New directions for the development of cannabis growing in Turkey

On the pages of the specialized electronic edition of Ukrainian cannabis growers, "Problems and prospects for the development of cannabis growing in Turkey" were described, and it was also emphasized that at the initial stage of their development, Turkish technologists worked primarily with grain and its derivatives, using seeds as a tasty and healthy ingredient as part of a number of food products, as well as the formulation of various kinds of cosmetic preparations. It was the experience of our Turkish colleagues that became one of the key factors when the management of the enterprise-manufacturer of natural cosmetics, which has been producing a line of hemp-based cosmetics since 2017, by the specialists of the Hemp Consulting information and analytical platform, proved the feasibility of launching a new product on the market - hemp soap during the coronavirus pandemic ... Closely observing the development of Turkish cannabis growing, it can already be stated that our colleagues have shifted their attention to another highly profitable part of the hemp plant, focusing their efforts on processing, as well as ways of using straw / trusts. Perhaps, as in the case of private business, the example of Turkish cannabis growers will encourage government officials to think that it is necessary to create a legal and regulatory framework in Ukraine to ensure the unhindered use of the fibrous component of technical hemp, including for the production of cellulose in the first place.

The leadership of the Yozgat Bozok University, which specializes in the development of technologies for processing various plant components, has published materials according to which the university specialists are actively working on algorithms for the production of thermal insulation materials and cellulose from industrial hemp stalks. In particular, the rector of the University Ahmet Karadag said that technical hemp is considered by the country's leadership as a strategic agricultural crop and that the research carried out at the university aimed at the widespread introduction of the plant into the Turkish economy continues to bear fruit. For example, the specialists of the University have achieved significant success in two extremely promising areas of using the fibrous part of the plant - the production of various types of insulation materials and paper.

Insulation materials

According to Mr. Karadag “One of the main areas of work of our specialists has become the production of various types of insulation materials using the entire biomass of the plant. Work on the creation of, first of all, heat-insulating materials from hemp raw materials, as well as patent studies of the obtained product samples are already at the final stage. With the use of stems and fiber, about 20 products of various densities and thermal characteristics were obtained. Thermal testing of hemp products has been carried out in thermal analysis laboratories and the results show that most of these products have higher thermal performance compared to alternatives currently available in the construction sector. ”

Paper production

Decorative Ebbs Turkish Hemp Paper

Rector of the University Yozgat Bozok in his speech separately touched upon the issue of hemp cellulose production. Mr. Karadag drew attention to the fact that in the program of traditional crafts of the Technical School of the University, paper casts were produced from hemp raw materials. In order to raise awareness of the country's leadership about the possibilities of using hemp raw materials for the production of any type of cellulose, samples of castings of various qualities were made and sent to the relevant government agencies.

Commentary of experts of the Association "Ukrainian technical hemp"

During the training of the students of the "Hemp University" in October 2020, a specialized round table "Hemp fiber - problems and prospects of its use in Ukraine" was held. The attention of the participants was focused on the need to amend the existing bylaws, the archaism of the wording of certain provisions of which does not allow the development in our country of one of the most profitable sectors of hemp production - the processing of the fibrous part of the plant. In addition, during the event, the industry specialists participating in it concluded that one of the most promising and demanded areas of using the fibrous part of the plant is precisely the creation of capacities for the production of hemp cellulose. Considering the intensity of the development of technologies for processing technical hemp in the “heart of the Ottoman Empire”, as well as the sluggishness of the national state machine to provide the necessary regulatory and legal framework for various sectors of modern cannabis growing, we can say that in the event of further slipping of the proposed changes to the corresponding resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, investors , which consider our country as a potential site for the construction of capacities for the production of hemp pulp, for a very short time are reoriented to a more dynamically developing country in this direction - Turkey.