LED horticultural lighting and is the inventor of 33 issued patents. Before co-founding TSRgrow in 2009, he spent 13 years developing and commercializing thermally conductive plastics, an experience that shaped his innovative approach to LED thermal management and cultivation system engineering.A frequent speaker at industry conferences throughout North America and Europe, Mikhail shares insights on cultivation technology, facility design, energy management, and the future of intelligent cultivation technology. He is passionate about helping cultivators leverage connected technologies to drive greater efficiency, consistency, and long-term success.If you’d like to connect with Mikhail, please email him at [email protected]. Mark Doherty, Doherty AgMark Doherty is the VP of Construction & Facilities Management for Grown Rogue, bringing over 15 years of experience in CEA and commercial cannabis cultivation. Throughout his career, he has led operations and facility development across multiple national brands, including roles as COO at Dual Draft Integrated Airflow, Exec. VP at urban-gro, and VP of Facilities Management at Vireo Growth.Through his firm Doherty Agriculture, Mark focuses on turning underperforming cultivation assets using his signature People, Plants, Profits framework—treating each facility as a living, breathing machine to drive efficiency, consistency, and profitability. He is known for combining deep technical expertise with practical leadership to elevate both.If you’d like to connect with Mark, please email him at [email protected] is an AgTech company specializing in intelligent lighting solutions for commercial cultivation. Their systems combine advanced LED lighting, centralized remote power technology, and the GROWHub control platform to give growers precise control over environment, energy use, and crop performance. Built for scale, TSRgrow helps cultivation facilities improve consistency, reduce operational complexity, and maximize efficiency from canopy to harvest.Visit TSRgrow at www.tsrgrow.com.Thanks for listening. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to receive upcoming episodes.