Hemp Agriculture: Why Hemp Foods Are A Key Tool In the Fight Against Climate Change!

The fast-growing hemp plant is believed to be twice as effective as trees at absorbing and locking up carbon!

Hemp is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world and can grow 4 metres high in 100 days. Research suggests hemp is twice as effective as trees at absorbing and locking up carbon, with 1 hectare (2.5 acres) of hemp reckoned to absorb 8 to 22 tonnes of CO2 a year, more than any woodland. The CO2 is also permanently fixed in the hemp fibres, which can go on to be used for many commodities including textiles, medicines, insulation for buildings and concrete; BMW is even using it to replace plastics in various car parts.

Ghana’s recent decriminalization of cannabis with low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels marks a progressive step, unlocking opportunities for research, commercial production, and innovation in hemp-related sectors. This regulatory change paves the way for the development of textiles, construction materials, and wellness products derived from hemp. The African hemp industry faces very few challenges outside of public perception if embraced it could bring Ghana over a trillion dollars a year within 10 years! Hemp is a very low maintenance crop with little need for expensive fertilizers or expenses spent on pest management, it would also be simple to establish a regulatory frameworks, and there is 100 years of unlimited research, Ghana could create in a short time a lucrative infrastructure, and gain access to finance and investment capital for small-scale farmers through government programs.

Fortunately, several countries in Africa including Zimbabwe and South Africa that have legalized hemp cultivation and processing have found innovative solutions to these challenges through the use of integrated pest management strategies, establishing collaborations with international standards organizations, implementing public–private partnerships, offering tax incentives for investors, and providing low-interest loans and credit facilities for small-scale farmers. Ghana can draw inspiration from these successful approaches and adapt them to its own context to foster the growth of the hemp industry. 25 African countries are actively involved in hemp production, including South Africa, Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda, Morrocco, Uganda, and Zimbabwe! This year there were 371 hemp permits issued to South African farmers.

Several Nations of the Sahel are looking at hemp for a possible food and Fuel source as well. Coal and oil have played a crucial role in humanity’s progress, but continued use of fossil fuels could also lead to humanity’s demise due to many associated problems – pollution, climate change and resource wars to name a few. The main issue these days isn’t so much about fossil fuels running out, but the damage they are wreaking on our planet. Electric vehicles will help address part of the dilemma, but there will still be some need for solid and liquid fuels well into the future for transport and other applications.

Among the fossil fuel alternatives are biofuels derived from crops such as palm and industrial hemp. Industrial hemp is a good feedstock for producing several different types of liquid fuels, a gas and also solid fuels.

The following regions are leading the Hemp Market!

North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)

Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia and Turkey etc.)

Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam)

South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)

Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)

Most Sub Saharan nations are discouraged from growing hemp by laws put in place by former colonial powers that now embrace hemp agriculture. The lack of clear regulations and policies on hemp cultivation and processing in some African countries makes it difficult for farmers and investors to engage in the industry this was done by design since hemp requires very little water and cultivation skills and could take most African nations out of debt in a short window of time and simultaneously provide raw material for over 20,000 products!