What Are The Benefits of Growing And Using Industrial Hemp

A lot of people ask ‘What are the benefits of growing and using industrial hemp?’ There are so many benefits of growing and using industrial hemp that it will blow your mind. In this article, I will shed light on some of these benefits.

What is hemp?
Hemp is a versatile plant that has been grown and used for centuries for its many benefits. It is a member of the cannabis family, but it does not contain THC, the psychoactive compound found in marijuana. Hemp is a great source of protein, fiber, and healthy fats, and it is also rich in vitamins and minerals.

Making this plant legal again is by far one of the best things we have done for our planet (home) in a long time. This plant has the ability to strengthen our economy, our environment, and our communities. It is hard to grasp as a whole what this plant is capable of doing, this I understand.

Once your mind wraps all the way around it, you start seeing the positive chain reactions starting to play out in front of you. That is when the light kicks on and you just find yourself supporting the growth and use of hemp because it makes sense.

There are a few different ways and varieties of hemp that can be grown. Industrial hemp is planted with several seeds in one pocket, so the plants grow tall and less branchy. It can be grown for fiber, seed, oil, and pulp. And then there is medical grade hemp, these plants are grown for their flower, much like marijuana plants, far apart and one plant per pocket. 

Industrial hemp has many uses, over 25,000 from food to biofuel. This plant is so renewable and versatile, that we would be foolish to not utilize it in every aspect possible. It was a “forbidden fruit” for too many years, people forgot what hemp actually meant to society.

At one time, in our not-so-distant past, a farmer was able to pay his taxes with hemp, it was actually illegal NOT to grow hemp. Hemp was used for everything and was about to have its own industrial revolution when it was deemed illegal to grow. Well, industrial hemp is about to see its industrial revolution over the next 100 years. We are making new history, this is a very exciting time.

Hemp: A Sustainable Crop with Environmental Benefits

Hemp is a versatile crop with a wide range of environmental benefits. It is fast-growing, requires little water or pesticides, and can be used to produce a variety of products, including food, textiles, building materials, and biofuels. Honey bees absolutely love hemp plants too, and with the populations dwindling, this could bring them back as well.

Here are some more specific examples of the environmental benefits of growing hemp that I have discovered in my research:

-Carbon sequestration: One of the most significant environmental benefits of hemp is its ability to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Hemp plants can absorb up to 1.63 tonnes of carbon per tonne of hemp produced. This makes hemp a valuable tool for fighting climate change.
-Soil health: Hemp is also beneficial for soil health. Its deep roots help to break up compacted soil and improve drainage. Hemp also adds organic matter to the soil, which helps to improve fertility and reduce erosion. 
Of course, we need other crops for our society to thrive so not everyone can be growing hemp all the time, but when planted in rotation with other required crops, we will see a significant change in soil health and air quality, and farmers will also see a higher yield from the rotated crop.
-Water conservation: Hemp is a very drought-tolerant crop. It can use up to 60% less water than cotton to produce a similar amount of fiber. This makes hemp a good choice for farmers in arid regions.
Not to mention the fact that growing cotton is also related to high usage of pesticides, and growing hemp requires little to no use of pesticides, and the honey bees love it! 
–Reduce greenhouse gas emissions: Hemp can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Hemp can also be used to produce biofuels, which can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
–Reduce pesticide use: Hemp is naturally resistant to pests and diseases, so it does not require the use of pesticides or herbicides. This reduces pollution and protects beneficial insects.
–Improve air quality: Hemp plants help to improve air quality by filtering pollutants from the air. Hemp leaves also absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, which helps to clean the air.
–Promote biodiversity: Hemp is a good crop for biodiversity. It provides food and shelter for a variety of beneficial insects and birds. Hemp also helps to suppress weeds, which can provide habitat for other wildlife.

Overall, hemp is a sustainable crop with a wide range of environmental benefits. It can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve soil health, conserve water, reduce pesticide use, improve air quality, and promote biodiversity.

As more and more countries legalize hemp cultivation and processing, the global hemp industry is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years. This growth will create new opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs to produce and market hemp products that are sustainable and beneficial for the environment.

Hemp: A Boon to the Economy

Hemp is a versatile and sustainable crop with a vast range of potential economic benefits. It can be used to produce a variety of products, including food, textiles, building materials, and biofuels. The global hemp market is expected to reach $18.6 billion by 2027, according to UNCTAD.

-Job creation: The hemp industry creates jobs at all levels of the supply chain, from farmers and processors to manufacturers and retailers. In the United States, the hemp industry employed over 25,000 people in 2020. As the industry continues to grow, so too will the number of jobs it creates.

-Economic growth: The hemp industry contributes to economic growth by generating tax revenue and boosting local economies. For example, a study by the National Industrial Hemp Council found that the hemp industry generated $1.3 billion in tax revenue for the United States in 2020.

-Rural development: Hemp is a well-suited crop for rural areas. It can be grown on a variety of soils and climates, and it requires less water and pesticides than many other crops. This makes it a good option for farmers in rural areas who are looking for a new crop to grow.

-Sustainability: Hemp is a sustainable crop that is good for the environment. It helps to improve soil quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Hemp can also be used to create biodegradable products that can help to reduce plastic pollution.

Here are some specific examples of the economic benefits of hemp:
-Hemp farming: Hemp is a high-value crop that can be very profitable for farmers. It is also a relatively easy crop to grow and requires less water and pesticides than many other crops.
-Hemp processing: Hemp can be processed into a variety of products, including food, textiles, building materials, and biofuels. This processing industry creates jobs and generates tax revenue.
-Hemp retail: Hemp products are becoming increasingly popular among consumers. This is creating a growing market for hemp retailers.
-Hemp tourism: Hemp farms and processing facilities are becoming popular tourist destinations. This tourism industry generates revenue for local communities.

Overall, the hemp industry has the potential to provide a significant boost to the economy. It creates jobs, generates tax revenue, and boosts local economies. Hemp is also a sustainable crop that is good for the environment.

As more and more countries legalize hemp cultivation and processing, the global hemp market is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years. This growth will create new opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs in all aspects of the hemp supply chain.

Societal Benefits 

Social benefits are the positive effects that a product or service can have on society as a whole. These benefits can include improvements in health, education, the environment, and the overall well-being of the community.

Some examples of social benefits include:

• Strengthened democracy, human rights, political stability, and social capital
• Environmental benefits
• New ideas and diffusion of technology
• Employment creation
• Improvement of income and new sources of revenue for local communities

The social benefit includes all the private benefits plus any external benefits of production or consumption. If a good has significant external benefits, then the social benefit will be greater than the private benefit.

Here are some specific examples of how hemp can benefit society:
– Hemp is a sustainable crop that can help to reduce our impact on the environment. The products made from hemp are environmentally sound and safe for human use.
– Hemp is a versatile crop that can be used to create a variety of products that can improve our quality of life. The products created from hemp will create jobs, which in turn helps the economy. 
– Hemp is a non-psychoactive plant that has a long history of safe use. This plant is rooted all the way back to the beginning of civilization. It is one of the first harvested crops, planting and harvesting crops is said to be how civilization was brought about. This plant’s original history was bringing people together, and strengthening nations. Hemp can rise to the challenge and do the same thing all over again.

As a matter of fact, the biggest societal benefit that I have noticed firsthand is the expansion of social circles. I see, on a daily basis, people from all walks of life visiting as never before. This is huge, and this is what starts bringing about change, this is the best kind of change, we are finding more value in each other. When we value each other, our society comes together as a whole, and we become stronger than we even realize. It is amazing what re-legalizing a couple of plants can do. 

We are in the beginning stages still, I honestly expect to see even more social gap-bridging in the near future. We are seeing scientists and farmers working hand in hand, politicians getting on board with hemp, entertainers, and public figures promoting the growth and use of hemp. They are all coming together and getting to know one another, beginning to value one another. Value + respect = care, care grows to love over time, and it is an easy equation.

This is an exciting time in our history, we are briding on a bio-industrial boom and a social revolution as well. I am personally glad to be alive and to be part of it all. 

A Better Tomorrow

It is clear that hemp is a valuable crop that can benefit the environment, the economy, and society. And we should support the growth of hemp and the development of new products made from hemp.

I can see a brighter future with the adoption of growing industrial hemp and using products made from it. We need to get back to growing more things in general. I see so many wasted yards with no small gardens. If we want a better tomorrow, we can’t just throw away all that we know from the past. 

I hope after reading my article you also find the benefits of growing and using hemp. Hemp is not here to ruin us, it is here to help save us, it has always been here, we just need to learn to trust in it again. 

A great place to start is shopping with Hemp Traders and seeing all of the great products they have to offer from building materials and cutlery to clothing and textiles. 

As always, thank you for visiting my site and reading my article, please feel free to leave a comment on your opinion of the topic, and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Stacie Fortson, GGWHSF