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INDUSTRIAL HEMP (Cannabis sativa) Part 1

By: Coffee Man Introduction

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) was first introduced to North America in Port Royal, Acadia in 1606 and became a popular crop grown in Eastern (Ontario) and Central Canada from the 18th to 20th centuries. The Canada Department of Agriculture conducted extensive research on agronomic management, processing and some crop improvement over 30 sites across Canada during 1923-1942 (Gehl 1995). In 1938 the cultivation of Cannabis sativa including fibre industrial hemp was declared illegal through the Opium and Narcotics Act. The same took place in the United States due to the Marihuana Tax Act at about the same time even though a small hemp fibre industry continued in Wisconsin until 1958. It was banned internationally in 1961 under the United Nations’ Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, to which Canada is a co-signer.

In the summer of 1997, the former Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for the province of Ontario, Canada, Noble Villeneuve, described the reappearance of industrial hemp to Canada as an agricultural "Rip Van Winkle…He is waking up! It’s time to wake up to industrial hemp and its potential within the agriculture and food industry". The passage of Bill C-8 in June 1996, resulted in the modification of the Canadian Drug Act decriminalizing the low (delta) 9 tetrahydrocannabinol) ) 9 THC Cannabis, industrial hemp. The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) came into force on May 14 1997 replacing the Narcotic Control Act and Parts III and IV of the Food and Drugs Act and was published in March 12, 1998 (Health Canada 1998) to permit the commercial cultivation of industrial hemp in Canada.

Industrial hemp production has experienced a global "renaissance" within the past decade. This renaissance has been largely due to the increased demand for biodegradable products, the rapidly increasing global demand for annual renewable fibre and high quality health food products and an in-describable romance with hemp. Industrial hemp is a most unique plant with several types of high quality fibres as well as grain with very high levels of oil which is nature’s most completely balanced plant oil for essential fatty and amino acids for human health requirements. No other agricultural crop in recent history has sparked such a level of attention and controversy as industrial hemp. A total new industry is emerging as "Rip Van Winkle is waking up" to a complete new age.

Many enthusiastic proponents of industrial hemp have created misconceptions and erroneous information concerning the production of this crop. Cultivation of industrial hemp around the globe alone will not save planet Earth or revive a struggling agriculture. It can, however, contribute significantly to the future survival and improved level of health of mankind in the next millennium by becoming a vital companion with or replacing some of the petroleum based products, synthetics, wood based fibres and conventional oil seeds. Once established as a crop and industry it will also contribute to the regional rural economy and sustainability.

Industrial hemp and its twin, flax, is one of the oldest "soft" bast fibre crops in recorded history of mankind. Much of the existing agronomic knowledge and experience from other established agricultural crops can be applied to the production of industrial hemp. However, differences exist, and the industrial hemp plant’s uniqueness (a tall, very strong fibre and oil seed plant) from any other crops grown in the North American agriculture cropping system requires different agricultural management practices for its successful production. The agricultural scene in North America is desperately depressed; searching for new economically feasible crops with value added potential and new applications. Every prospective industrial hemp grower will need to know as much as is possible about the production requirements of this "old/new" crop. The Canadian experience certainly demonstrates this fact. Agronomic research was initiated in Ontario at Ridgetown College of Agricultural Technology, Ridgetown, Ontario, Canada and Manitoba Ministry of Agriculture, Manitoba, Canada in 1995 to address these issues.

Industrial hemp production requires a very fertile, well drained, loamy, neutral pH, high organic content, well structured soil combined with experienced high-level crop management. However, for an experienced crop producer, hemp is a relatively easy crop to grow. Harvesting and preparing the raw products for market become the challenge due to the plant’s height and the inherent strength of the fibre and delicate nature of the oil component of the fruit (seed).

Industrial hemp has remarkable adaptability to a wide range of climates from the tropics to as far north as agricultural crops are grown and can be grown in most agricultural areas around the world. Soil types, drainage and climactic conditions suitable for field retting of stalks for fibre are the most limiting requirements of this crop in considering areas of potential fibre production.

The growing worldwide demand for annually renewable natural fibres in many industries presently using petroleum and wood fibre components is fuelling the renaissance for development of industrial hemp as a profitable crop and industry. The advantages of hemp fibres for biodegradable bio-compatible products is considered an appealing option by many industries. Replacing synthetic petroleum based and glass products with similar natural raw materials obtained from hemp creates the appealing satisfaction for the development of more biodegradable and environmentally friendly products with improved quality. Processed hemp fibres can be successfully blended with propylene, nylon, polyesters, wood, cotton, and resins with enhanced properties of these new products.

Unlike limited fossil resources used in manufacture of synthetic products, hemp as an annual renewable resource, can steadily supply mankind with the necessary raw materials for a large array of consumer products. The contribution of a global increase in hemp production is perceived to potentially contribute to the improvement of C02 levels in the atmosphere and the improved weed management and soil quality in agriculture without requiring an increase in the existing cleared agricultural land base. 1996 statistics show that Ontario has 1.0773 million hectares of cleared but idle agricultural land not being cultivated. It is anticipated that a considerable percentage of this idle land would be suitable for industrial hemp production.

Origin and History: The origin of hemp is lost in antiquity. It is believed that hemp was first cultivated on a vast territory in Central and Eastern Asia, somewhere between the Altai mountains, Caspian Sea and Baikal Lake, today’s eastern Russia, China and Mongolia territories. The first mentions of hemp as a crop were made by old Chinese documents, more than 5000 years ago. Hemp was grown for it’s fibre (clothing and fuel) and grain (staple food) by the inhabitants of those regions. The Chinese made their first paper from hemp fibre (Schultes 1970). It is presumed that migratory tribes and early traders brought hemp to India and Africa. Hemp was first reported in Europe around 2000-1500 BC where it grew quickly to a significant and major crop.

Biology of the Industrial Hemp Plant

General: The hemp plant is an annually renewable short season herbaceous dicotyledonous, day length sensitive plant. It is naturally a dioecious (male (staminate) and female (pistillate) plants) plant with breeding efforts focused on developing monoecious (male and female flowers in the same inflorescence) for grain production. Its day length sensitivity directly impacts the stalk biomass production as it relates to planting date management. The plant will grow to a potential height of 1-6 meters.

New grain varieties are in the market with short stature of 60-100 cm height (Fin 314, Crag, ESTA-1 and ANKA). A wide range of varieties (most bred and developed in western and Eastern Europe) exist for fibre, grain, production and ornamental. Characteristically these European varieties do not have the required consistent low THC levels required by Health Canada.

Plant Growth and Development: Industrial hemp is a day length sensitive plant; hence time of planting will directly effect its growth potential. Flowering occurs about the same time of the summer regardless of the time of planting.

Late maturing varieties from shorter day length regions will produce greater fibre biomass if grown further north in longer day length regions. It requires adequate moisture and heat to grow to its maximum potential height. The hemp taproot prefers a sandy loam soil with high organic matter and well-structured soil with good drainage. This tap root is not a strong aggressive root, but relatively speaking weak. It will not penetrate compacted soil.

Stages of Plant Growth and Development. Seed generally germinates and seedling plants emerge within 5-7 days after seeding (under soil temperatures of 10 degrees C or greater). The subsequent slow growing stage takes until about 25 days after seeding at which time the plants should be at the 4th internode in development. The plant will begin its rapid growth stage at about 25 days after seeding and continue until 65 days after seeding. This completes the vegetative stage of the hemp development. Flowering in the form of pollen shedding will begin at about 65 to 75 days after seeding. Seed maturation is generally from 75 to 110 days after seeding and is referred to as the Reproductive development stage.

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Wirtshafter, J.D. 1998. Why Hemp Seeds? pp. 169-182 in Rosenthal E. (ed) Hemp Today. Quick American Archives, Oakland, CA. 444 pp. TBHGA. 1999. Thunder Bay Hemp Grower’s Association. RR 6, Thunder Bay, Ontario Canada. P7C 5N5. Schultes, R.E. 1970. Random Thoughts and Queries on the botany of Cannabis. P. 11-38. In: R.B. Joyce and S.H. Curry (eds.). The Botany and Chemistry of Cannabis. J.& A. Churchill, London, UK.
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