Almost every operator in the hemp space has been capitalizing on some sort of regulatory loophole, regardless of their location. In other words, it doesn't matter about the home country of any hemp grower you speak with; they'll tell you that uncertainty has been a trademark of this sector. But in 2024, uncertainty became policy for Italian hemp growers. Despite that, business has been growing.
© Orti Castello
An Italian resilience story
Orti Castello is a hemp grower based on the island of Sardinia. Massimiliano Quai, the founder of the company, unwillingly found himself navigating a hostile environment, both from a regulatory and safety standpoint. Yet, he refused to abandon the crop. "After years of trials and testing, over the past two years we have managed to transition our cultivation to fully organic, meaning we use only products that are organic or approved for use in organic agriculture," he says. This is an essential aspect as organic cultivation can be very costly, especially because plants are more susceptible to pathogens as no chemical-based solution can be used. "This shift has led us to spend significantly more than in the past, in some cases even three times as much, but it gives us peace of mind and confidence knowing that our products are genuine and safe in all their forms."
Sardinia does the rest. Sun in abundance, steady winds, and healthy soil create conditions that few other Italian regions can match. The island's natural advantages support resilient plants and consistent quality. "The characteristics of Sardinian territory that favor hemp cultivation are mainly natural factors: plenty of sun, wind, and healthy soil."
© Orti Castello
That sense of balance was violently interrupted when over 25 police officers arrived at the field to seize the crop. More than 8000 plants were taken, despite clear awareness that the plants were legal hemp. "My first reaction was shock and resignation, especially after they straight up told me they were going to seize everything even though they knew it was legal hemp." He describes the hemp sector as a game of Russian roulette. "We could never really operate with ease despite the fact that we are cultivating legal products. Every now and then we'd hear of a colleague whose plants were seized by the police. When offices showed up at my farm, I couldn't believe it was happening to us, I thought it was all over."
And yet, quitting was never really an option.
Never giving up
After the hemp ban took effect in April 2025, keeping on operating meant accepting real risk. "We have always trusted science, medicine, the Italian Constitution, European laws, and the dozens of final court rulings in our favor, which are objectively almost all on our side," he remarks. "If we had decided to stop working in April, we would have ended up in the exact same situation we are in now: unable to work, and carrying a debt of twenty to thirty thousand euros."
© Orti Castello
As if seizures were not enough, the season also brought an unprecedented wave of thefts. At least fourteen incidents were recorded in the field. "Unfortunately, in the agricultural world of the countryside, nothing can be left to chance. To be certain you will not suffer thefts or attacks, there are only a few options: either you live in the field, or you install a cutting edge alarm system that can be managed remotely." Such a solution however is very costly and not everybody can afford that. "We slept in a caravan on site for over a month and a half. Even so, this strategy proved insufficient, because the thefts never completely stopped." The final blow came shortly after. "Law enforcement came and seized the remaining 7400 plants, leaving us on our knees."
© Orti Castello
Massimiliano is anyway quick to point out that Orti Castello has always been navigating troubled waters but they've always come out on top. "We started from nothing, and built everything through passion, dedication, and love for the land and for this extraordinary plant. We already believed it before, but by working professionally in the field we were able to see firsthand how beneficial hemp cultivation is for the community. It benefits the company that grows it, the employees who work there, the customers who use the products, the broader supply chain, the environment, and the state's finances. These are all the reasons that pushed us to keep going with our heads held high and our backs straight."
If he could bring politicians into his fields for a day, Massimiliano would start with the basics. "I would show them what it really means to work the land with passion, and how beautiful and rewarding it is to see the fruits of your labor." If empathy still did not work, he would turn to numbers. "I would show them the economic side of things, the numbers and the data, so they could see concretely how much our sector has contributed in recent years to keeping the country standing, in one way or another."
For more information:
Orti Castello
orticastello.com
