Hemp – emblem of resilience and circular economy, as we have seen (1) – is one of the most suitable crops to express sustainable development in agriculture. Some food for thought.
1) Hemp, historical notes
La Cannabis sativa L. it is a herbaceous plant with a short vegetative cycle, approximately 120 days. The long tap root supports a stem of variable length (from 80 cm to 3 metres), serrated leaves and flowers on the female plants. The oldest hemp artifact dates back to 8000 BC, in Central Asia.
In Europehemp was introduced around 5000 BC and used above all for its fibres, useful in the production of ropes, sails and fabrics. In the 90th century Italy overtook France, after Russia, with around 2 hectares of crops. (3) But the dominance of nylon caused its abandonment. (XNUMX)
2) Cannabis sativa L.primary uses
All partsof hemp – stem and seeds, leaves and flowers – lend themselves to a variety of uses in different production sectors. This entails the maximum yield and versatility of use of a fast growing plant – comparable only to bamboo and Pawlonia, among terrestrial crops – with low production costs independent of the volatility of the price lists of nitrogenous fertilizers and agrochemical products. Little water, little processing and a lot of biomass, to be allocated above all to:
- foods. The seeds – hulled, i.e. transformed into flour or oil – offer proteins veganwith high biological value, thanks to the rich endowment of essential amino acids. In addition to polyunsaturated fatty acids, with an idyllic ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 (3:1), even better than olive oil (9:1). Fiber in quantity and vitamins B1, B2, B6, E (4,5),
- botanical and medicinal ingredients. Waiting for the fateful authorization of the CBD as novel foods, (6) its sales – legitimized by the Court of Justice (7) – continue to thrive worldwide. And the demand for cannabisfor medical use , whose crops are subject to specific authorisations,
- cosmetics. Hemp also finds increasing use in body care products, especially in face and skin creams. V-linoleic acid, tocopherols and vitamins contained in Cannabis Sativa L.they are indeed associated with anti-inflammatory and regenerating properties. And consumers identify the plant as natural and beneficial, thanks also to the acronyms of some photocannabinoids (CBD, CBG). (8)
3) Other bio-industrial uses
eco construction. Bio-bricks, cement mortars and plasters, natural insulating and sound-absorbing panels, fire resistant, with negative carbonic impact (eg. biomat, Italy).
Technical fibers. Trifilon in Sweden reinforces and lightens polypropylene with hemp fibers. (9) Fiber Techin Italy, on the other hand, he uses them to produce fabrics and technical fibers, also for use as a bodywork for racing cars. (10)
Bioplastics ductile, resistant and biodegradable can be made with fibers of Cannabis sativa L.without requiring the use of substances harmful to health and the environment such as PFAS
, bisphenols e phthalates. (11)
Textile. Hemp fibers are very ductile and make it possible to obtain two yarns, one with a short fiber similar to flax, and one with a long fiber similar to cotton. With fiber yields more than three times that of cotton, water consumption halved, no pesticides and fewer coloring treatments.
Menu. Paper made from hemp fiber has greater strength, opacity, and resistance to moisture, tearing, and tearing. With better recycling performance, less chemical treatment and tree felling. (12)
4) Drought resistance
The drought, alternating with extreme climatic events, can no longer be considered an emergency. In the last two years in Italy, rainfall has been so low that 50 consecutive days of rain would barely be enough to bring the water basins back to normal levels. The agriculture of routine and crops that need more or less water, from rice to corn, are in crisis.
The choiceof crops has so far essentially followed market demand, adapting land and agricultural inputs to their needs. But it is perhaps necessary to invert the paradigm if we do not want to abandon the fields. That is, rediscovering the plants that best adapt to the conditions of the territory, require less water and chemicals, restore the soil and can be used without waste.
5) climate action, bioremediation, fertilizing action
La climate actions– action to mitigate climate change, #SDG13 – finds an ideal crop in hemp, thanks to its ability to sequester up to 22 t/year of CO2 per hectare in the atmosphere (more than any other terrestrial plant). (13)
La bioremediation– that is, the bioremediation of soils – is another extraordinary prerogative, linked to the chelating action of the hemp roots which are able to absorb heavy metals. As has been demonstrated in numerous contexts, from Chernobyl to Taranto. (14) Added to this is the fertilizing action of hemp, in fact used as a renewal crop. (15)
Dario Dongo and Alessandra Mei
Footnotes
(1) Dario Dongo. Industrial hemp and circular economy. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 16.8.19
(2) Robert Russo. The hemp plant: a story, a reality. http://www.attidellaaccademialancisiana.it/299/19/articolo/La-pianta-della-canapa-una-storia-una-realtaArts of the Lancisiana Academy. 16.4.19
(3) Gianfranco Laccone, The fight against drought and prejudices about a crop with little water need: hemp. https://www.climateaid.it/2023/03/16/la-lotta-alla-siccita-e-i-pregiudizi-su-una-coltura-con-poche-necessita-idriche-la-canapa/ ClimateAid.it. 16.3.2023
(4) Laura Pontassuglia, Dario Dongo. Superfood, hemp. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 2.3.18
(5) Potin, F., Saurel, R. (2020). Hemp Seed as a Source of Food Proteins. In: Crini, G., Lichtfouse, E. (eds) Sustainable Agriculture Reviews 42. Sustainable Agriculture Reviews, vol 42. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41384-2_9
(6) Dario Dongo, Andrea Adelmo Della Penna. CBD like novel food, yellow light from EFSA. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 7.6.22
(7) Dario Dongo. Natural CBD, the EU Court of Justice declares unjustified prohibitions illegitimate. New horizons. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 21.11.20
(8) Dario Dongo, Giulia Torre. Hemp and cannabinoids, green light for the use of CBG in cosmetics in the EU. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 15.12.21
(9) Dario Dongo. Industrial hemp, EIHA conference in Cologne, 5-6.6.19. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 17.6.19
(10) Hemp core for the bodywork of the Giulia ETCR by Romeo Ferraris. https://www.linificio.it/news/giulia-etcr-romeo-ferraris/National linen and hemp mill. 1.6.22
(11) Reddy, AVK, Shankaraiah, G., Kumar, PS (2023). Toxicity Effects of Micro- and Nanoplastics in Terrestrial Environment. In: Maddela, NR, Reddy, KV, Ranjit, P. (eds) Micro and Nanoplastics in Soil. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-21195-9_9
(12) Crini, G., Lichtfouse, E., Chanet, G. et al. Applications of hemp in textiles, paper industry, insulation and building materials, horticulture, animal nutrition, food and beverages, nutraceuticals, cosmetics and hygiene, medicine, agrochemistry, energy production and environment: a review. Environ ChemLett 18, 1451–1476 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-020-01029-2
(13) Marta Strinati. The power of hemp to sequester carbon at the heart of Hemp-30. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 10.1.2023
(14) Giuseppe Todde, Gianluca Carboni, Serena Marras, Maria Caria, Costantino Sirca (2022).Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) for phytoremediation: Energy and environmental life cycle assessment of using contaminated biomass as an energy resource. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, Vol. 52, Part A . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2022.102081
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
Graduated in Law from the University of Bologna, she attended the Master in Food Law at the same University. You participate in the WIISE srl benefit team by dedicating yourself to European and international research and innovation projects.
