One of the best things about working at ClimateXChange is when we can bring together a new group of stakeholders to raise the profile of an issue or make new connections. This is exactly what we did when we gathered more than 80 farmers, business owners, innovators and researchers to discuss the economic potential of hemp in a changing Scottish climate.

Why hemp

Hemp was once widely grown in Scotland for fibre. During the 20^th and 21^st century however, it became a rare sight.

Research in recent years has shown that hemp can improve soil structure and quality, store CO² and improve biodiversity. A renewed focus on sustainability, tradition, climate change and locally sourced materials and produce has resulted in new and innovative uses.

As we support the Scottish Government to identify actions to reach net zero by 2045, we jumped at the opportunity to host the first dedicated day for stakeholders to come together and share their experience.  A key focus was to understand the evidence and look at what comes next: what role could hemp play in reducing Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions?

Fibre and seeds

At the start of the day large sheets of insulation and other construction materials made from hemp were wheeled into our conference room. On the next table a box of worms, busying away turning waste hemp into compost, was kept securely under lid and nowhere near the hemp seed oils, flours and soaps displayed at the other end of the room.

Arriving from across Scotland and beyond these examples exemplify why the global market for hemp is expected to quadruple by 2030. There is great potential for Scotland’s farmers to reap the benefits.

All parts of the hemp plant can be useful but producers need to decide whether they are growing for fibre or for seeds. This is due to the different harvesting and treatment of the hemp.

What next?

While there are strong claims about the benefits of hemp more evidence is needed. During our sessions participants particularly raised the need to know more about the best varieties for use in Scotland, the impact of different methods of harvesting fibre, and the pressure from pest and diseases, and how to avoid them.

Growers and innovators also suggested ways in which government can support building a market for hemp. For example, by mandating plant-based insulation in government buildings to  set an example and kick-start demand for hemp building materials

Similarly, there is a need to better connect growers and users of hemp, and to provide support for facilities to process hemp whether for fibre or for food.

We also discussed the challenge of regulation. Because hemp is a type of cannabis plant, its cultivation is more tightly controlled than other crops and a license is needed before you can grow it. The varieties used for fibre and food products have very small amounts of the active substance THC found in marijuana. There may be ways that more flexibility can be built into the system to help farmers to grow this valuable crop while maintaining wider controls.

Cooperation was repeatedly stressed as being the most important factor in making a Scottish hemp success; between the government and farmers, across the governments of the UK, between UK and EU institutions, between farmers, and between farmers, policy makers and researchers.

This first gathering of the full range of hemp enthusiasts showed great interest in working together and significant optimism about the potential of hemp in Scotland.