HEMPCLUB  
Competent and Connected Clusters Unfold the Hemp Industry Potential for the European Bioeconomy
Newsletter – Issue #2 November 2022

The Competent and Connected Clusters Unfold the Hemp Industry Potential for the European Bioeconomy (HempCluB) project is an EU COSME project bringing together 7 clusters and association to unlock the potential of hemp by creating EU value chains for biobased applications and new business opportunities for primary producers and chemical companies.

 

Financing for industrial hemp innovators in Horizon Europe and CBE-JU
 

The second working group “Empowering and mobilizing innovation actors on hemp” was organized by INDAGROPOL on the 7^th of October, aiming at creating a bridge for interaction between local clusters, associations, companies, and RTOs leading to building effective networks. This online webinar focused the discussion on the topics of Romanian clusters integration in global value chains, presenting the Romanian Cluster for industrial hemp in a global context, then bringing the discussion towards the Romanian legislation for the medicinal use of hemp, on hemp varieties and the technologies for hemp cultivation and harvesting.

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13 participants from 7 COSME countries took part in different activities such as conferences and lectures of the Canapa Forum conference, B2B and matchmaking activities, visit to local plants to learn more about industrial hemp uses and regulations, individuate potential collaboration and commercial opportunities and enhance networking among actors of EU bioeconomy value chains. All participants have initiated at least 2 new collaborations that they will continue in the future, also having the opportunity to explore different market segments and increase their customers’ portfolio.
The stay was partially financed by the EC through a lump sum paid to the visitors for travel and accommodation expenses, under the ClusterXChange pilot scheme aiming to facilitate transnational cooperation, peer learning, networking and innovation uptake. An exchange is defined as a stay abroad performed by a visiting organisation from an eligible country at a host organisation in another eligible country.

European Cluster Conference
 

The HempClub project coordinator Lombardy Green Chemistry Association and CzecHemp cluster participated to the 8th edition of the European Cluster Conference, centred on cluster policies and initiatives allowing for the concrete implementation of the green and digital transitions in Europe’s value chains as well as strengthening their resilience.
Organized by the European Cluster Collaboration Platform in Prague, the conference was an amazing opportunity to meet new EU clusters and initiate new collaborations to roll out Transitions Pathways in various industrial ecosystems.
 

 

 International expo in Czech Republic with smell of cannabis
 

The International Fair of Cannabis and Medicinal Herbs Cannafest was before covid one of the largest trade show of its kind in the world. Its twelfth year will take place on November 4-6, 2022 in PVA Expo Prague Letňany. Visitors can be looking forward to seeing exclusive exhibitions including cultivation technology, fertilizers, seeds, smoking accessories, vaporizers, both on display and on sale. Cannafest also hosts professional conferences (included in the ticket price) and panel discussions about topic of industrial hemp, medical cannabis or CBD production. The program can’t  miss one of the largest capacities for cannabis research, Doc. Lumir Hanuš, who started studying cannabis in 50’s in Czech Republic and devoted a significant part of his life to cannabis science, including the last thirty years in Israel. 

Cannadouro 2022
 

This year it was decided to dedicate the conferences, 19.11.2022, exclusively to agro-industrial hemp and thus a new event was born called Cannadouro Hemp Meeting, a day of lectures with international speakers from various areas within the industrial hemp sector.
On the second day, 20.11.2022, of the Cannadouro Conferences, as has been common in all previous editions, the lectures presented  will address the use of cannabis in therapeutic, medicinal and recreational terms, in an open and unprejudiced manner.
 

II Edition of CannAzorres + Intenational HemFest 
 

CannAzores 2022 took place on October 29 and 30 at Pavilhão das Portas do Mar, Ponta Delgada, S. Miguel, Azores. This event aimed to train and inform the general population and different professional groups about the multiple dimensions of the Cannabis industry and what its positive impacts are in the field of Human Rights, Health, Quality of Life, Planet Sustainability and Economic Development of Countries.

 German hemp fields continue to expand despite bureaucratic challenges 
 

German hemp fields continued to expand this year, growing 7% to reach an all-time high of 7,000 hectares (17,000 acres) despite significant barriers faced by the industry. Perhaps more important than total fields, the number of farms growing the crop has more than doubled in the last five years, with hemp plots increasing from fewer than 300 in 2017 to 889 in 2022 (+67%), according to statistics from the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food. While demand for hemp food seed grows steadily, and the number of farmers growing mainly for fiber has seen a strong uptick, fundamental challenges remain, beginning with economics, according to Daniel Kruse, CEO at Düsseldorf-based Hempro International GmbH.

 IsoHemp expands to France, the cradle of European hemp 
 

On Thursday 16 June 2022 IsoHemp officially opened its first French branch in Troyes, the heart of French hemp cultivation and processing. The new French office was inaugurated on 16 June by two of the company's founders, Olivier Beghin and Jean-Baptiste de Mahieu, in the presence of local institutional players, partners and professionals from the construction industry.

Could Czechia become second EU country to legalise recreational cannabis?
 

Currently, only one EU country has legalised recreational cannabis – and despite popular misconception, it is not the Netherlands, where the sale of cannabis is tolerated at licensed coffeeshops, but cultivation, supply and possession of cannabis still remain criminal offences. In December 2021, Malta became the first EU country to legalise cannabis for recreational use – and Czechia may be well on its way to becoming the second.

 Hemp Seed Oil Market Outlook (2022-2032)
 

The global hemp seed oil market is expected to reach a market valuation of US$ 85 Million by the year 2022, accelerating with a CAGR of 7.6% by 2022-2032. The global market value for hemp seed oil grew at a CAGR of roughly 4.1 percent over the last half-decade. Meanwhile, over the forecast period of 2022 to 2032, demand for hemp seed oil is expected to expand at a CAGR of roughly 7.6%. 

  H is for Hemp - Limited Collector's Edition (tree-free) 
 

Author: Maren Krings 
H is for Hemp is a globally researched encyclopedic volume on Industrial Hemp in the broader context of climate-change challenges. It is uniquely produced on exclusively developed hemp paper – a first of its kind for digital inkjet book-printing! Maren Krings interspersed her research and findings with diarised and often amusing anecdotes which reflect and illustrate her personal and fascinating journey to the final production of the book. Featuring stunning pictures, compelling stories, expert interviews and graphics to enhance the knowledge of all innovators, entrepreneurs, scientists and enthusiasts who are currently leading the modern hemp revolution, it will reveal how hemp can help to create a system reset in today’s world. 

Next planned exchanges

Database on hemp organizations 
 

Our project aims to create a platform dedicated to hemp organizations, that could foster successful matches and collaborations between the operators of the hemp-based value chain. Indeed, HempClub project proposes a special interactive interface map containing EU hemp organizations at different steps of the value chain, acting as a point of reference for companies and other organizations that are searching for a partner or collaborations in the sector, including members-clusters relationship. The map will be release soon.
Do you want to be part of this interactive map?