HEMP-30 Initiative Receives Support from UK Government
£ 200,000 was awarded under the UK Government's Biomass Innovation Program to Accelerate the Commercialization of Innovative Clean Energy Technologies and Processes. The HEMP-30 initiative aims to increase the cultivated area of industrial hemp in the UK from the current 800 to 80,000 hectares.
A project to increase industrial production and processing of technical hemp in the UK received government financial support. The HEMP-30 initiative, led by researchers at the University of York and the Biorenewables Development Center (BDC), aims to increase the area of industrial hemp cultivated in the UK from the current 800 to 80,000 hectares. According to those participating in the project, a 100-fold increase in the area of cultivation of the plant will make industrial crops of industrial hemp one of the main crops in England.
The initial phase of the project was £ 200,000 under the UK Government's Biomass Innovation Program to Accelerate the Commercialization of Innovative Clean Energy Technologies and Processes. However, in the course of experiments, scientists have determined that hemp offers the market much more than just raw materials for the production of biofuels.
“Hemp has tremendous untapped potential as a versatile, low-carbon feedstock that can be used in a variety of industries. The plant offers environmental benefits as a fast growing "catch" crop that improves soil health and captures carbon very efficiently. And among other things, industrial hemp can be used in countless applications, for example, in the production of bioplastics or various building materials, ”says BDC Director Dr. Joe Ross.
In a joint project, researchers at York University will use their expertise in molecular plant breeding technology to accelerate the improvement of cannabis plants in response to emerging markets. The university will also disseminate information on best practices for growing and processing hemp and expand on how it can be expanded to cultivate, process and produce high value added hemp products in the UK.
Commentary of the specialists of the Association "Ukrainian technical hemp"
The modern cannabis sector in the UK is currently in a very difficult regulatory environment, which is why it is currently faring a tiny amount of acreage compared to what is already required for some of the country's industrial production sectors. Regulations are particularly stringent with regard to the use of British cannabis for the production of drug-free cannabinoids, which is a drag on the development of a hugely lucrative market for the herb's therapeutic properties. In fact, opportunities to enter this market are so limited that British farmers cannot access the local drug-free cannabinoid market, so they have focused on the production of hemp fiber foods and products. Meanwhile, products containing non-drug cannabinoids are readily available throughout the country as imported products.
The peculiarities of the use of plant cannabinoids, as well as products, the recipe of which assumes their presence on the territory of our country, will be revealed during a specialized round table, organized as part of the next training course for students of the Hemp University.