Hemp's Impact on Sustainable Agriculture in North America

Introduction

Hemp is deemed to have significant benefits for agricultural sustainability. The plant is less vulnerable to changes in weather and other environmental conditions compared to crops such as cotton. This means there is a greater likelihood of farmers generating profit from their investment in the cultivation of industrial hemp, with the ability to grow a significant amount of the crop on a comparatively small acreage (Miller, 2015). Industrial hemp crops are also beneficial for soil enrichment. The growth pattern of the hemp plant naturally produces soil with additional nutrients. Because the dense leaves block sunlight, few weeds grow among the industrial hemp crops. Furthermore, the deep roots of the plant help supply nitrogen and other minerals to the soil while simultaneously reducing the salinity of groundwater and decreasing topsoil erosion. Hemp is also well suited for composting in farming systems alongside other crops such as soy and wheat (Miller, 2015).

As a commodity, hemp can offer sustainable solutions to both consumers and farmers. In the contemporary context, unsustainable crop growing linked with high-input, high-impact agriculture is an international issue. The use of non-renewable resources has been associated with global climate change and a decrease in both water supply and air quality. Moreover, increasing populations and ever-rising resource demand make the exhaustion of non-renewable resources difficult to avoid given current dependencies (Harris, 2002). Industrial hemp is cost-effective for crop rotation, and its key benefit is that it facilitates sustainable agriculture. Hemp makes an ideal rotation crop not only for the agronomic reasons noted above, but also because there is a large and growing market for the plant in the United States, enabling farmers to run sustainable businesses. In recent years, the legalization of industrial hemp growing has prompted increased cultivation. The main objective of this literature review is to ascertain what impact, if any, hemp is having on sustainable agriculture in North America over the last three to five years.

Economic and Environmental Impact of Hemp in North America

As with any other industry, the economics surrounding hemp play a key role in determining the potential market shares that hemp-derived products may capture. This encompasses both local economics for farmers and global markets for exportation and importation. From a local perspective, the economics of hemp farming include the expenditures and profitability to the farmer, the benefit to the local community as a whole, and the availability of infrastructure to support the transportation, processing, and manufacturing of hemp products. Recent reports regarding hemp growing in North America have indicated considerable profits to farmers and their communities (Lin, 2005).

From an environmental perspective, owing to its resiliency, hemp is considered a natural approach to cleaning up soil pollution. As it grows, hemp facilitates the absorption of carbon dioxide through natural photosynthesis. Hemp can also be used as a form of fabric within the textile industry, since the crop requires less land for growing than alternatives such as cotton, is durable, and can be manufactured in a wide range of colors.

Sustainable hemp seed, fiber, and oil continue to be used as raw materials by major corporations — including The Body Shop, Ford Motors, and Patagonia — in the production of a wide range of products. Nonetheless, the majority of hemp product manufacturers have been compelled to import hemp seed, oil, and fiber from growers located in Europe, China, and Canada, because American farmers were historically prohibited by legislation from growing this sustainable, low-input crop. Statistics indicate that in the 2012 fiscal year, the valuation of the American hemp industry was $500 million in annual retail sales, covering all hemp products (Yonavjak, 2013).

Hempseed Production and Oilseed Potential

Hempseed production has been comparatively thriving and successful in Canada. There are several claims that industrial hemp could substantially and beneficially transform the American economy. However, it is important to bear in mind that there has often been unwarranted enthusiasm for diversification and novel crops. While there appears to be good potential for growth and expansion of the hemp industry within North America, the same has been said of several other crops over the past five decades. Highly optimistic claims have been broadcast for crops with supposedly significant potential, yet few have actually achieved such potential (Cherney and Small, 2016).

Hempseed has significantly more potential as an oilseed crop than as a source of fiber, and this advantage has largely been realized in North America. Canada has grown to be the leading nation in hempseed production since the crop was reintroduced there in 1998. The nutritional benefits of hempseed and hempseed oil are rapidly gaining recognition in North America, and sales of these products are increasing quickly. Because the majority of hempseed is currently grown for human consumption and the seed and oil have a limited shelf life, domestic production is advantageous in avoiding rancidity before consumption. There is also a fast-growing market for organically produced foods in North America, and organic certification of hempseed sourced from outside the region is difficult to obtain (Fike, 2016).

The fundamental requirement of the oilseed hemp industry includes the development of cultivars that generate high yields in order to improve the competitiveness of hempseed relative to other oilseeds. Current oilseed hemp production stands at approximately 1 to 1.5 tonnes per hectare under suitable climatic conditions. Nevertheless, this level is not yet sufficient for the crop to compete intensely with major oilseeds. A mean yield of at least 2 tonnes per hectare will be necessary for hempseed to become a major oilseed — an objective that is considered attainable. At present, losses of approximately 30 percent of seed output are common, so improvements in harvesting technology should also contribute to greater yields. Hemp food products cannot escape their niche market status until the price of hempseed competes more directly with other oilseeds, particularly sunflower and flax seeds (Johnson, 2018).

Although the hempseed industry infrastructure has been established in North America — and particularly in Canada — for roughly 15 years, its stability may be significantly challenged by American hempseed production in the coming years. If the United States begins producing hempseed, nearly 30 states are projected to generate a profit on hemp by selling to neighboring states. This means it could take nearly a decade for the North American industry to adjust to the new production landscape. Uncertainty in yields, production costs, harvesting and processing equipment, and production characteristics will all increase the risk of hempseed production in the United States until it becomes a standard crop (Fortenbery and Mick, 2014).

Hemp's Role in Crop Rotation and Soil Health

Hemp is naturally resistant to the majority of pests and therefore does not require pesticides or herbicides. Continuously rotating hemp through fields helps ensure a weed-free environment for the subsequent crop. Substantial reductions in chemical use can be achieved by returning to agricultural rotation practices. A fitting example is hemp grown in rotation with wheat on farms in England, which has produced a 20 percent increase in wheat output without any corresponding rise in chemical or energy inputs. In North America — specifically in Ontario — hemp grown in rotation with soybeans has been shown to reduce cyst nematode infestation by approximately 50 to 75 percent, thereby diminishing the need for chemical pesticides (Kerr, 2018).

One of the major limiting factors in sustainable agriculture is the absence of profitable rotation crops. Hemp can generate considerable profits. Based on research conducted on farms in Kentucky and Wisconsin, profits generated from hemp per acre can surpass those of most other crops. The extensive root system of hemp, combined with its leaf litter, produces better soil tilth. Hemp also requires fertilization due to its high nitrogen consumption. Because hemp grows quickly and has an extensive root system, it may help remove excess nitrogen fertilizer from fields, thereby reducing agricultural runoff problems. On farms where nitrogen is the primary growth-limiting factor, hemp requires approximately 50 percent of the nitrogen fertilizer needed by corn (Kerr, 2018).

An estimated 50 percent of all pesticides used in America are associated with cotton cultivation. Given this, hemp can serve as a substitute for many of the uses of cotton. Farmers are currently experiencing financial losses growing wheat, corn, and soybeans. For instance, in North Dakota, farmers have been generating greater revenues by selling wheat straw to particle board plants than by selling the wheat grain itself. Hemp can make a substantial difference in the agronomic equation. Because of the bulk and weight of hemp fiber, local processing facilities would need to be built near the farms, which could also help address unemployment by creating new jobs in rural areas of America (Kerr, 2018).

Tofan, Paduraru, and Toma (2016) demonstrate the benefits of hemp for facilitating sustainable agriculture, particularly in the textile industry. Natural hemp fibers play a pivotal role in zinc remediation of aqueous solutions. Hemp waste material from the textile industry has been shown to be a highly effective material for removing zinc from diluted aqueous solutions. The findings of Tofan et al. (2016) are significant in demonstrating that regenerated hemp can be used for the removal of zinc metal from water sources without the risk of the sorbent itself becoming another source of zinc pollution. This also ensures that soil is not harmed, thereby facilitating sustainability in cultivation.

Conclusion

The production of hempseed has been comparatively prosperous in Canada. There are several claims that industrial hemp could positively transform the economy of the United States in a broadly beneficial manner. Industrial hemp is among the newer annual field crops with a comparatively wide range of adaptation across North America. In 2014, the estimated 2013 U.S. market for hemp food and body care products amounted to $184 million — an estimated increase of 24 percent over the preceding year. With the inclusion of industrial products such as building materials, paper, and auto parts, this figure rose to over $581 million. In the three years since legalization, it had climbed to approximately $688 million.

Hemp has had a major impact on sustainable agriculture in North America over the past three years. In Ontario, the cultivation of soybeans with hemp as a rotation crop resulted in a reduction in cyst nematode infestation of nearly 75 percent, thereby diminishing the need for chemical pesticides. The growth of hemp in rotation with wheat has produced a 20 percent increase in yield without requiring additional chemical or energy inputs. Furthermore, 50 percent of all pesticides used in the United States are associated with cotton cultivation — a problem that hemp can help address by substituting for many of cotton's uses.

Regenerated hemp has been used for the removal of zinc metal from water sources without the risk of the sorbent becoming another source of environmental zinc pollution. This benefit is significant for agriculturalists in North America who have demonstrated that profits from hemp per acre exceed those of most other crops. One of the major problems facing farmers in recent years has been financial losses from corn, wheat, and soybean cultivation. Hemp is making a meaningful difference in this regard. Specifically, in North Dakota, farmers have already been generating greater revenues by selling wheat straw to a particle board plant rather than selling the grain itself — demonstrating the broader potential hemp holds in transforming the agronomic equation for North American farmers.

References

Cherney, J. H., & Small, E. (2016). Industrial hemp in North America: production, politics and potential. Agronomy, 6(4), 58.

Cooke, C. (2018). Hemp is on the horizon. Will it change the game for farm country? Civil Eats. Retrieved from: https://civileats.com/2018/03/06/hemp-is-on-the-horizon-will-it-change-the-game-for-farmers/

Fike, J. (2016). Industrial hemp: renewed opportunities for an ancient crop. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 35(5–6), 406–424.

Fortenbery, T. R., & Mick, T. B. (2014). Industrial hemp: opportunities and challenges for Washington (p. 19). Working Paper Series — School of Economic Sciences.

Hemp Business Journal. (2017). The U.S. hemp industry grows to $820mm in sales in 2017. Retrieved from: https://www.hempbizjournal.com/size-of-us-hemp-industry-2017/

Johnson, R. (2014, February). Hemp as an agricultural commodity. Library of Congress Washington DC Congressional Research Service.

Kerr, A. (2018). The environmental benefits of using industrial hemp. Retrieved from: http://www.andykerr.net/hemp-environmental-benefits/

Lin, T. (2005). Sustainable development: building a case for hemp. Journal of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management, 4(3), 1–16.

Miller, A. (2015). Legalizing weed: 4 agricultural benefits of industrial hemp cultivation. Newsmax. Retrieved from: https://www.newsmax.com/fastfeatures/legalizing-weed-hemp-agricultural/2015/12/01/id/704145/

Roszell, C. (2018). Farmscale hemp production for flower, grain & oil. NOFA MASS. Retrieved from:

Tofan, L., Paduraru, C., & Toma, O. (2016). Zinc remediation of aqueous solutions by natural hemp fibers: batch desorption/regeneration study. Desalination and Water Treatment, 57(27), 12644–12652.

Weiser, M. (2018). Could hemp be a lifeline for struggling farmers? Pacific Standard. Retrieved from: https://psmag.com/environment/hemp-is-the-future-of-agriculture

Yonavjak, L. (2013). Industrial hemp: a win-win for the economy and for the environment. Forbes. Retrieved from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashoka/2013/05/29/industrial-hemp-a-win-win-for-the-economy-and-the-environment/