Author: Portal Hemp

Dive deep into the world of hemp with PORTAL HEMP by THE HEMP NATION GROUP. Explore curated news feeds on new developments and local news, alongside international hemp headlines. Stay informed and engaged on the latest advancements and issues within the sustainable hemp industry.
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Hemp Farming 101

HOW TO START A HEMP FARM

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So, you want to start an industrial hemp farm—good choice! The 2018 Farm Bill finally made industrial hemp farming legal in the United States. The passage of the bill set off a bonanza of hemp farming, fed by the rabid popularity of CBD oil and the recent, growing interest in CBG oil. According to a market research report, the industrial hemp market could be worth up to $26.6 billion in the United States by 2025. That’s all to say that hemp may be a highly lucrative crop for farmers.

If you’re wondering how to start a hemp farm, you have a lot to learn before you plant your first seed. While tales of huge hemp profits are certainly alluring, farmers must make sure they fully understand the hemp market, the regulatory landscape of hemp, and the agricultural requirements of this unique crop before starting a hemp farm. Fortunately, we are here to help. We’ve been working with farmers for years to help them earn the most from their hemp crop. Consider this your guide to hemp farming 101.

STEP 1: DO YOUR HOMEWORK

Planting a new crop is exciting, and you may be itching to start buying seeds, especially if the planting window is quickly closing for the season. Resist the urge to rush into a new endeavor, especially one as complicated as growing hemp. Instead, be patient and do your homework.
Learn everything you can about growing hemp and your state and local hemp regulations: Perform research online and speak with local farmers in your state who own hemp farms. Here are some of our favorite online resources for hemp farmers:

Additionally, check to see if your state has a hemp grower’s association you can join. This could be an excellent avenue to network with other local hemp farmers.

STEP 2: CLARIFY YOUR INDUSTRIAL HEMP GOALS

It’s best to start out with your goal in mind, then work your way backwards. Begin thinking about which hemp products you want to grow. For most hemp farmers, their hemp crop of choice is CBD oil, but some farmers choose to grow hemp for seeds or fiber.

 

STEP 3: BEGIN IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS

Ideally, you’ll want to have customers lined up before you harvest your hemp crop so you have a fast and easy way to unload your harvest. Unlike with corn and grain, there are no hemp silos where you can drop off your hemp after harvest.

Finding customers early can also help you decide which strains of hemp seeds you should purchase. For example, if you find a CBD manufacturer who wants smokable hemp flowers (also called buds) with a specific terpene profile (the aromatic quality of the flower), you can search out hemp seeds to meet that need. You may also find customers who want a CBG oil supplier—that could easily be you.

 

 

STEP 4: CREATE YOUR HEMP FARM BUSINESS PLAN

Yes, you knew this one was coming. Drafting a business plan is challenging, but to help inspire yourself, think of your business plan as a “proof of concept” test. It’s far better to discover problems while in the planning stage of your hemp farm than out in the field when you’ve already laid down a big investment.

Make sure your business plan includes important sections like:

  • A SWOT ( Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis
  • Local hemp market overview
  • Your sales strategy
  • Your operating plan
  • Your farm’s organizational structure
  • Your financial plan, including a funding analysis and profit & loss forecast

We strongly suggest that you keep your profit estimates modest. Many online articles like to tell stories of farmers clearing $40,000 or more per acre of hemp. While these profits may be attainable by some, it is unlikely that first-time hemp farmers will see this level of return. By keeping your profit estimates reasonable, you can ensure that you’ll be able to meet your expenses. And if you beat expectations? Icing on the cake.

If you are having trouble developing your hemp farm business plan, reach out to your local hemp farmer’s association if one exists. You may also want to work with an agronomist who has experience in hemp farming.

STEP 5: DEVELOP A PLAN FOR TESTING AND COMPLIANCE

One of the unique challenges of starting a hemp farm is that farmers must abide by the USDA’s strict guidelines regarding the THC content of their crop. According to these guidelines, your hemp plants must stay below a 0.3% THC threshold. You will be responsible for frequently testing your plants to ensure compliance, which is regulated by your state.

We recommend that you begin testing your plants a month after germination and test every two weeks. You may want to test even more frequently as you get closer to harvest. Search for a reputable testing facility now so that you can ensure that you’ll be able to consistently and accurately test your plants.

STEP 6: CREATE AN IRRIGATION PLAN

Hemp can thrive with a variety of irrigation systems, including surface drip irrigation, subsurface irrigation, pivot irrigation, and flood irrigation. Now is the time to decide what type of irrigation system you want to use, as it will affect your overall costs, especially if you need to purchase a new system.

STEP 7: GET YOUR LICENSE/PERMIT/REGISTRATION

The 2018 Farm Bill requires that every state create and submit a “state hemp plan,” which includes information on how the state will actively track industrial hemp farming within its borders. That means each state has its own regulations regarding hemp farming.

You will almost certainly need to request some form of license or permit in order to farm hemp in your state. You may also need to register with your local city or county. Reach out to your state’s agricultural department to determine what type of permissions you need. You may also want to hire an attorney with industrial hemp experience to make sure all of your paperwork is above reproach.

STEP 8: INVEST IN EQUIPMENT AND LABOR

What new equipment will you need to ensure the best outcome for your hemp crop? For example, if you plan on buying hemp seeds, we strongly recommend that you start them in a greenhouse. (Don’t have a greenhouse? Try hemp starts instead of seeds.)

Hemp is also a labor-intensive crop, so it’s a good idea to recruit a crew of experienced workers who can help you cull male plants, watch out for pests, and maintain ideal field conditions. We recommend checking your fields daily.

 

 

STEP 9: PREP YOUR FIELDS

As the day to plant your first hemp crop grows closer, you’ll want to make sure your soil is in ideal condition to help your plants grow fast and strong. The best way to prep your field will depend on your farm’s soil conditions and your regional environment.

It’s a good idea to test your soil for elemental sulfur, potassium sulfate, and rock phosphate to make sure the levels aren’t too high. You’ll also want to make sure your soil is well-drained before planting.

STEP 10: BUY YOUR HEMP SEEDS

With everything in place and planned out, it’s time to purchase your seeds. If you’ve performed steps two and three, then you should know exactly what type of hemp crop you want to cultivate. For example, perhaps you want to grow hemp specifically for CBG production or maybe you want to grow hemp with a fruity terpene profile.

Decide whether you want to invest in hemp seeds or hemp starts. (We don’t recommend using hemp clones since they will never grow a taproot, which make the plants more fragile.) You may also want to consider purchasing early finishing seeds, which will allow you to stagger your harvest and use your labor more efficiently.

Look for a hemp seed company that has been around for at least a few years and is passionate about the genetics of their seeds. We strongly recommend that hemp farmers invest a little more upfront and purchase feminized seeds to ensure the highest resin yields possible. When male hemp plants pollinate females, resin yields are substantially lower. (Here’s everything you need to know about feminized hemp seeds.)

Finally, if you find a hemp seed strain you want to try, purchase your seeds from the original company that created that hemp strain, not a seed reseller. The original company will be able to provide you with much more information and personal guidance during the planting, cultivating, and harvesting process.

At High Grade Hemp Seed, we are here to help you as you prepare to start farming hemp. We would be glad to tell you more about our many tried and proven hemp seed strains, including industry favorite Berry Blossom, Cherry Wine, fast-growing Auto Flower, and one of our newest strains, Matterhorn CBG, bred specifically to increase CBG production.

Contact us today—we’ll be happy to help you learn more about how to start a hemp farm.

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Unleashing the Power of Hemp: Crystalline Nano-Cellulose for Next-Gen Materials

by  | Sep 27, 2023 | HEMP NEWS

 

In an era where sustainable practices are paramount, the quest for eco-friendly materials has led to some amazing discoveries. Crystalline Nano-Cellulose (CNC), a material with unique mechanical and structural properties, has emerged as a game-changer across multiple industries. What makes this even more fascinating is the source of this CNC – hemp hurds, the inner woody core of the hemp plant. In this post we dive into a recent study conducted by Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, to research the extraction and applications of CNC from hemp hurds.

Materials and Methods

The study utilized hemp hurds from NHA Gold Member Tropical Hemp Corp. as raw materials. The hurds were cleaned and pre-treated through alkaline solutions to eliminate impurities and lignin. The CNC extraction process involved a series of steps, including acid hydrolysis using sulfuric acid, mechanical shearing, sonication, and purification. The primary objective was to isolate crystalline regions within the cellulose structure. Various characterization techniques, such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for fiber morphology, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) for crystallinity, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) for chemical bonding, were employed to assess the CNC’s properties.

Results and Discussion

The biggest discovery was the presence of exceptionally long nanofibers within the CNC extracted from hemp hurd. Some of these nanofibers reached millimeter lengths, a characteristic not commonly observed in CNC from other sources. The long fibers may be attributed to the unique properties of hemp hurds and the specific extraction methodology employed.

The extraction process proved to be highly efficient, yielding a significant quantity of CNC. FTIR spectroscopic analyses revealed the CNC’s purity, while XRD results demonstrated its crystalline nature. Interestingly, these analyses shows that the CNC’s purity and crystallinity increased with higher acid concentrations and longer hydrolysis durations.

Potential Implications

The discovery of these long nanofibers has opened up a world of possibilities for innovative applications. One such potential application is in composite material reinforcement, where the length of nanofibers could substantially enhance mechanical strength. The study’s findings demonstrated a tenfold increase in compressive strength and a fourfold increase in tensile strength when hempcrete, a sustainable building material, was reinforced with CNC from hemp.

These results hint at the potential for hemp-derived CNC to revolutionize various industries, including construction, electronics, and even the semiconductor industry.

Summary

The study conducted by Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University has successfully unveiled the potential of hemp hurd as a source of Crystalline Nano-Cellulose (CNC). The discovery of exceptionally long nanofibers within the CNC extracted from hemp hurd is a groundbreaking revelation. This novel characteristic holds the promise of driving innovation in numerous industries.

The utilization of hemp hurd aligns perfectly with global sustainability initiatives. While obtaining the longest CNC fibers may require a compromise in purity, the trade-off is well worth it considering the tremendous structural advantages these long nanofibers offer.

As we progress in our pursuit of sustainable materials, Crystalline Nano Cellulose (CNC) emerges as a key ingredient. CNC not only offers eco-friendliness but also exhibits the ability to enhance the performance of various products across a diverse range of industry sectors, including:

  1. Aerospace
  2. Automotive
  3. Construction
  4. Electronics
  5. Textiles
  6. Packaging
  7. Biomedical
  8. Energy
  9. Agriculture
  10. Environmental Remediation

The future of technology and sustainability may just be entwined with hemp.

Read the study

This article appeared on the website of the National Hemp Association

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Sustainable Hemp Packaging is the Future of Industrial Packaging


By Vishal Vivek
Sustainable Hemp Packaging is the Future of Industrial Packaging

The future of packaging is ripe for capitalization by the drivers of sustainability culture. With the battle lines drawn and forces at play in motion, change is now inevitable. The question arises: how quickly can the industry grow in the space of the next decade?

The future of packaging is ripe for capitalization by the drivers of sustainability culture. With the battle lines drawn and forces at play in motion, change is now inevitable. The question arises: how quickly can the industry grow in the space of the next decade?

With an increasing number of nations banning non-biodegradable and petroleum-based plastics in certain uses, the choices at hand have naturally led to bioplastics. Bioplastics are a major ingredient of the renewable packaging industry. We derive them from various renewable agricultural crops, of which hemp is among the chief examples.

The Change for Hemp

The legal ramifications of the European Green Deal and the American Farm Bill of 2018 have created a microcosm where the sustainability discussion has turned into corporate initiatives for crops like industrial hemp, which are a source for bioplastics and numerous other products. The smaller carbon footprint of industrial hemp plays its role in shaping consumer demands towards a greener future.

Farmers are now able to cultivate the plant in the U.S., due to its removal from the list of controlled substances. Agribusinesses and manufacturers are aware of the plant’s versatility, with uses in packaging, building construction, clothing, medicinal oils, edibles like protein powder and hemp hearts, hemp paper and rope. What was once George Washington’s strong consideration as a cash crop for his estate, may gradually become the world’s cash crop of choice.

Hemp’s Sustainability Beckons 

Why is the crop unanimously superior in the aspect of eco-friendliness? Its growing requirements are frugal: water, soil nutrients and pesticides are not needed in large quantities. It absorbs great quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and uses it to create 65-75% cellulose content within its biomass. Cellulose is vital in the manufacture of bioplastics. Hemp is also flexible within crop cycles, due to its small harvesting period of only 4 months.

Thus, farmers use it as a rotational crop, allowing them to also cultivate other crops after its harvest. High-quality crops like cotton, though superior in cellulose content and fibrous softness, require far more water quantities, soil nutrients and pesticides. Farmers face greater difficulties in cultivating cotton as a rotational crop, because it requires far more space and time.

Hemp Bioplastics For Packaging                                

We manufacture bioplastics from the hurd and cellulose of the hemp plant. Hemp bioplastics are biodegradable, and take up to a maximum of 6 months to completely decompose; by contrast, normal fossil-fuel-based plastic takes up to 1000 years to decompose.

Manufacturers incorporate these ingredients into existing manufacturing processes for regular plastics, such as injection molding. Thus, we can apply bioplastic ingredients to similar plastics applications, such as packaging, paneling, medical equipment and more. New technologies aren’t necessarily needed, so companies and manufacturers do not have any reservations about its viability as an industry.

Here are a few types of bioplastics derived from hemp:

  1. Hemp Cellulose-based Bioplastics

This is a substance found in plant cell walls. We use cellulose to manufacture a broad range of unique plastics, including celluloid, rayon and cellophane. These plastics are usually entirely organic. We mix cellulose and its variations (such as nanocellulose, made from cellulose nanocrystals) with other ingredients, such as camphor, to produce thermoplastics and the like. Using natural polymer, we process a broad range of bioplastics and corresponding polymers. The difference in their chemical properties is down to the nature of the polymer chains and the extent of crystallization.

  1. Composite Hemp-based Bioplastics

Composite plastics comprise organic polymers like hemp cellulose, as well as an addition of synthetic polymers. They also have reinforcement fibers to improve the strength of the bioplastic, which are also either organic or synthetic. Sometimes, we blend hemp cellulose with other organic polymers like shellac and tree resins. Inorganic fillers include fiberglass, talc and mica.

We call any natural polymer, when blended with synthetic polymers, a “bio composite” plastic. We measure and calibrate these ingredients according to the desired stiffness, strength and density of the eventual plastic product. Apart from packaging, manufacturers use these bioplastics for furniture, car panels, building materials and biodegradable bags.

A composite of polypropylene (PP), reinforced with natural hemp fibers, showed that hemp has a tensile strength akin to that of conventional fiberglass composites. Furthermore, malleated polypropylene (MAPP) composites, fortified with hemp fibers, significantly improved stress-enduring properties compared to conventional fiberglass composites.

  1. Pure Organic Bioplastics With Hemp

We have already generated several bioplastics entirely from natural plant substances like hemp. Hemp fibers, when made alkaline with diluted sodium hydroxide in low concentrations, exhibit superior tensile strength. We have produced materials from polylactic acid (PLA) fortified with hemp fibers. These plastic materials showed superior strength than ones containing only PLA. For heavy-duty packaging, manufacturers use hemp fibers reinforced with biopolyhydroxybutyrate (BHP), which are sturdy enough.

With the world in a state of major change due to the coronavirus outbreak of 2020, the focus is back on packaging and delivery. In this volatile area, perhaps the industry can learn a few new tricks, instead of suffocating itself in old traditions and superficial opportunism. The permutations and combinations of bioplastic technology can serve a swath of packaging applications. We must thoroughly explore this technology.

Hemp’s Future in Packaging

Fossil fuel-based plastic polymers are non-renewable, highly pollutive and dangerous to ecosystems, due to their lifespans. They are some of the most destructive inventions of man, but thankfully could be held back by this crop. Industrial hemp upheld countless industries through human history and now is making a comeback. After existing in relative obscurity in the U.S. due to false connotations with the psychoactive properties of its cousin, it is now back in business.

With the American hemp industry on the verge of a revolution, hemp packaging is primed to take over a significant part of the global packaging sector. The political, economic and environmental incentives for companies to adopt bioplastics are legion. Its lower cost lends to its allure as well. Consumers and agribusinesses are following suit, making the choice to be environmentally-conscious. By 2030, it is estimated that 40% of the plastics industry will be bioplastics.

We can only mitigate the plastic pollution in oceans, landfills and elsewhere, with the use of biodegradable bioplastics; otherwise, animals, humans and plants are getting adversely affected by imperceptible microplastics that pervade vast regions of the Earth. With hemp bioplastics, we use the cleaner, renewable matter of plants to conserve the planet’s sanctity. We can expect this new technology to continue to light the way for other nations, societies and companies to build upon this sustainable plan.

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Waarom variatie zo belangrijk is bij medicinale cannabis

Dit artikel verscheen op 4 april op de Mediwietsite.

Cannabis is in veel opzichten een unieke plant en daarmee ook een uniek medicijn. Een van de bijzondere aspecten is de enorme variatie aan soorten, of eigenlijk cultivars, elk met hun eigen cannabinoïden en terpenen profiel. Waarom is die variatie zo belangrijk?

Terpenen en cannabinoïden

‘Het grootste mysterie van moderne cannabis’, schrijft Michael Backes in het boek Cannabis Pharmacy, ‘is waarom verschillende soorten cannabis verschillende medicinale of psychoactieve effecten hebben’. Natuurlijk spelen de verhoudingen van cannabinoïden en terpenen daarbij een grote rol. Maar, schrijft Backes, ‘de resultaten van de interacties van deze terpenen en cannabinoïden zijn buitengewoon complex en nog niet volledig begrepen’.

Hoewel cannabis al duizenden jaren wordt gebruikt, is de explosie van nieuwe kruisingen van relatief recente datum. Pas vanaf de jaren zestig van de vorige eeuw worden er op grote schaal kruisingen gemaakt van genetisch materiaal uit alle windstreken. Lange tijd hadden de kwekers die deze kruisingen illegaal en dus ondergronds maakten maar één doel voor ogen: een zo hoog mogelijk THC-gehalte.

Als bijkomend effect verdween die andere belangrijke cannabinoïde, CBD, grotendeels uit moderne cultivars.

Verschillende fenotypen van de wietsoort Auto Mazar van het Nederlandse zadenbedrijf Dutch Passion….

Opkomst CBD-rijke wietsoorten

De moderne kruisingen stammen weliswaar af van sterke landrassen uit traditionele cannabislanden als Mexico, Colombia, Jamaica, Thailand, Zuid Afrika, Marokko, Turkije, Afghanistan, Libanon, Nepal en India, maar ze lijken nog maar weinig op hun illustere voorouders. ‘Cannabis van over de hele wereld vertoont een fascinerende natuurlijke diversiteit’, schrijft Backes, ‘terwijl moderne medicinale cannabis weinig unieke eigenschappen heeft en veel identieke kenmerken: het is vaak van hetzelfde laken een pak.’

De eenzijdige focus op THC bij kwekers wordt sinds het begin van de 21e eeuw minder, zeker sinds de opkomst van CBD-rijke kruisingen als Charlotte’s Web. Het resultaat is een verdere verbreding van het aanbod van cultivars en daarmee van cannabinoïden en terpenen profielen.

Medicinal Genomics, een bedrijf uit Massachusetts, werkt al een tijdje aan een project om met behulp van DNA fingerprinting een ‘landkaart van cultivars’ te ontwikkelen: Kannapedia: The Distributed Consensus on Cannabis Genetics. Deze phyto-genetische kaart moet de onderlinge samenhang en relaties tussen hedendaagse cultivars in beeld brengen.

LEES OOK:  De cannabinoïden brochure – werking van medicinale cannabis uitgelegd

Zelf medicinale wiet kweken

Voorlopig is dat toekomstmuziek. Het is een van de redenen waarom thuisteelt voor medicinale cannabisgebruikers een uitstekende optie kan zijn. Het kan even duren voordat je de cultivar hebt gevonden die voor jou het beste werkt, maar contact met andere patiënten en thuistelers – bijvoorbeeld via het Mediwietforum – kan dat proces sneller, makkelijker en gezelliger maken. En als je lol hebt in het kweken en over enigszins groene vingers beschikt, kun je zelfs je eigen kruising(en) maken.

Maar ook als je dat niet doet kun je thuis vrijwel perfecte en steeds gelijke kweekomstandigheden creëren. Die omstandigheden zijn naast de genetica van grote invloed op het eindresultaat en het effect van je medicijn.

Dit is de klassieke indeling van de verschillende hoofdsoorten cannabis: sativa, indica en hybride (een mix van de eerste twee)… [beeld: About time/Shutterstock]

Niet alles past perfect in een hokje

Het belang van de manier waarop cannabis wordt geteeld komt ook naar voren in The Leafly Guide to Cannabis. In het hoofdstuk ‘The age of hybridization’ schrijven de auteurs:

‘Als we indica’s en sativa’s zien als tegenovergestelde uiteinden van het genetische spectrum, kunnen we ons de omvang van de fenotypische expressie voorstellen. Neem bijvoorbeeld Blue Dream, een kruising tussen de indica Blueberry en sativa Haze. Blue Dream kan kenmerken hebben die het hele spectrum tussen zijn ouders bestrijken, afhankelijk van hoe de plant is gekweekt. Daarom zien we soms een indica-achtig fenotype van Blue Dream, als we een sativa verwachten. Dat wil niet zeggen dat strains onvoorspelbare genetische wildcards zijn, het is meer dat we niet verbaasd moeten zijn als een soort niet perfect in een hokje past. Nogmaals, het is mogelijk om sativa- of indica-kenmerken sterker naar voren te brengen met specifieke omstandigheden in een gecontroleerde tuin.’

LEES OOK:   Ontdek de ‘Terpenen in Cannabis’ met deze interactieve graphic

Thuisteelt economisch én therapeutisch gezond

Juist die specifieke omstandigheden en zorg kan een thuisteler zijn of haar planten bieden, volledig afgestemd op de eigen behoefte en gewenste effecten. De Belgische auteur en mediwiet-deskundige Patrick Dewals schrijft in zijn boek ‘Medicinale cannabis, meer dan een medische kwestie’ (2018):

Patrick Dewals gelooft er niks van dat alleen bedrijven of overheden in staat zijn om medicinale cannabis te kweken…

‘Laten we beginnen met te stellen – de bedrijven zullen het niet graag horen en in alle talen tegenspreken – dat eigenteelt mogelijk is. Medicinale cannabisplanten kan men door middel van kweektechnieken voorzien van een bepaald fytocannabinoïdenprofiel dat noodzakelijk is om een bepaalde medische indicatie mee te behelpen. Wanneer men van deze planten stekken, of zaden, verkoopt aan patiënten dan kan de patiënt deze planten zelf telen.’

Natuurlijk moet de medicinale thuisteler ‘op een hygiënische en biologische manier te werk gaan om veilige cannabis te telen’, benadrukt Dewals. Hij noemt een bijkomend voordeel van zelfteelt dat elke medicinale thuisteler zal herkennen: ‘Naast het pure economische gewin is het vanuit een  therapeutisch oogpunt een goede zaak dat patiënten hun eigen medicatie kunnen telen.’ Het bezig zijn met levende planten, de dagelijkse verzorging, het zien van concrete vooruitgang, de tevredenheid die het plukken van de vruchten van je eigen werk geeft: het zijn allemaal heilzame aspecten van de thuisteelt van medicinale cannabis.

Politici moeten zich verdiepen in medicinale cannabis

Dewals windt er geen doekjes om: ‘In de politiek-democratische strijd om medicinale cannabis te legaliseren, is het zelf kunnen telen van medicinale cannabis door de patiënten of systemen die uit de gemeenschap gestalte krijgen, een hoeksteen. Dit is een gegeven waar technocratische bureaucraten en politici moeite mee hebben. Voor hen is het een uitgemaakte zaak dat alleen bedrijven kwaliteitsvolle medicinale cannabis kunnen leveren.’

Deze passage doet meteen denken aan de antwoorden van toenmalig VWS minister Bruno Bruins (VVD) op Kamervragen over thuisteelt van medicinale cannabis. In april 2019 schreef Bruins aan de Tweede Kamer: ‘Medicinale cannabis moet, net als elk ander geneesmiddel, onder strikte condities worden geteeld en het eindproduct moet worden gecontroleerd op vervuiling en op juiste sterkte van de werkzame stoffen. Bij thuisteelt kan daarmee per definitie van “medicinale cannabis” geen sprake zijn. Voor de wet wordt thuisteelt gezien als teelt voor recreatief gebruik. Het afleveren van medicinale cannabis moet via de apotheek.’

Bruins is inmiddels van het politieke toneel verdwenen. Invaller Martin van Rijn geeft het stokje op 9 juli over aan Tamara van Ark (VVD), nu nog staatssecretaris van sociale zaken. Het is te hopen dat deze nieuwe minister van volksgezondheid en sport zich wat beter verdiept in het onderwerp medicinale cannabis en het belang van variatie en thuisteelt door patiënten.

[openingsfoto:  Roxana Gonzalez/Shutterstock]
[Bronnen:
Cannabis Pharmacy – The practical guide to medical marijuana, door Michael Backes, Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, 2017
Medicinale Cannabis – Meer dan een medische kwestie, door Patrick Dewals, Garant-Uitgevers, 2018
The Leafly Guide to Cannabis – A handbook for the modern consumer, Twelve/Hachette Book Group, 2017
VWS-minister Bruins torpedeert medicinale thuisteelt, CNNBS 10 april 2019]
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A fascinating new study is bringing together hemp and bees.

Hemp production in the U.S. continues to, quite literally, grow year after year. In 2019, there were 511,442 acres of licensed hemp across the country. And at the same time as the hemp expansion, bee colonies across the country are experiencing a rapid and alarming decline. According to Greenpeace, honey bee hives are experiencing a thirty to fifty percent decline.

But at the intersection of these two seemingly unrelated news stories, sits an opportunity. As per a recent study out of Colorado, bees and hemp could be the future. Turns out that bees love hemp flowers. And no, these bees aren’t creating honey from cannabis resin (except potentially in honey by a French beekeeper). Instead, they are using hemp as a stop gap measure to get ready for the winter.

Hemp goes into flower just as most other flowering commercial crops have stopped. So, could hemp help feed struggling bees with a supply of pollen heading into winter?

hemp and bees represented by hemp plants flowering

The Study on Bees and Hemp

In 2019, Biomass and Biology [1] published, “Bee diversity and abundance on flowers of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.).” Scientists took to the fields of Colorado to assess bee diversity and abundance within experimental hemp crops. Using specialized traps set throughout the field, researchers collected samples between August 4th through September 9th, 2019.

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Throughout the study, they collected nearly 2,000 bees from twenty-three different bee genera. They also pulled hundreds of other species of insects, some of which are also essential pollinator species. Approximately eighty-six percent of the insects they collected were bees.

Many of the bee species categorized in the study were from ground-nesting and solitary species, but the most common bee collected was the Western Honeybee (Apis mellifera). This bee lives in community hives. Perhaps not surprising as there were active commercial bee operations within the nearby area for use among other crops (sunflowers, canola).

The team had a few theories as to why there was an abundance and wide diversity of tiny pollinators. They wrote, “We hypothesize that the presence of plants that shed large amounts of pollen could be the attractant, in addition to the possibility that the study was conducted in a region where agriculture is intensive, and there may have been fields with sunflowers and cucurbits nearby.” Furthermore, “Hemp begins flowering when other mass flowering crops have completed blooming, making it an excellent pollen resource for bees.”

Why Bees Need Hemp

Until recently, the relationship between bees and hemp crops was relatively unstudied. Hemp flowers represent an opportunity for bees to continue collecting pollen to feed new larvae. This, just as other crops wrap up the flowering cycle. The majority of common commercial crops in the U.S. do not require pollination by insects (relying on wind instead), but that doesn’t mean that bees don’t take advantage of the situation.

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Corn is the most common crop in the US, with nearly 90 million acres planted on an annual basis. As such, it is a valuable pollen source for bees (even if it doesn’t require insect-assistance with pollination). But, corn generally finishes flowering by mid-July, leaving massive areas of the mono-cropped country with no flowers, and therefore, no pollen for bees.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported there were two million acres of canola across America in 2019. Flowering varies from region to region but generally wraps up by early August at the latest.

The authors of the study in Biomass and Biology theorized, “Hemp can thus be an ecologically valuable crop whose flowers are attractive to managed honey bees and a wide range of wild bees. In addition, access to crucial phytochemicals through pollen and nectar from diverse plant sources is important for improved survival and pathogen tolerance in honey bees.”

RELATED  Ancient Cannabis Root Medicine Gets Modern Day Attention from Science

With the established value of hemp as a pollen source for bees, researchers are investing in the study of nutrient-density. They also want to know if any of the pharmacologically active compounds help these bees fight off pathogens and disease during the long winter months.

The Seasonal Habits of Bees

The majority of U.S. crops that require insect pollination rely on dedicated commercial bee colonies, but there are hundreds of native solitary bee species as well. The following is a summary of the seasonal habits of the Western Honeybee, the most commonly used commercial bee species.

Spring

In the spring, with the warming temperatures, a dormant colony wakes up and seeks early-blooming species of flowers for nectar and pollen. This kick starts colony expansion, where the queen increases drone and egg production, and the colony’s population explodes.

Summer

When midsummer temperatures are hottest, the hive population is pushing the limits of its space, building new combs, producing more beeswax, and laying more eggs. The colony may swarm, spawning new colonies.

Following a swarm, the remaining bees get busy preparing for winter, even though it is still mid-summer. They focus their efforts on the collection of as much nectar and pollen as possible. They also put honey away for the long winter months. It’s at this stage where hemp may provide a significant boost to their collection efforts.

Fall

Just as honeybees are turning their attention towards food storage, hemp is coming into full bloom. Considering hemp flowers well into fall, a hemp field could offer the honeybee a final big boost of pollen. Pollen doesn’t go into the production of honey (the winter food source for bees), but it does go directly to feeding larvae. Even if hemp is naturally nectar-poor, it could help bees boost colony numbers before the winter months.

hemp and bees represented by bees busy around hive

Hemp is One Part of the Solution for Bee Population Decline

While hemp won’t solve the crisis of the great bee die off, it offers a bridge between the end of commercial crop flowering and the winter. Bees still need a viable source of nectar in August, September, and October. Commercial crops don’t facilitate this.

But, hemp offers hope for bees. Combined with other efforts, like those outlined by Federal Pollinator Health Task Force, it provides a piece to the complicated puzzle of pollinator decline.

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Industrial Hemp Market (U.S.) Size & Trends

The global industrial hemp market size was estimated at USD 5.49 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.5% from 2024 to 2030. The growth is driven by the rising product demand from application industries, such as food & beverage, personal care, and animal care, across the globe.

U.S. Industrial Hemp market size and growth rate, 2024 - 2030To learn more about this report, request a free sample copy

Growing demand for hemp products including fiber, seed, stalks, hurds, and oils from the aforementioned application industries is expected to drive market growth. Industrial hemp production is associated with several agricultural and environmental benefits. With its fast growth period of 120-150 days and significant biomass yield, hemp enables efficient use of agricultural land. It is useful in carbon sequestration as it yields a large amount of biomass along with providing a useful break in crop rotation.

Market Concentration & Characteristics

Market growth stage is high, and pace of the market growth is accelerating. The market is highly competitive owing to the presence of large number of domestic and international players operating in the industrial hemp market. The potential for growth in industrial hemp production and processing, fueled by the growing demand from key application industries, including personal care, food, hemp CBD, consumer textiles, and many others, is expected to drive the market over the forecast period. Increasing research & development activities to develop new genetically enhanced industrial hemp products and variants capable of offering higher yields and improved product quality are expected to have a positive impact on commercial industrial hemp production.

Industrial Hemp Market Size & Trends Market Concentration & CharacteristicsTo learn more about this report, request a free sample copy

The cultivation of industrial hemp has been illegal for a number of years in many countries, necessitating complete re-establishment of the supply chain while achieving economies of scale. The profitability of hemp production is speculative at present and does not include additional costs of growing hemp in regulated markets such as the costs of licensing, monitoring, and verification. However, expansion of market opportunities with the liberalization of regulations on cultivation, processing, transportation, and the use of industrial hemp is expected to drive the market growth over the forecast period.

The market is expected to witness a low threat of substitutes owing to the presence of limited number of industrial hemp products that have characteristics similar to industrial hemp for use in different applications. However, products such as chia and flax seeds have nutritional value as high as hemp seeds. This is anticipated to result in moderate threat of substitution in the market.

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Market Dynamics

The global market growth is driven by the rising demand from industries, such as personal care, recycling, agriculture, automotive, textiles, furniture, food & beverage, paper, and construction materials. The increasing product usage in different end-use industries has resulted in increased cultivation and trading of hemp in the global market. China has emerged as a significant producer and exporter of industrial hemp followed by Canada and France. The increasing use of hemp in textile and medical applications is expected to significantly propel the demand for industrial hemp in the global market. However, the production of industrial hemp and its products faces several obstacles owing to the presence of stringent government drug policies and concerns about the impact these products on the illegal marijuana market.

The U.S. is heavily investing in developing different varieties of industrial hemp with THC content of less than 0.3% on account of the rising demand from different application industries. The Government of the U.S. announced a COVID-19 relief stimulus of USD 1.9 trillion in January 2021, which helped in the market recovery. Moreover, the steady growth of small market players in hemp-based industrial and consumer products is anticipated to drive the U.S. market over the forecast period.Growing awareness regarding the dietary advantages of hempseed and hempseed oil, along with high demand from the cosmetics and personal care industries, will support market growth. Rising production of soaps, shampoo, bath gels, hand and body lotions, UV skin protectors, massage oils, and a range of other hemp-based products is expected to have a major impact on market growth.

High nutritional values and beneficial fatty acid and protein profiles of hemp are driving the demand for hemp products. High absorbency of hemp fiber is beneficial for livestock bedding, oil & gas cleanup, and the personal hygiene market. In addition, increasing product demand in textile, paper, and building materials markets is growing owing to its favorable acoustic and aesthetic properties. The products manufactured from hemp are eco-friendly, renewable, and associated with less harmful methods of preparation. Paper produced from hemp fiber requires fewer chemicals for processing as compared to paper produced from wood pulps. Thus, the rising awareness about product benefits is projected boost market growth.

Product Insights

The hemp seeds product segment led the market and accounted for more than 29.97% revenue share of the global revenue in 2023. Hemp seeds are gaining popularity in food and nutraceutical markets to obtain seed, oil, and food matter. Rising use of hemp oil seed in lotions, shampoos, soaps, bath gels, and cosmetics, further benefits market growth. Hemp seeds are widely used in the production of oil, which is utilized in personal care, food & beverages, and animal feed industries. In addition, oil is used in nutritional supplements and medicinal & therapeutic products, such as pharmaceuticals. The market for seeds is expected to grow over the forecast period on account of rising demand from application industries.

Hemp fibers are used in paper, carpeting, home furnishing, construction materials, insulation materials, auto parts, and composites. Insulation materials and bio-composites consume a significant amount of hemp fibers on account of their lightweight, superior strength, biodegradability, and thermodynamic properties. Hemp shivs cost half the value of fibers and have several applications in different industries, which is expected to drive market growth over the forecast period. Hemp shivs are majorly used in animal bedding materials on account of their high absorbance ability, which is around four times its dry weight.

Application Insights

The textile application segment led the market in 2023. Hemp fabric is strong, hypo-allergic, and naturally resistant to UV light, mold, and mildew, which represents an added advantage over other fabrics. In addition, it can be blended with cotton or linen, which adds stretch and strength to the fabric. Hemp seeds are rich in protein content and majorly used as birdseed and animal feed. Bird and fish feed are important markets for hemp seeds in animal nutrition. Fish and birds need fatty acids with a high share of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for optimum development, hence consume hemp seeds. Growing product demand in the animal care industry is likely to fuel overall market growth.

Global Industrial Hemp market share and size, 2022To learn more about this report, request a free sample copy

Hemp oil is widely used in the manufacturing of food & beverages on account of its high nutritional content, including fatty acids, proteins, and several other ingredients. Several food manufacturing processes make use of hemp seeds and oil, which is expected to propel market growth. In addition, rising consumer awareness about the product’s benefits is likely to fuel market’s growth. This product is increasingly used in insulation and construction materials, such as fiberboard, cement blocks, putty, stucco and mortar, coatings, and other products as a fiberglass substitute. Construction materials using industrial hemp also include roofing underlay, acoustic materials, pipe wraps, house wraps, and shingles.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific is one of the major consumers of industrial hemp and accounted for a revenue share of more than 33% in 2023. Economies, such as China, India, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand, are actively involved in the production and consumption of industrial hemp and products, such as fiber, seed, hurds, and oil. Increasing global product demand along with advancing technologies and innovation are making harvesting easier for cultivators, thereby changing the face of hemp production in the region. Increasing consumption of hemp-based food products and supplements in developing economies with a growing geriatric population is expected to drive market growth.

Industrial Hemp Market Trends, by Region, 2024 - 2030To learn more about this report, request a free sample copy

North America is a major product consumer. These products are consumed in different application industries. High consumer disposable income, growing aging population, and rising concerns related to skin diseases and UV protection are expected to drive the demand for hemp oil in the personal care industry in this region. Industrial hemp in Europe is majorly consumed in automotive parts, construction materials, textiles, and fabrics in the form of fibers. However, growing demand for hemp oil in the food & supplements, cosmetics, and personal care markets is expected to drive market growth.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Industry players produce large-quantity and high-quality industrial hemp along with a wide range of variants, in terms of seed size and oil composition. Potential yields and processing methods, technologies used for processing, along with the cost of production and returns, play a major role in driving the competition in the industry. Industrial hemp companies are focusing on increasing product cultivation and processing facilities in economies where the plant can be grown legally. Major industry players are investing heavily in R&D activities to achieve high yields from cultivation. These players offer diverse varieties of hemp-derived products and can penetrate large markets.

  • In January 2023, HempMeds Brasil launched two new full-spectrum products. These new products were created to suit the new requirements of Brazilian doctors who intend to suggest it to their patients.
  • In October 2021, HempFlax Group announced an investment of about USD 3.2 million in the advancement of its Dutch headquarters. Out of this, about USD 1.9 million is to be spent on machinery improvements, which is expected to double the hemp fiber processing capacity from 3 tons per hour to 6 tons per hour. The upgrades are expected to allow the company to reduce its operational period from 24 to 16 hours per day, lowering energy consumption while improving productivity.

Key Industrial Hemp Companies:

  • Parkland Industrial Hemp Growers Cooperative Ltd.
  • CBD Biotechnology Co.
  • Botanical Genetics, LLC
  • Marijuana Company of America Inc.
  • HempMeds Brasil
  • Terra Tech Corp.
  • American Cannabis Company, Inc.
  • HempFlax B.V.
  • Industrial Hemp Manufacturing, LLC
  • American Hemp
  • Hemp, Inc.
  • Boring Hemp Company
  • Plains Industrial Hemp Processing Ltd.
  • Ecofiber Industries Operations
  • Valley Bio Limited

Industrial Hemp Market Report Scope

Report Attribute Details
Market size value in 2024 USD 6.3 billion
Revenue forecast in 2030 USD 16.82 billion
Growth rate CAGR of 17.5% from 2024 to 2030
Historical data 2018 – 2023
Forecast period 2024 – 2030
Quantitative units Volume in tons, revenue in USD million/billion, and CAGR from 2024 to 2030
Report coverage Volume forecast, revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends
Segments covered Product, Source, application, and region
Regional scope North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Central & South America; Middle East & Africa
Country scope U.S.; Canada; Germany; U.K.; France; China; India; Japan; Brazil
Key companies profiled Parkland Industrial Hemp Growers Cooperative Ltd.; CBD Biotechnology Co.; Botanical Genetics, LLC; Marijuana Company of America Inc.; HempMeds Brasil; Terra Tech Corp.; American Cannabis Company, Inc.; HempFlax B.V.; Industrial Hemp Manufacturing, LLC; American Hemp; Hemp, Inc.; Boring Hemp Company; Plains Industrial Hemp Processing Ltd.; Ecofiber; Industries Operations; Valley Bio Ltd.
Customization scope Free report customization (equivalent up to 8 analysts working days) with purchase. Addition or alteration to country, regional & segment scope
Pricing and purchase options Avail customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs. Explore purchase options

 

Global Industrial Hemp Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts volume & revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the industrial hemp market report based on product, source,application, and region:

Global Industrial Hemp Market Report SegmentationTo learn more about this report, request a free sample copy

  • Product Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 – 2030)
    • Seeds
    • Fiber
    • Shivs
  • Source Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million; 2018 – 2030)
    • Conventional
    • Organic
  • Application Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 – 2030)
    • Animal Care
    • Textiles
    • Automotive
    • Furniture
    • Food & Beverages
    • Paper
    • Construction Materials
    • Personal Care
    • Other
  • Regional Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 – 2030)
    • North America
      • U.S.
      • Canada
      • Mexico
    • Europe
      • UK
      • Germany
      • France
      • Spain
      • Italy
      • The Netherlands
    • Asia Pacific
      • China
      • India
      • Japan
      • Australia
      • New Zealand
    • Central & South America
      • Brazil
    • Middle East & Africa

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