University Of Göttingen: Hemp Offers Sustainable Prospects For Agriculture
Farmers have cultivated hemp and used the agricultural crop for many centuries. A study from 2023 found that “ancestral archaeological relics date the use of this plant fiber as a fabric to approximately 8000 years before the common era (BCE) as a material in ancient Mesopotamia (present-day Iran and Iraq), and to 4000 years BCE and 3000 years BCE as a material for ropes in China and Kazakhstan, respectively.”
A team of researchers affiliated with the University of Göttingen recently examined industrial hemp from the perspective of its prospects as a sustainable crop for modern agriculture in Germany. Findings from the examination were published by Bauernblatt.
The University of Göttingen team conducted a series of in-depth interviews with 14 farmers based in Northern Germany, discussing and examining ‘their experiences, the economic, ecological, and social dimensions of hemp cultivation.’
“From the farmers’ perspective, hemp cultivation offers significant potential savings in production costs compared to cash crop cultivation due to the elimination of pesticides. The dual use of fiber and seeds opens up additional sources of income, but also presents challenges for harvesting technology and timing.” reported Bauernblatt (translated from German to English).
“Furthermore, some respondents point out that a certain amount of cultivated land is advantageous, for example, to more efficiently utilize harvesting and processing equipment. This can be a hurdle for smaller farms, so cooperation with neighboring farms or contractual agreements with processors can improve profitability.” the outlet also reported.
The farmers who were interviewed touted the benefits of hemp as a winter crop. Whereas many other crops cannot be cultivated during Germany’s winter months, hemp grows well enough during Germany’s winter to make it a viable option, which enables a more efficient use of available land that would otherwise be dormant during the season.
Hemp’s ‘rapid crop development allows for the complete elimination of herbicides in practice,’ according to the farmers who were interviewed, and hemp uses less water to grow compared to other crops, making the farmers’ fields more climate-resilient. The farmers also emphasized that hemp is a great ‘preceding crop’ and ‘has a positive impact on the yields of subsequent crops.’
Other sustainable benefits of cultivating hemp are the crop’s ability to capture CO2 and serve as a component in soil bioremediation strategies. The researchers reported that some of the farmers indicated their intent to explore the possibility of generating revenue through climate protection programs.
“Industrial hemp offers promising prospects for agriculture. Its ecological advantages, such as improved soil structure and CO2 sequestration, as well as the economic potential offered by dual-use land and low or no need for pesticides, make it a sustainable addition to crop rotation.” the researchers concluded. “With the right strategy, industrial hemp can make a valuable contribution to sustainable agriculture, especially when economies of scale, stable sales contracts, and effective integration into crop rotation systems are considered.”
The University of Göttingen’s findings build on other recent hemp-focused sustainability research, including a study led by researchers affiliated with the University of Banja Luka, the University of Belgrade, and the University of Niš, which found that raw hemp can be used as an effective and eco-friendly alternative for removing toxic dye chemicals from wastewater.
During a recent presentation at the International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin, leading international cannabis industry economist Beau Whitney, founder of Whitney Economics, provided data demonstrating that the value of the global industrial hemp industry could be as much as $456.2 billion.