INDUSTRIAL HEMP [工业麻] DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION

INTRODUCTION

Industrial hemp originates from China.  Industrial hemp is now grown worldwide in many countries such as Australia, Austria, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine.

In the US, industrial hemp farming 2-5 times more profitable that tobacco, potato, cotton or corn farming.

In China, industrial hemp farming is 2-10 times more profitable than other similar agriculture crops such as cotton and corn. 

The profitability of industrial hemp farming can become much more profitable as industry development and farming productivity and efficiency increase.

Industrial hemp is part of the Cannabis sativa L. family, same as medical cannabis [marijuana].

Industrial hemp is defined as any Cannabis plant that has a THC [Tetrahydrocannabinol] concentration in its leaves and flowering heads of no more than 0.3%.

Plant stresses such as drought, flooding, excessive nutrients, not enough nutrients, heat, cold etc can result in THC spikes.

Medical cannabis [marijuana] plants typically contain up to 25% THC [psychoactive compound] and very low in CBD.

Cannabis sativa contains around 80 unique and valuable compounds called cannabinoids – particularly THC and CBD [Cannabidiol].  Many potential applications of THC and CBD have yet to be explored.

Industrial hemp is a highly versatile crop with substantial economic and environmental    Value.

Industrial hemp is natural + eco-friendly agricultural plant that is 100% non-toxic and it is renewable, recyclable and biodegradable.

Cultivated in China 10,000 years ago for medicine + food + industrial products such as textile, paper, sails and rope.

Industrial hemp is a sun-loving bamboo-like and easy and low cost to farm in almost ALL climatic and soil conditions with minimal farm inputs.  The plant has excellent pest, disease and weed resistance.

Industrial hemp is known to be a superior rotational crop and carbon sink [absorbs ~22 MT CO2/Ha/crop of hemp] and can crop more than once per year.

It has high biomass and can be grown for fibre, food, oil or bioactive compounds with over 25,000 potential applications.

The farming, processing and marketing were either banned or restricted in many countries due to its association with sister plant marijuana.

Cannabidiol have been found to have several medical applications such as fighting cancer as CBD helps to inhibit tumour and cell growth and reduces inflammation.
Other medical conditions that can help to treat with CBD include:

• Anxiety

• Acne

• Bowel disorders

• Autoimmune diseases

• Diabetes

• Crohn’s disease

• Insomnia

• Fibromyalgia

• Nausea

• Schizophrenia

• Mad cow disease

• Multiple sclerosis

• Post traumatic stress disorder

In China – at present only Heilongjiang and Jilin in the northeast and the Yunnan province in the southwest are allowed to grow and process industrial hemp.