Hemp prospects - will Ukraine be on the sidelines?
Terpenes and cannabinoids of cannabis leaves and inflorescences are far superior in their capabilities to isolated molecules extracted from plants by extraction. If pinene is an anti-inflammatory agent, and cannabidiol also has an anti-inflammatory effect, then the body, using the whole range of substances contained in the plant, has the ability to fight the inflammatory process from two different angles. This combined advantage is called the “ensemble” effect, that is, the cannabinoid effect is enhanced when they are used together with terpenes and flavonoids.
Hemp crop farming is an agricultural industry that grows industrial crops of technical hemp to obtain fiber and seed from a plant. The term "industrial hemp" is understood as one-year bast-fiber plants of the Cannabinaceae family (hemp), varieties of C.sativa L. (cultivated hemp (var. Culta)), which are used to produce fiber and seeds and contain tetrahydrocannabinol in the leaves and inflorescences (narcotic active substance ) within the limits established by law.
Industrial hemp, as determined by experts, is becoming one of the main industrial crops of the world of the 21st century, given its ability to accumulate a large biomass of organic raw materials (with a pulp content of more than 30%). Stems contain up to 40% fiber and 60% wood. The yield of seeds is 1 - 1.2 t / ha, straw - 7 - 12 t / ha. The growth in demand for hemp raw materials in the world is associated with the expansion of its use - the production of pulp, building and composite materials, food industry products and much more.
In Ukraine, the activity of growing industrial hemp is regulated by the law of Ukraine “On licensing certain types of economic activity” and the law of Ukraine “On narcotic drugs of psychotropic substances and precursors”. It should be noted that in almost all countries of the world, including Ukraine, the activity of growing technical hemp is subject to licensing. The analysis of regulatory documents of various countries regulating the cultivation of industrial crops of technical hemp allowed us to identify general requirements, namely:
• The variety of industrial hemp must be entered in the register of plant varieties permitted for cultivation in the country;
• personnel involved in the cultivation of technical hemp should not have a criminal record and drug addiction;
• confirmation of the ownership or right of use or common use of the objects on which the plant cultivation business is carried out;
• mandatory testing of low-drug cannabis seed crops.
Since 2012, the harmonization of the Ukrainian legal framework for the cultivation of industrial hemp with international standards has begun. In particular, the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of August 22, 2012 No. 800 removed mandatory protection of crops, the content of tetrahydrocannabinol in which does not exceed 0.08%.
Further, according to the presentation of the Association "Ukrainian Technical Hemp" and the Institute of Bast Crops, changes were made to the legislation on the equipment and maintenance of warehouses used for storing hemp raw materials, the location of industrial crops of technical hemp, etc.
For the successful and effective development of the branch of cabbage industry, it is necessary to continue harmonizing the legislative framework of Ukraine with international and European legal norms.
In 2017–2018, on the initiative of the Association “Ukrainian Technical Hemp”, a permanent working group was formed on the basis of the State Service of Ukraine on Drugs and Drug Control, whose task is to provide proposals for changes to the current regulatory framework in order to simplify economic activities by economic entities engaged in the cultivation and processing of technical hemp. In particular, within the framework of the work of the above-mentioned group, amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursors” were initiated and a modern regulatory and legal framework is being developed that would allow legalizing activities on the use of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors in scientific and educational purposes for which a number of bylaws are being developed.
In addition, it was proposed to make changes to the PCMU No. 770 dated May 6, 2000, No. 589 dated June 3, 2009, No. 282 dated April 6, 2016 in order to improve the regulatory framework, as well as resolve conflicts and abolish existing anachronisms. in the current legal documents.
Work is continuing to ensure the adoption of draft law No. 4533 of April 27, 2016 on amending the Law of Ukraine "On narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors" (regarding the procedure for the circulation of controlled substances). In accordance with the Decree of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine No. 1852-VIII of February 21, 2017, “On the agenda of the sixth session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the eighth convocation”, the draft Law was prepared for consideration in the first reading in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
In addition, considering the development of the cannabis industry as one of the priorities, at the state level the need to promote the activities of economic entities for the production of cannabis with a low content of tetrahydrocannabinol or hemp that does not contain such a substance was declared (order CMU No. 735-p dated August 28, 2013 “About approval of the State Drug Policy Strategy for the period up to 2020 ”). However, is it enough today only the “declarations of good intentions” from the state, when in the world such countries as Canada, EU countries, USA, Israel and others have already gone beyond the perception of cannabis plants (namely industrial varieties) as a purely technical culture , not to mention the full understanding of its social security? Developing at the same time technical, food and therapeutic use of cannabis, more and more countries are bringing this culture to a new level of opportunities, both economically and socially.
These questions became the most relevant for students of the scientific-practical seminar “Technical hemp is the most profitable agricultural crop of the XXth century”, devoted to the problems of cannabis breeding, which took place from 22 to 23 November on the basis of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Postgraduate Education (UNIPO) of the National University of Bioresources and Nature Management (NUBiP) of Ukraine (Kiev). The training took place within the framework of the "Hemp University" as a result of which 25 students received the "Certificates" of the state sample, which meet the qualification requirements stipulated by the current legislation for business entities specializing in working with cannabis.
The first day of the event was devoted to issues of global development of cannabis and the most promising areas in the industry - textile, food, energy and medical. One of the most informative reports was the presentation of Iriko Irina Mikhailovna, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, who focused on the agrotechnical peculiarities of growing varieties of Ukrainian breeding, which have not only a stable sign of single-house ownership, but also drug-free nature, which was the result of a long work of several generations of scientists of the Institute's pottery bast cultures. Irina Mikhailovna also explained to beginner cannabis that the characteristic of cannabis is its adaptability to different growing conditions, but there is a significant need for the plant for optimal sowing time, as well as its moisture supply during the growing season, which allows eventually to have a better seed crop.
He did not ignore the main breeder-hemp killer and the most pressing topic - the creation of varieties of cannabis for medical use with a high content of cannabidiol (CBD). The situation in this segment is quite attractive for the Ukrainian market, since today scientists together with the manufacturers are developing varieties of technical hemp therapeutic orientation, relying on their own breeding experience and private investment. Own Ukrainian varieties of medical direction will allow in the future to be present on the market not only as a consumer of imported therapeutic preparations based on CBD, but will provide an opportunity to develop their own production of medicines, but with an appropriate regulatory framework, which is currently rather poorly modernized and holds back domestic Hemp and not only in medical direction.
Ignatyuk Alexander Leonidovich, President of the Association of Ukrainian Technical Hemp, answered questions related to the domestic regulatory framework in the field of hemp breeding. He noted that today it is extremely important to recognize at the state level non-drug industrial hemp as an ordinary agricultural crop and to borrow the practice of the leading world countries in the development of the cannabis industry. Having a huge scientific, industrial, land and human potential, Ukraine simply does not have the right to stand aside the dynamic processes of development of the branch of cannabis breeding, especially the most promising and economically beneficial for Ukraine - medical direction. Alexander Leonidovich stressed that this is no longer just an internal issue of national hemp breeding, but a problem that is much broader - the reluctance of “our” officials and bureaucrats to keep up with the demands of the time and at the same time to develop processing and textile industry, food technology, and medical industry and so on.
The problems of the processing industry in its report “Features of quality assessment of hemp straw stalks / trusts, long and short fibers in the process of harvesting stalks after various types of harvesting” were voiced by Lyudmila Andreyevna Chursina, doctor of technical sciences, representative of Kherson National Technical University. The logical continuation of the practical use of products of hemp stalk processing was the presentation of Anna Anatolyevna Tikhosova, Doctor of Technical Sciences on the topic: “General characteristics Technological processes for the production of various functional products from hemp stalks: extraction of cellulose from fibers and hemp fires for valuable and wrapping sorts of paper and cardboard, production of biofuels and alternative energy sources, production of composites with thermosetting and thermoplastic resins. "
Most of the questions from the course participants were about the practical features of the technological process of harvesting the resulting seed material, which is not enough to gather from the field, but it is necessary to prepare for storage in a timely manner and without loss. One of the most experienced manufacturers of cannabis in the Ukrainian market is PF Kravets OP, which progressed from growing 20 hectares of hemp to 200 hectares in some years, is engaged in licensed seed production of Ukrainian breeding varieties, creates technical means for collecting operations, and also invests in the development of its own infrastructure related to the production and sale of hemp products. Co-owner of farm "Kravets OP" Vladimir Vasilyevich Yakimchuk shared with the audience his own practical experience in doing business in the field of modern hemp breeding. The main thing that was emphasized was the optimization of our own production facilities and, if necessary, the attraction of additional leased seeds for timely and quick harvesting of seed from the field, which allows not only to prevent seed loss, but also to preserve the quality of the material, which later directly affects on the profit of the enterprise. A special place in the report of Vladimir Vasilyevich was taken up by the question of preserving the quality characteristics of the seed obtained. The entrepreneur shared his experience and revealed the features of the drying of hemp seeds, separation and bringing to sowing conditions. According to Mr. Yakimchuk, the profitability of growing cannabis in terms of their economy is from 40%, and the systematic modernization of production and experience in doing business in the field of industrial hemp gradually allows to increase this figure.
But, as it turned out, the most interesting information was waiting for students on the second day of training at the specialized round table "Cannabinoid therapy". The participants learned that modern breeding methods for breeding low-narcotic varieties of industrial hemp with a high content of CBD used for therapeutic purposes allow to obtain plants with cannabidiol content of 2–5%. At the same time, scientists note that the increase in the level of CBD is associated with an increase in undesirable TGCs, and therefore it is “endless” to increase the level of cannabidiol, while remaining within the framework of the current legislation, is rather difficult and problematic, which requires the transfer of scientific research to a new level and within the framework of the new liberal to science legislation. Today, countries like Canada, Israel and some EU countries are taking this path. They invite Ukrainian breeders to deepen their research; the loss of specialists of this level for the country cannot be measured only by the economic component.
We can not ignore the most progressive world experience in the development of the hemp industry on the example of Canada. Canada already today imposes "its own rules of the game" on certain segments of the market in hemp breeding, and in the next few years it will be able to play a decisive role in the main directions of modern hemp breeding. If we take into account the global trends associated with the legalization of the use of the therapeutic properties of cannabis in medical applications, and it is also possible to use cannabis for recreational purposes, it can be stated that Canadian manufacturers relied specifically on the medical use of the cannabis plant. It is in these areas that Canadian companies already dominate the global market in a number of cases and are trying to expand their spheres of influence and stake out for themselves a significant share of these rapidly growing markets. According to experts of the hemp market, the states that do not “connect” to the development of the medical use of hemp in a timely manner, in the future will remain only consumers of cannabis products, which will allow some to have super-profits, while others will only consume what they offer.
The Director General of Kompaniya Dzhala Gold LLC, Vladimir Vladimirovich Tkalich, also spoke about this and revealed the modern possibilities of effective treatment of diseases with the help of dietary supplements made on the basis of hemp green mass. His company has developed a unique patented technology, which allows not only to isolate individual cannabinoid components from a hemp plant, but to harmoniously combine and save them for the full “transfer” of these beneficial compounds to the human body. The author claims that the little-known human endocannabinoid system is capable of itself distinguishing, as well as using a complex of cannabinoid compounds, the significance of which for the organism has not yet been investigated by modern science. A human consumption of a product in the form as close as possible to its natural state is the best and most recommended representatives of Jala Gold Company LLC. Vladimir Vladimirovich added that the terpenes and cannabinoids of cannabis leaves and inflorescences are far superior in their capabilities to isolated molecules extracted from the plant by extraction. If pinene is an anti-inflammatory agent, and cannabidiol also has an anti-inflammatory effect, then the body, using the whole range of substances contained in the plant, has the ability to fight the inflammatory process from two different angles. This combined advantage is called the “ensemble” effect, that is, the effect of cannabinoids is enhanced when they are used together with terpenes and flavonoids.
It was also noted that today the most accessible form of consumption of therapeutic CBD in the EU market is observed in the form of cosmetics. The most common producers in the EU countries are the Czech Republic, Romania, Spain and others. For example, the company from the city of Valencia, Hemps Pharma, has developed and is launching to the market a line of cannabinoid creams with a high concentration of cannabidiol. The cosmetic product that is marketed in Spain has the highest concentration of cannabidiol in the country and the EU - almost three times higher than in similar cosmetic products on the market. Cosmetologists claim that the local use of cannabidiol in a number of cases is much more effective than its oral use. Such properties of this drug-free cannabinoid are especially attractive for the treatment of chronic pain in muscles, joints and bones, as well as for use by professional athletes, military people or people leading an active lifestyle.
The result of the work of the scientific-practical seminar were the following conclusions:
1. Конопляный Университет стал не только учебным проектом, но и превратился в площадку, на которой представители разных стран (Россия, Молдова, Украина, Индия) не только обмениваются наработанным опытом и знаниями в сфере промышленного коноплеводства, но и заключают взаимовыгодные контракты, в том числе по созданию мощностей по первичной и глубокой переработки конопляного сырья или продажи оптовых и розничных партий конечной продукции.
2. Current trends in the field of industrial hemp industry not only interest representatives of companies that are going to work in this market, but also individuals or structures that reflect on cultivation, as well as using the plant for personal or group purposes. First of all, it concerns the possibilities of using medical properties of a technical therapeutic cannabis.
3. The management of companies that track the latest trends in at least the Ukrainian hemp market is not only present at profile events organized to familiarize themselves with the new products of various sectors of national hemp breeding, but also try to establish partnerships on the spot with experts or business leaders who are leaders in their market sectors.
4. Representatives of foreign structures (Moldova, Russia, India) not only “track” the dynamics of Ukrainian hemp industry, but also actively “promote” their achievements in various business areas related to growing, processing or selling the most profitable crop.
5. The interest in the therapeutic properties of technical hemp is immense, and representatives of national hemp breeding already have developments that are significantly superior in their effect to foreign analogues. First of all, it concerns the technologies of using leaves and inflorescences of technical hemp for the treatment of severe, including chronic diseases.
6. Foreign manufacturers of products containing elements of cannabinoid extraction, using the hype that rises around this topic, impose on the Ukrainian consumer an expensive low-quality product, which at best has a placebo effect. The quality of “cannabinoid products” smuggled into the territory of Ukraine is extremely low and for the most part not supported by the results of clinical studies not only in Ukraine, but also in the countries from which this type of CBD products goes to the domestic market of our country.
7. The main factors that adversely affect the slowdown in the development of national hemp breeding are:
- the lack of the necessary regulatory framework that makes it impossible to maximize the use of cannabis for industrial, medical and scientific purposes;
- corruption component, inherent primarily in the "officials in uniform";
- the lack of a developed system for processing hemp raw materials and, accordingly, closed chains, which provide an opportunity to receive hemp goods with high added value.
Commentary of the Association "Ukrainian technical hemp"
From April 9 to 10 on the basis of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Postgraduate Education of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine (Kiev) within the framework of the "Hemp University" there will be an advanced training for managers and specialists on the topic "Technical hemp is the most profitable agricultural crop of the 21st century" . In addition to the theoretical, the practical part “Cultivation, processing, use, as well as other operations with technical hemp as the most profitable agricultural crop of the 21st century”, as well as a round table “Nutrition and hemp” will be organized.
Статья опубликована в январском номере журнала «THE UKRAINIAN Farmer»