Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
as well as developing markets, farming agree-
ments and financing plans.
In the USA, the industrial production of
hemp is still not permitted by law. That said,
the country of prohibition, in which hemp
production has been outlawed since 1950, is
slowly opening itself to the potential uses of
hemp seed. This seed comes from neighbour-
ing Canada. Here, production has been legal
since 1998 and is growing rapidly, judging by
the production figures for Ontario, Manitoba
and Saskatchewan. If we take into account the
experiments being undertaken in Quebec, New
Brunswick and the Prairies, approximately
12,000 ha were under production in 2009. All
these areas were for seed production destined
for human consumption. Chapter 16 of this
book provides a scientific description of the
properties of this seed. The benefits associated
with hemp seed are currently being investi-
gated under the aegis of the Canadian Hemp
Trade Alliance (CHTA). Further growth in
North American hemp production is to be
anticipated.
In Africa, there are few figures to report,
as production is negligible. The development
of hemp production in South Africa remains a
possibility, as various pioneers have initiated
projects.
1.3 Future Perspectives
Interest is growing across the world, and espe-
cially in Europe, in industrial hemp and in
natural hemp fibre(s) in particular. The preced-
ing account bears testimony to this.
A growing demand for natural products,
our increasing interest in and concern for the
environment, together with rising fuel and raw
material costs provide, among other factors, a
unique opportunity for hemp production.
At the same time, selection techniques, cul-
tivation practices and industrial equipment have
all advanced. The most important development,
however, concerns our improved ability to use and
work with natural fibres. Over the next 10 years,
we can expect to see a significant growth in raw
production and in the uses found for this remark-
able plant and its various constituents.
This topic will help all those who seek to
develop and diversify their production.
