Lorenza Romanese, Managing Director of the European Industrial Hemp Association, speaks with HEQ about the benefits of hemp and its derivatives and the need for further policy change.
In early February, the European Commission announced that it had added CBD, which is naturally derived from the hemp plant to CosIng (cosmetic ingredients), to its list of approved cosmetic ingredients. This was the latest step in a series of international moves indicating growing acceptance of the drug, following a ruling by the European Court of Justice in November that CBD is ‘not a narcotic’ and a December vote by the United Nations to remove cannabis from its Schedule 1 list of dangerous drugs.
Lorenza Romanese, Managing Director of the European Industrial Hemp Association, speaks with HEQ about the benefits of hemp and its derivatives and the need for further policy change.
What are the implications for the hemp industry of the European Commission adding CBD to its Cosing database of cosmetic ingredients?
In practical terms, this means that pure, naturally-derived CBD and extracts from leaves containing CBD have been secured and can be now marketed in the EU as cosmetic products. Operators in the cosmetics industry working with hemp extracts can legally use and label their products containing CBD extracts. Although the Cosing catalogue is not legally binding, it gives guidelines to Member States on how to label and market their cosmetic products in the EU.
What are the agricultural and sustainability benefits of hemp?
From capturing CO2 to regenerating soil and enhancing biodiversity, hemp farming offers multiple environmental benefits that mitigate the effects of climate change and restore healthy ecosystems. In a nutshell, the key benefits of hemp are as follows:
Cleaning the air
If hemp were used as an alternative to carbon-based raw materials, it would allow us to capture and store a substantial amount of CO2. Through photosynthesis, hemp plants have the ability to store considerable amounts of carbon in both the stems and the roots. In fact, one tonne of hemp can absorb up to 1.6 tonnes of CO2.
Regenerating and improving the quality of soil
As a fast-growing crop with a high leaf turnover rate, hemp can, if grown in ideal conditions, fully cover the ground within three weeks post-germination. The dense leaves rapidly form a natural soil cover material that reduces water loss and soil erosion. In addition, fallen leaves provide vital nutrition for the soil. Moreover, because of its height and shading capacity, hemp efficiently eliminates weeds, leaving the soil in optimum condition.
Hemp can also be used with great efficiency in land reclamation. In fact, it is considered to be an optimal pioneer crop, notably because of its phytoremediation capacity, meaning that it is able to extract heavy metals from the ground.
To sum up, hemp has very positive effects on soil health because it stabilises erosion, adds nutrients to the soil, naturally removes heavy metals, and increases the yield of subsequent crops.
Enhancing biodiversity
Hemp produces pollen for bees and other pollinators in a period of floral scarcity, and nutritious seeds for wild birds.
The flowering cycle usually occurs between July and September, coinciding with a lack of pollen production by other farm crops. Being a wind-pollinated, dioecious and…
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