News Release

April 23, 2020 – Haleigh Ortmeier-Clarke researches industrial hemp. When she discusses this with others, she is usually met with two responses. One is excitement to hear about a potential up-and-coming crop. The other is a mixture of suspicion and hesitation. The April 22^ndSustainable, Secure Food blog explores why industrial hemp is a good crop to research – and how growing it again is good for farmers.

Industrial hemp is not the same as marijuana, explains Ortmeier-Clarke. “When most people hear about hemp, they think of marijuana, the recreational drug. But ‘hemp’ alone, or ‘industrial hemp,’ refers to a different variety of Cannabis, one that doesn’t have enough of the psychoactive component THC^* in it to cause a high. The hemp that I work on has less than 0.3% THC and is defined as an agricultural commodity.”

“Hemp is a crop that can potentially benefit farmers,” says Ortmeier-Clarke. Part of the plant have several uses:

1. Hemp grain has a high oil content and can be crushed to extract the oil. The oil is commonly used in cosmetics like lotions and hair and body products. It can also be used in cooking and as a carrier oil for CBD.
2. The hemp fiber itself is incredibly strong and is used in ropes, canvases, and even clothing. New and innovative uses for hemp fiber, like plastics and construction materials are constantly emerging.

To learn more the value of industrial hemp, read the new Sustainable, Secure Food blog: https://sustainable-secure-food-blog.com/2020/04/22/industrial-hemp-reviewing-history-and-hysteria

This blog is sponsored and written by members of the American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society of America. Our members are researchers and trained, certified professionals in the areas of growing our world’s food supply, while protecting our environment. They work at universities, government research facilities, and private businesses across the United States and the world.