Industrial hemp in the EU Agriculture Report

The hemp plant is considered by EU market specialists exclusively as a technical culture, the versatility of which implies its use in various segments of modern business, from food to biocomposite and building materials. The use of the therapeutic properties of the plant is one of the most profitable, but not the main segments of modern cannabis growing, and the market for pharmaceutical preparations made on the basis of the plant is considered as one of its local sectors.

In February 2021, the “EU Report on Agriculture” was proposed to the expert community of the countries that make up the European Union to study and make proposals. The focus group that prepared the Report brought together experts in the field of industrial crops, including representatives of research and scientific organizations, agricultural producers, consultants and industry professionals. Considering how much and how exactly the technical hemp is described in the Report, the editors of the specialized electronic publication of Ukrainian cannabis growers decided to briefly acquaint our dear readers and listeners with certain provisions that characterize the attitude of EU specialists to the most highly profitable agricultural crop.

Hemp is expected to play an important role among industrial crops in Europe in the near future, as part of a broader global shift towards renewable energies and alternative building materials. A new report from the European Commission's Task Force on Sustainable Industrial Crops in Europe speaks of the long-term sustainability of many crops, but it is industrial hemp that claims a visible and multifaceted role in the continent's agriculture and green economy.

Specifically, the report argues that "Using industrial crops as raw materials for traditional petroleum-based commodities such as polymers and solvents will contribute to a shift towards more sustainable resource use." In terms of “the most promising industrial crops,” focus group respondents placed fiber (42%) and bioenergy (32%) at the top of the list. In addition, Fiber Crops for Building Materials generated a lot of interest from the group, which identified hemp, flax and kenaf as candidates for a significant increase in these crops in Europe.

The report details the role that industrial hemp plays in promoting soil health, carbon sequestration, biodiversity and water efficiency in the areas where the plant is grown. According to the focus group, crop cultivation requires a lot of resources, usually “minimizing some of the negative impacts of agricultural intensification on biodiversity and ecosystem services. In this matter, it is technical hemp that plays a key role. "

In a 121-page paper, the authors take a detailed look at the example of cannabis as a 21st century crop. In particular, “The real benefit of industrial crops of industrial hemp lies in the convenience of using the plant for the production of various types of goods from one crop: food, feed, cosmetics, biocomposites, paper, textiles, building materials, pharmaceuticals, energy. While the seeds are especially rich in high quality proteins and have a unique spectrum of essential fatty acids, flowers and leaves are rich in valuable phytochemicals (cannabinoids, terpenes and polyphenols) that can help heal or heal those who use them. Hemp-based building materials have exceptional thermal properties that reduce energy consumption and retain carbon. These include hemp concrete (hemp-lime composite wall and insulation material) as well as hemp wool and fiberboard insulation. In addition, wood concrete is a non-combustible material that is resistant to mold and bacteria, is able to naturally regulate humidity and has exceptional thermal and acoustic properties. ”

Towards the end of the report, the authors look at several ways to scale up industrial hemp production in the near future. Attention is focused on the fact that the structure of the value chain, policy and regulatory instruments, private investment, market confidence, digitalization are all elements of the development of the agricultural market in Europe (and, inevitably, worldwide). “One of the main obstacles to spreading universal cultures as a viable business model is lack of market confidence, which is holding back investment and slowing down innovation,” the authors write, arguing a lack of entrenched supply chains and sustained consumer demand. This situation is largely influenced by the lack of information along the entire value chain regarding the opportunities offered by industrial hemp, as well as the technologies required to harness the potential of the plant and expand business contacts. "

Commentary of the specialists of the Association "Ukrainian technical hemp"

I would like to highlight one key point of the entire Report. The hemp plant is considered by EU market specialists exclusively as a technical culture, the versatility of which implies its use in various segments of modern business, from food products to biocomposite and building materials. The use of the therapeutic properties of a plant is one of the most profitable, but not the main segments of modern cannabis growing, and the market for pharmaceutical preparations made on the basis of the plant is considered as one of its local sectors.