Source: indianapolisrecorder.com
An estimated $620 million was the total retail value
of hemp products sold in the U.S.
Industrial hemp, a strain of the cannabis plant, which has a low concentration of the psychoactive drug compound tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is making significant steps toward the process to becoming legal.
Purdue University has fired up a pilot project, which will research hemp products and focus on varietal performance, economics of production and regulatory oversight of the plant.
Ronald Turco, assistant dean in the department of agriculture at Purdue University said researchers are interested in looking at hemp plant material and developing recommendations for people who want to grow it in the state. The initial pilot project is estimated to span over three years.
“This isn’t like a normal project, I’ve never had a background check for a normal project,” said Turco. “It has a federal component to it but we hope to be in the ground this spring and to have plants up this year. That will probably happen but we’re still waiting for federal approval.”
The process of federal approval is a lengthy one due to hemp’s association with marijuana.
Turco stated the project is not being supported financially by outside sources.
According to the Indiana Hemp Industries Association (HIA), which promotes businesses and the research and development of hemp products in Indiana, an estimated $620 million was the total retail value of hemp products sold in the U.S. in 2014. This estimate included the sale of clothing, car parts and building materials.
Taylor Glover, vice president of the HIA, said while businesses such as FlexForm Technologies in Elkhart, Ind. make auto interior parts and composites for cars out of hemp, there is also another market for the plant as well.
“Many hemp products can be found in organic grocers but (Indiana) imports everything used from Canada and China,” she said. “All of the seed and oil you can buy is from there and we want to grow our own too.”
In February 2014, the 2013 farm bill passed which defined industrial hemp as distinct from marijuana in states where hemp is regulated under pilot programs. Currently no federal or private funding is provided for hemp, due to its status as a drug.
“We want to be on the front edge of this process. We are taking a very pragmatic and economical approach to this. We’re looking at varieties that may produce the best for farmers,” mentioned Turco.
Glover said Purdue’s program is different than other state’s platforms and helps ensure farmers are successful when the government legalizes growth.
“Kentucky and Tennessee have sent out applications for farmers to grow hemp through their departments of agriculture, but we’re not doing that in Indiana. Our approach is different but we think it could be more successful than other states, which are taking more of a liberal approach,” commented Glover.
To learn more about industrial hemp, visit Thehia.org.
No comments:
Post a Comment