Bringing the application deadline for industrial hemp licenses forward by just a few weeks could encourage more farmers to grow this so-called ‘super crop’ in Scotland, say industry experts.
Hemp has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 140 percent and 540 percent compared to oilseed rape and sugar beet, respectively, when grown for biofuel. It smothers weeds, doesn’t suffer many diseases, and its oil might even have the potential to fight cancer.
A new podcast by Scotland’s Rural College’s Rural Policy Centre looks at why so few farmers are currently growing hemp in Scotland.
In ‘Hemp: the super crop,’ three experts highlight the environmental benefits and practicalities of growing hemp, the legislative hurdles growers need to overcome, and the potential pitfalls involved - everything from a lack of infrastructure to hesitant consumers and a complex legislative process which isn’t quite fit-for-purpose.
Read more at grampianonline.co.uk