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Kaur, G.; Kander, R. Industrial Hemp Plant. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/45864 (accessed on 27 July 2024).
Kaur G, Kander R. Industrial Hemp Plant. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/45864. Accessed July 27, 2024.
Kaur, Gurinder, Ronald Kander. "Industrial Hemp Plant" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/45864 (accessed July 27, 2024).
Kaur, G., & Kander, R. (2023, June 20). Industrial Hemp Plant. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/45864
Kaur, Gurinder and Ronald Kander. "Industrial Hemp Plant." Encyclopedia. Web. 20 June, 2023.
Industrial Hemp Plant
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This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/su15086457

Industrial hemp is a versatile, sustainable plant with several applications of its various forms, including fiber obtained from hemp stalks, food obtained from hemp seeds, and oil obtained from hemp flowers and seeds. Industrial hemp has the potential to offer a solution to the crisis of climate change, since it is a viable energy source that satisfies the three pillars of sustainability, namely economy, environment, and society. 

industrial hemp cannabis

1. Introduction

The recent climate changes on Earth, which are a significant result of human activities, are causing global environmental problems. Overpopulation, global warming, and biodiversity destruction are some of the impacts of these problems. The literature supports that these processes are the result of natural resources being used in an unsustainable way [1][2][3][4]. To sustain the environment, sustainable agriculture, economy, and ecology are critical and must cooperate [5]. Recently, sustainable agricultural opportunities have been of considerable interest to United States (U.S.) farmers. One crop that has gained attention for its sustainability potential is industrial hemp. In the U.S., hemp production has been virtually nonexistent since the 1950s. Previously, the U.S. was a prominent producer of hemp [6], and it played an important role in U.S. history. However, because of its association with marijuana, hemp was banned in the U.S. after the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 [7][8]. Along with other varieties of cannabis, it fell under the Controlled Substances Act’s (CSA) Schedule I classification [9].
Under U.S. law, hemp and marijuana have different legal definitions. Congress defined industrial hemp as “the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of such plant, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis” as part of a 2014 farm bill [9]. Prior to this bill, the U.S. hemp market could not meet demand and was heavily dependent on imports [9]. Under a federal action after the bill was passed, state agriculture departments were authorized to cultivate hemp as a pilot project [10]. In a 2018 amendment to the farm bill, Congress expanded the definition to “the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis” [9].
In the past ten years, the U.S. business community, including state governments, private researchers, and companies, has shown great interest in industrial hemp. According to advocates supporting its legalization, hemp is a viable alternative cash crop for U.S. farmers due to its sustainability potential, including its environmental benefits, its versatile adaptability to various agronomical conditions, and its manifold applications. Studies have claimed that if industrial hemp is allowed to develop in the same manner as other commercial agricultural enterprises, it could be lucrative [11].

2. Industrial Hemp Plant

A cannabis plant (species Cannabis sativa L.) grown for fiber, hurd, and oilseed/grain, is known as industrial hemp [12]. Cannabis sativa L., including industrial hemp, is an upright, yearly plant that grows up to 1–6 m tall and is primarily a dioecious herb [13][14].
The Cannabis sativa L. species produces many plants, including hemp and marijuana. It has more than 100 recognized cannabinoids, which are chemical compounds that have different physiological effects on humans [15][16]. The two most notable and researched cannabinoids of the Cannabis sativa L. plant are cannabidiol (CBD), a safe, non-addictive, and non-hallucinogenic compound known for its therapeutic profile, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive element causing the “high” with which cannabis is commonly associated [9][15][17]. CBD is marketed and sold in bud, oil, and tinctures to soothe swelling and promote relaxation [17]. THC is frequently used for medicinal purposes and for recreational use; because of its psychoactive effects, it is illegal in many countries [18].
The primary difference between industrial hemp and marijuana is the concentration of THC. Industrial hemp typically has less than 1% of THC on a dry-weight basis, while marijuana has 3% to 15% [19][20]. The perceived legitimacy of industrial hemp varies between countries. To discourage its recreational use, the European Union (EU) and countries around the globe only allow production of hemp with low THC, thereby reducing or eliminating its psychoactive effects [18][21]. The EU limits THC content to 0.2%, the strictest regulation in the world, while Mexico limits it to 1.0%; Malaysia to 0.5%; and the U.S., Canada, and East Asia to 0.3% [22]. In the U.S., industrial hemp cannot legally have more than 0.3% of THC in any part of the plant in any condition or growth stage [23].

3. Parts and Uses for the Industrial Hemp Plant

Cannabis plant parts include seeds, stem/stalk, inflorescence, leaves, and roots (Figure 1) [16].
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Figure 1. Various parts of the cannabis plant; derived from, (CC BY 4.0) [16].
Industrial hemp plants harvested for their stem/stalk provide hemp fiber. To produce hemp fiber, branching and flowering of the plant is discouraged. The plant is planted densely, averaging 35 to 50 plants per square foot. The harvest height of plants for fiber is 10 to 15 feet [9]. A hemp stem/stalk is composed of two sublayers, the outer layer consists of more valuable bundles of fiber, called bast fiber, and the inner layer consists of a less valuable woody (xylem core body) component, called hurd or shive fiber (Figure 2) [24][25][26][27]. A hemp stem’s xylem core/hurd constitutes 85% of its biomass compared to bast fiber’s 15% contribution [28]. To produce fiber, core fibers are mechanically separated from bark (using a decorticator) or by retting, or by a combination of the two. After being separated, dried and baled hemp fibers can be further processed by additional mechanical separation (such as cottonizing, shredding into smaller lengths, and spinning into yarn).
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Figure 2. Raw materials obtained from hemp stems/stalks.
Industrial hemp plants harvested for seeds provide oilseeds. The process of growing plants to produce hemp seeds is similar to that of growing plants to produce hemp fiber. The harvest height of plants for seed/grains is 6 to 9 feet [9]. A hemp seed/grain measures approximately one-eighth to one-fourth of an inch in length and has a smooth surface [29]. In seed processing, the shell is removed from the hulled seed kernels [30].
Industrial hemp plants are harvested for their flower buds and floral materials, which provide CBD and other oils. To produce flower buds and floral materials, wide branches and leaves are encouraged. The hemp is planted more sparsely, approximately three to five feet apart, so the plant can branch more widely [9]. The harvest height of industrial hemp plants grown for flowers is four to eight feet. To produce oil, an assortment of extraction methods is required, including lipid infusion, CO2 extraction, and solvent-free extraction [9].
According to a Congressional Research Service report [9], hemp grown for fiber yields 2000 to 11,000 pounds of whole dry stems per acre, while hemp grown for seeds and grain yields 800 to 1000 pounds per acre. Hemp grown for flowers yields about one pound of dried flower buds per plant [9].
Almost all parts of the industrial hemp plant can be used [16]. Industrial hemp is not only one of the fastest growing plants [31], but is also a versatile, sustainable plant with several applications, including the use of the fiber, seeds, and oil [32]. As shown in Figure 3, the seeds, dehulled or whole, can be utilized as a food source, as feed for animals, and in cosmetics, or they can be made into oil through a cold press process. Shives (hurd) and fiber that are obtained from the stem can be used for animal bedding, building materials, paper, or textiles. The hemp flower can be used to produce cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, including essential oils (Figure 3) [33]. Recently, the global industrial hemp market has been growing [34], resulting in the production of more than 25,000 products across the globe in various subsectors: paper, construction and insulation materials, fabrics and textiles, yarns and spun fibers, biocomposites, carpeting, and home furnishings (Figure 4) [29][30][32].
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Figure 3. The many applications of the industrial hemp plant, (CC BY 4.0) [33].
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Figure 4. Modern uses of industrial hemp plant raw material, (CC BY 4.0) [35].
Each of the Cannabis sativa L. categories, (a) fiber and hurd, (b) seed or grain, (c) products for medicinal markets, and (d) products for recreational markets, has many modern uses.
a.
Fiber products: Numerous industrial applications use hemp fiber as a natural source of bast fiber [36]. Known for their strength, durability, and length (fiber bundles can reach 1–5 m), hemp fibers have long been valued for serving many purposes including making rope, paper, and textiles [37][38][39]. The life cycle assessment (LCA) of hemp fibers, from cradle to grave, reveals that hemp fibers perform better than glass fiber by weight [40]. LCA assesses the environmental impact and resource usage of a product, including its raw material acquisition, manufacturing, and disposal phases [41][42][43][44]. The increased global demand for eco-friendly natural products and sustainable systems has increased the market share for textiles, fabrics, and clothing made from hemp fiber [12][45]. Hemp fiber is also used to make biodegradable mulch, horticultural planting materials, pressed fiber products, paper and pulp products, building-construction materials, insulation materials, animal bedding made of hurd, plastic bio composites, and compressed cellulose plastics [12].
b.
Seed or grain products: Hemp seed has historically served as a vital food source [46][47]. It consists of 20 to 30% edible oil, 20 to 30% protein, 20 to 25% fiber, 20 to 30% carbohydrates, and many other important nutrients and vitamins recommended for humans [12]. Hemp seed oil and grain products include whole and dehulled hemp seeds, hemp seed oil, hemp seed flour, hemp seed cake (a byproduct of mechanical oil pressing), hemp seed meal, hulls of hemp, and hemp protein isolates and concentrates (Figure 5) [48]. Hemp seeds are used to produce olive oil and salad dressing, and seeds of hemp contain omega 3 fats and proteins. In addition to being used in cosmetics, hemp seed oil can be used as a substitute for industrial oils [12].
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Figure 5. Processing to generate the main types of hemp seed-based food ingredients (CC BY 4.0) [48].
c.
Products for the medicinal market: CBD oil is a nonintoxicating cannabinoid compound produced using industrial hemp; unlike THC, it is not addictive. Because it is non-addictive and may offer health benefits, many states have recently made CBD oil legal [49]. Although CBD is used in various products, such as sparkling water, lotions, and pharmacological substances, its purported health benefits have not been scientifically verified. These areas offer an exciting opportunity for further research [12].
d.
Products for the recreational market: Because industrial hemp does not include high THC, it is not used for recreational purposes.

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