Hemp (Cannabis sativa L., Cannabaceae) is one of the world’s oldest fiber plants and an invaluable source of many other products. Since ancient times it has been utilized for rope, fabric, food, fuel, medicine and medicine – though now more often for clothing and nutritional uses. Hemp boasts numerous advantages that include rapid growth rate and wide ranging applications.
Hemp seed is an excellent source of protein. Additionally, it’s rich in omega-3 fatty acids and contains an amino acid called arginine that can be converted to nitric oxide to improve blood circulation and lower the risk of heart disease. Hemp seed oil provides even more Omega 3s while simultaneously decreasing bad cholesterol while simultaneously raising “good” levels in your body.
Hemp fiber can be used to craft textiles of various kinds, with its strength and durability surpassing that of cotton or linen. Hemp can be used in coarse fabrics like sacking, burlap and canvas; yarn, twine and cordage production; as well as fabric similar to linen for clothing applications. Specially processed hemp has a whitish color and attractive luster which make it suitable for papermaking – paper made with hemp resists moisture and light better than conventional wood pulp paper products.
Hemp can be utilized as a biofuel to generate both electricity and heat. With low chlorine, sodium and potassium content and rapid combustion rates, hemp fuel offers a cost-effective alternative to wood in boilers and combined heat and power (CHP) plants compared with some non-wood biomass fuels like biomass pellets; unlike these non-wood biofuels which may corrode heat exchanger surfaces.
From 1937 when the Marihuana Tax Act was passed in the US, production of industrial hemp has been illegal except for military uses during World War II. Following World War II’s end, cultivation resumed and finally prohibition was lifted in 1998 – today hemp is grown primarily for its fuel and fibre properties.
Hemp is an annual herb that produces two main stems known as culms, which are separated into bast and hurd fibers by decortication. Hurd fibers are water-retted before being beaten with brush rollers or mechanical hammers until hurd, smaller bast fibers and dust fall through screens so they can be separated for further processing.
Hemp is an economical crop that requires very little fertilizer to produce high yields, with its roots penetrating deep into the soil to pull nutrients up from far below. Furthermore, hemp acts as a nitrogen-fixer crop, adding extra nutrients back into the ground as it grows. Furthermore, hemp can be used as a cover crop to suppress weeds and increase soil organic matter while also being produced into bioplastics that are biodegradable and compostable; replacing petrochemical plastics while providing composite materials like “hempcrete”.