United Nations Conference Focuses On Hemp
The hemp industry has been busting down barriers left and right, including international one. This year at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, hemp was a special focus for the assembly. This new spotlight brings the individual industries of each nation together in a unique way that has not been explored for hundreds of years. According to the report from the conference, the goal was to explore the “general uses of industrial hemp, and how they are reflected in international production and trade statistics.
Based on current practical experiences and empirical expertise, it also defines the steps that could be taken by developing countries where climate and agronomic characteristics are favourable for its cultivation in order to exploit its economic and social potential.” The report covered the topics discussed, including supply/demand, price, statistics, and regulatory framework. The 93 page report was released to the public by the United Nations after the conference was concluded. To read the full report, please click here.
Engaging with the conference attendees was the National Hemp Association. According to a quote from the Chair of the Association, Geoff Whaling, “We are pleased that the UN Conference on Trade and Development invested in creating this special issue on Industrial Hemp. It is a tremendous step in breaking down barriers for the hemp industry.” The National Hemp Association is a dedicated alliance of brands and individuals focused on the growth and development of the hemp industry. Association members range from product brands to industry-specific suppliers, and advocacy groups. For more information about the projects conducted by the National Hemp Association, please click here.
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development was a major step in hemp’s journey to becoming an international trade commodity. As advances in technology and research have expanded the potential of hemp for use in agriculture, architecture, medicine, and other industries, the need for biomass has expanded.
Such projects include the exploration of the use of cannabinoids in the medical industry. While CBD and THC have been a focus for many years, the influx of biomass on the American market has spurred an interest in minor cannabinoid research. In recent years, we have been able to identify the properties of cannabinoids like CBN, THCP, and CBG in order to better understand their uses in the medical field and how they interact with the endocannabinoid system.
Additionally, both France and the United States have explored using hempcrete as a way to help solve the housing crisis in a more sustainable way. In a previous article, we discussed the projects conducted by several architectural firms and universities in the search to determine how hempcrete could be used that will last and adhere to modern building codes. At the time of this writing, the results of the various studies are preliminary but have yielded promising early results.
Various universities have also explored the use of hemp as a feed substitute. Most recently, researchers have observed the use of hemp feed and its impacts on cattle and the products produced from them. However, preliminary results are barely starting to emerge at the time of this writing. We are still years out from a final answer and full understanding of how hemp feed will impact the end products of the animals that consume it. The expansion of the hemp industry on a global scale would be a huge step for all nations involved.
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the corresponding report are outstanding steps forward toward that goal. While individual nations have been exploring the possibilities of hemp used in industries including agricultural and architectural, global unionization could open new doors to numerous possibilities.
