Tag Archive for: USDA

NIHC Sends Letters Proposing Webinar with Regulators on Animal Feed

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Industrial Hemp Council of America yesterday sent separate letters to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA-CVM) making the case that sufficient research currently exists to include hemp as a safe ingredient in U.S. agriculture’s animal feed supply chain and proposing a webinar with regulators to discuss removing barriers for using hemp as animal feed.

Recently, a coalition of animal feed and nutrition groups and veterinarians led by AAFCO asked states to stop passing laws allowing hemp in animal feed without ample scientific research to support its use. Additionally, FDA-CVM has requested that only studies using American grown and American processed hemp be included. This parameter negates decades of safety research that has been conducted.

“We believe that there is a clear solution and path forward to the approval of hemp feed through the utilization of existing research and the establishment of appropriate agency barriers,” said Hunter Buffington, a member of NIHC’s Government Affairs Committee. “It is incredibly disappointing that some choose to create confusion over feed ingredients versus animal supplements at the expense of American ranchers and farmers who need a safe, affordable and nutritious supply of animal feed that hempseed provides.”

NIHC offered five clarifications and solutions for allowing hemp-based animal feed to gain federal approval.

  1. Hemp seed is not used to produce cannabinoids and should not be connected to the regulatory standards of CBD.
  2. FDA-CVM should establish reasonable and repeatable action limits for cannabinoids in seed products.
  3. FDA-CVM should prioritize AAFCO ingredient approvals and create an expedited process for feed ingredients that relies on already existing research, even if conducted outside of the U.S. or before the 2014 Farm bill allowed hemp to be cultivated for research in the U.S.
  4. Regulatory agencies should work together to identify ways to expedite validation and approval of already developed analytical methods to quantify cannabinoids in seed and seed by-products for feed ingredients and to test the transference of cannabinoids into animal by-products intended for human consumption.
  5. The hemp industry, led by the NIHC, requests to host a webinar with the regulatory agencies, USDA, AAFCO, and FDA-CVM, where researchers can provide education on safety and cannabinoid transference address gaps in method validation, and discuss pathways to expedite approval of hemp as animal feed.

“At a time when the global supply chain has been so severely disrupted, hemp as a commodity can be an answer,” concluded Buffington. “There is no reason homegrown hemp can’t support the American livestock industry.”

You may download the letter to AAFCO here.  The same letter was sent separately to FDA-CVM.

About NIHC

The National Industrial Hemp Council of America provides high-quality networking and resources for its members, from farm to consumer. Its leadership is composed of leading international, federal, state, private industry, and government professionals throughout the sector. The organization is dedicated to furthering market development, assisting members in entering the industry, and educating consumers on industrial hemp and its applications.

NIHC Meets with USDA

On August 23, NIHC Staff, along with Government Affairs Committee Chair Rick Fox of Meristem Farms in Vermont, and NIHC Members Delta Ag, Santa Fe Farms, Scotts Miracle Gro and representatives from Oregon State’s Global Hemp Innovation Center (GHIC) met for a substantive discussion on hemp oversight with the USDA Office of Research, Education and Economics (REE). A representative from the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) was able to provide key context on hemp policy at the state level, which NIHC delivered on NASDA’s behalf.

The meeting was in response to a request from USDA as the department moves forward to develop a comprehensive plan to manage its hemp portfolio.

Topics of discussion included the need to: 

  • Develop a whole-of-government approach to systematically developing funding and procurement opportunities for hemp fiber v.v. FY22 appropriations and Infrastructure funding;
  • Implement policies to ensure the competitiveness of U.S. hemp in the global market;
  • Coordinate establishment of regional R&D Centers of Excellence in hemp fiber processing, led by land-grant institutions and HBCUs; and to
  • Ensure implementation of FY22 appropriations provisions directing USDA to review the 0.3% THC threshold, to dual-designate hemp as both commodity crop and specialty crops, to ensure the eligibility of hemp for all funding programs (specifically including those administered by USDA Rural Development), and to carry out the intent of Congress that USDA serve as the government’s primary authority on hemp production, to which other agency policies must align.

Per USDA’s request NIHC will follow up to the Department with a briefing document that elaborates on these priorities with specific actions the Secretary can implement immediately.

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Change and Patience

As someone in the hemp industry, you know that change doesn’t come easy.

Our industry fought long and hard to ensure that Americans had an opportunity to grow, process, sell and buy hemp-derived materials. Since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, the hemp industry continues to mature and innovate.

At NIHC, we’re helping to lead that maturation of the hemp industry through numerous initiatives. Facilitated by staff, board members, experts, our members, trusted partners, consultants and contributors who have aligned with our mission – NIHC is working to move industrial hemp forward into becoming the valuable commodity crop we all know it has the potential to be.

Part of work includes an immediate focus on a variety of legislative initiatives. Our NIHC government affairs committee and leadership are working diligently every day, meeting with lawmakers, regulators and industry stakeholders. We’re working to provide input in legislative language when asked and we’re briefing and updating the agencies that oversee our industry, including USDA and FDA.

But the value-add for the entire industry is more than just our work in hemp policy. Through our participation in the USDA’s Market Access Program (MAP) we’re educating international suppliers and customers in the global marketplace on American industrial hemp. What that means is if you’re in the hemp industry, you will be able to have access to international marketing and promotional opportunities, including but not limited to trade missions that will allow you to share your technical expertise about the U.S. Hemp industry with foreign negotiators.

We’re still working on a domestic checkoff program that will fund key industry research, consumer education initiatives, and promotion of hemp-derived products that will benefit everyone in the hemp industry.

Lastly, we’ve been busy at work exploring standards and certifications and what a program might look like to ensure there is transparency for the products sitting on store shelves. Everything we do at NIHC is rooted in the belief that the consumer has a right to be fully informed and the right to feel safe. We look forward to our standards committee reporting some progress to you soon.

As we look back on this year, we start to realize all that we’re accomplishing, and we’re grateful for your trust in us to represent you as an industry.

In the month of August, NIHC will be scaling back our newsletter to every other week as things slow down a bit. But you will see our updates on NIHC’s 2021 Hemp Business Summit. When we are back in full force in September, we’ll be moving full steam ahead continuing straight into our annual 2021 meeting where we can’t wait to see you and share in more detail all that we are doing.

We hope you have a great end of summer and we look forward to seeing you in the fall – in person.

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Taking the Wins Where We Can

As an avid reader of NIHC’s weekly newsletter, you’ll no doubt note that recently we included an item in the news section about the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Agriculture Appropriations draft report language on hemp.

There was much to celebrate:

  • A prohibition on the use of funds in contravention of the hemp provisions in both the 2014 Farm Bill and 2018 Farm Bill. This adds needed clarity that hemp produced under 2014 Farm Bill authorities remains fully legal under Federal law.
  • Another extension of the 2014 Pilot Program—through the end of 2022—for the approximately 75% of the hemp farming that operates under these authorities, including four of the five largest hemp producing states.
  • Direction to the USDA, HHS and the DEA to study the scientific basis of the 0.3 percent THC threshold and consider alternative levels.
  • Direction to USDA to reduce barriers to access for communities of color, specifically citing the 10-year ban on individuals convicted of drug felonies as such a barrier.
  • Clear acknowledgment that Congress intended to avoid criminalization of hemp processing, understands that in-process extract may temporarily exceed the THC limit, and directs USDA to coordinate directly with the DEA to present the industry with guidance and information on in-process extracted material
  • Eligibility of hemp to participate in all USDA-related programming. This includes the value-added producer grants program through the Office of Rural Development, crop insurance through the Risk Management Agency and as a specialty crop through the Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS).

The NIHC has been working with the House Committee on Agriculture to provide feedback on many of these roadblocks facing farmers in our industry. We have directly spoken to members of Congress and their staff on both sides of the aisle to raise awareness about all of the things that were mentioned in the Subcommittee on Agriculture Appropriations report. We are continuing to engage with members and staff of both parties on both sides of the Capitol.

This week, we sent a letter to House Agriculture appropriators thanking them for their language in this report and circulated it to those on the authorizing committees and also friends of the hemp industry.

You can read the full letter sent from NIHC Board Chair Patrick Atagi to the House Committee on Agriculture here.

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NIHC Leads the Way: Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day

There has been some recent chatter in our industry about creating opportunities to export U.S. industrial hemp. This week, we’re happy to share an update from Kevin Latner, NIHC’s Senior Vice President of Trade (see his blog post).
 
We can’t emphasize this fact enough. The NIHC is participating in the USDA’s Market Access Program (MAP) which means we are sitting at the international negotiating table with U.S. trade representatives representing you and bringing opportunities to open markets abroad for U.S. grown hemp and hemp-derived products. 
 
Participation in the MAP program means that the USDA recognizes the NIHC as an official government cooperator. It is a huge responsibility and one that we don’t take lightly, which is why we often inform you of not only what’s happening here at home, but on developments happening internationally. As we seek to advocate before U.S. regulators, we also need to be aware of how U.S. policies will affect markets overseas if they’re not harmonized with European or Asian regulations. We also want to ensure that the fine print in proposed regulations or legislation will not indirectly cause a technical barrier to trade. 
 
And, it’s not just the MAP funding where NIHC is participating.

The NIHC has, not one, but two representatives sitting on the USDA’s Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees (ATAC). These are important committees inside the USDA that advise both the Secretary of Agriculture and the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on technical points on hemp. Kevin Latner sits on the ATAC for Processed Foods which includes jurisdiction for things like CBD and CBD-infused products, including food. Patrick Atagi, NIHC Board Chair, sits on the ATAC for Cotton, Tobacco and Peanuts. Recently, Patrick proposed to his colleagues on the Cotton, Tobacco, and Peanuts subcommittee that they include hemp in the name – and we’re happy to report that they overwhelmingly agreed. There are a few more steps in the process, but we hope to report soon that Patrick will be sitting on the newly named Cotton, Hemp, Tobacco, and Peanuts subcommittee that will be advising the Secretary of Agriculture and the USTR. 

These are big opportunities for the industry and, specifically, NIHC members, who will learn of critical information first.

We are often asked when discussing policy with the media or other stakeholders, “What does this mean for hemp?” As an industry and as advocates, we must get out of that mindset. Hemp has been legalized since 2018 and we should start to recognize all the benefits that come with this.

Rather, the question we should all be asking is, “How does this benefit hemp and move the ball forward for our industry?” The USDA in both the Trump and now the Biden administrations recognized the benefits to the overall Ag economy by including hemp within the numerous programs at USDA. It means the world to us that we have the trust of not just our members who we advocate for, but also of the USDA, the USTR and other government regulators. 
 
In December of 2018, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 was finally signed into law by President Trump. While the rest of the Ag community was plugging in and moving along, the hemp industry was just getting started.

 With the world finally opening up from the 2020 devastating effects of the once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, markets are opening back up, too. We hope our efforts and careful planning will open opportunities around the world for the job creators in the hemp industry.

The point is: We’re moving in the right direction and we’re making progress every day at NIHC both at home and abroad. Some have recently stated and written in interviews about how the hemp industry needs to have leadership in Washington to better grow the industry. As you know, we’ve been here all along. We must remember that all great American success stories took time to overcome obstacles and become the great industries that they are today. 
 
As the old adage goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day.  

NIHC On The Road Again

Seeing Old Friends and New Members!

By Patrick Atagi, NIHC Board Chair

 

United States Senator John Boozman (R-AR) with NIHC Board Chair Patrick Atagi.

This week, I attended the in-person Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture (SASDA) annual meeting in Little Rock, Arkansas. It was valuable for NIHC to re-connect and get facetime with the heads of the 16 Southern State Departments of Agriculture from Kentucky, to Florida, to Texas. There really is nothing like shaking hands and talking to colleagues one-on-one. On a personal note, it was great to reconnect with so many old friends from my days working in the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA)’s policy shop.

Of note, I had the chance to have a lengthy conversation about the future of hemp with United States Senator John Boozman (R-AR) who is the ranking member on the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. Separately, I had a good conversations with former Obama Administration U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary and current Secretary of Agriculture of Delaware, Michael Scuse; Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles and his Chief of Staff Keith Rogers; and North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler.

Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles with Atagi.

We had many other conversations with state regulators about both the short and long-term outlook for hemp. For the short term, there is positive momentum for our industry. For instance, in Louisiana, an effort is beginning to include hemp into animal feed. Many folks I met with this week asked about overcoming the many policy and logistical issues that need to be addressed for the success of the industry over the long term. There is a lot of interest at the state level in regulating and managing the agricultural production of hemp, but a lot of work needs to be done. NIHC’s outreach is critical in ensuring we educate regulators about the benefits of hemp and the implications of their policy decisions.

One thing we did learn was that many states want to be able to find ways to promote their hemp farmers and products on a global scale. So, there was great interest in the NIHC’s status as the only hemp organization that is listed as a government cooperator through the  USDA’s Market Access Program. In fact, after our conversation, Commissioner Troxler joined NIHC, (seen right) so we’d like to welcome the North Carolina Department of Agriculture as one of our newest members!

North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler, and new NIHC member, with Atagi.

It was good to get out of D.C. and learn in person with what’s going on at the state level. NIHC will be traveling again in the next few months and reconnecting with state regulators and industry thought leaders throughout the summer as we begin to open back up to in-person meetings. To quote Willie Nelson and take a line from his song, “On the Road Again,” it’s a great feeling being out on the road and networking, again. So, we hope to see you on the road!

Speaking of traveling, if you haven’t yet, I’d like to encourage you to register today to come see us in our nation’s Capital in November. Our NIHC in person meeting will be November 14-16, 2021 in Washington, D.C. You can learn more here.

 

 

Beveridge & Diamond PC Creates Pathways for Industrial Hemp Businesses

NIHC recently spoke with Mackenzie Schoonmaker (at right), Principal, BEVERIDGE & DIAMOND PC, to discuss how they are helping businesses make their way through the complexity of state and federal laws to achieve their goals in the industrial hemp space. Beveridge & Diamond is also a sponsor of NIHC’s 2021 Hemp Business Summit, November 14-16 in Washington DC. Here is what she had to share.

How did you or your firm come to be members of NIHC?

Beveridge & Diamond has a decades-long practice supporting businesses in the agriculture industry on environmental issues. With the legalization of hemp in the U.S. in 2018, it was a no-brainer to evolve our practice to support hemp producers. As we evaluated associations to join to support our growing practice, NIHC was an obvious choice given its focus on growers of industrial hemp.

What value do you see being a part of this organization?

NIHC has given us several opportunities to speak at conferences, present webinars, and publish articles and blog posts on federal and state-level environmental issues facing the hemp industry. For example, during our first year of membership in 2019, we had the privilege of presenting at the 2019 NIHC Hemp Business Summit. NIHC has also helped us expand our relationships in the hemp industry, and more importantly, given us the chance to learn directly from hemp producers about what challenges are top of mind for them so that we can better serve our clients. B&D is excited to be a sponsor of the upcoming 2021 NIHC Hemp Business Summit.

Tell us about your firm.

B&D’s more than 120 lawyers across the U.S. focus on environmental and natural resources law and litigation. We help clients around the world resolve critical environmental and sustainability issues relating to their products, facilities, and operations.

What is the nature of your work within the Industrial Hemp industry?

B&D’s Industrial Hemp & Cannabis industry group assists growers, manufacturers, and suppliers of cannabis and cannabis products and ancillary businesses that support the industry (such as product packaging suppliers and manufacturers of fertilizers, pesticides, and plant nutrients) with federal and state-level environmental compliance, product liability, project planning, environmental risk avoidance, and, when appropriate, litigation and defense against state-level environmental enforcement actions. For example, we advised a bast fiber producer on environmental regulations regarding hemp seeds, and for an agricultural organization we drafted comments on the on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Interim Final Regulations on the Establishment of a Domestic Hemp Production Program.

What do you see are the biggest obstacles and opportunities for the hemp industry?

As the hemp industry expands, it will have to navigate a complex framework of U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and other federal and state level requirements. We expect the hemp industry, like comparable industries, will become a highly regulated space.

However, the opportunities that are fueling this expansion will only increase. As companies respond to growing consumer demands for sustainably-sourced materials, clothing and textile manufacturers are turning to using hemp in their products. With the threat of climate change, climate-smart agriculture (such as hemp) is even more important. And, hemp-derived CBD products are becoming more pervasive, as scientific research is ongoing regarding CBD’s potential to treat various health issues.

Where do you see the industry in 5 years, either from a regulatory or business aspect, or both? How will you or the firm have a role in that development?

As noted above, we believe the industry will only continue to grow (pardon the pun!) into a ubiquitous industry subject to the same regulations as other agricultural products. Given our deep experience supporting the ag industry on environmental, health, and safety issues, B&D is well-positioned to help hemp businesses anticipate and comply with those environmental regulations without hindering business operations and growth.

Any other comments that NIHC members should know about you?

B&D regularly publishes news alerts about environmental developments relevant to the hemp industry, and you may sign up to receive them here. We welcome the opportunity to meet more NIHC members and hope you don’t hesitate to reach out!

You can reach the firm at https://www.bdlaw.com.

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FUTURECAST: Corporate Sustainability Efforts Increases Industrial Hemp Opportunity

Levi’s Commitment to Sustainable Agriculture an Example to Corporate America

It’s been a slow week in Washington DC with Congress on recess and an absence of activity happening at the regulatory level in recent weeks. However, the market never takes a recess as it continues to recognize the consumers preference for sustainability and corporate responsibility.

Case in point, Levi Strauss Company late last month unveiled its “Buy Better, Wear Longer” campaign to address how consumers buy too many clothes; don’t wear them long enough; and, eventually discard garments. The company believes this practice leads to greater pollution and environmental unsustainability.

“Ultimately, Levi’s® denim is meant to be worn for generations, not seasons,” Jen Sey, brand president of Levi’s, said in the companies press release kick starting the campaign.

One of the commitments to sustainability practices that Levi’s has made is offering products derived from hemp fiber. Their goals are to reduce the overall impact on climate with more sustainable production practices. This includes investing in new materials (i.e. hemp) and new production practices such as their new “Water<Less” technology. While it’s good to hear Levi’s making that kind of commitment, it’s having an even larger effect than the even the company might realize.

Levi’s says in their press release announcing the “Buy Better, Wear Longer” campaign that their manufacturing practices have resulting in the saving of nearly 4 billion liters of water and it has led to the recycling of nearly 10 billion more liters. That’s just for the manufacturing process and by using hemp as a fiber; the company is also seeing affects at the farm.

In comments filed to the USDA last week, NIHC recommended that the USDA take a science-driven approach to hemp and consider data that shows hemp is a less water intensive textile. We can find the data by looking to partners in Europe. For example, the Stockholm Environment Institute says that growing hemp requires half as much water as cotton. Beyond reducing water usage, The European Industrial Hemp Association says that every 100 acres dedicated to hemp can sequester up to 15 tons of carbon dioxide.

Therefore, companies that are committed to sustainability initiatives like using less water and curbing carbon dioxide are also making a change further down the supply chain and potentially a greater impact than they might realize. At NIHC, we believe that’s a good thing.

“As a whole, ‘Buy Better, Wear Longer’ is meant to evoke a sustainable future where companies and consumers around the world come together to rethink fashion,” Levi’s says in a press release.  “And Levi’s® offers the kinds of products that are there with you for the long haul.”

And with those kinds of commitments, corporate America can ensure that it’s not just the products that are with us for the long haul, but the long-term health of our environment too.

To learn more about the Levi’s “Buy Better, Wear Longer” campaign and the company’s commitments to sustainability, click here.

To be a part of the discussion on the future of industrial hemp, make sure to register for NIHC’s 2021 Hemp Business Summit. Sustainability and other forward-thinking strategies will be the focus as we all continue make headway towards a vibrant and profitable industrial hemp economy.

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Hemp as Climate Change Solution

NIHC Responds to USDA’s Request for Comments on Climate Smart Ag  

The National Industrial Hemp Council (NIHC) this week submitted official comments to the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USA) request for stakeholder feedback on developing climate smart agriculture practices and ways these practices can meet the needs of disadvantaged communities around the country.

“USDA is committed to addressing climate change through actions that are farmer, rancher, and forest landowner-focused and that create new market opportunities for the sector in a fair and equitable way,” said Vilsack at the time of release requesting comments. “We want your ideas on how to position the agriculture and forestry sectors to be leaders on climate smart practices to mitigate climate change. This includes making the most of USDA programs, developing new USDA-led climate strategies, strengthening existing markets and developing new markets that generate income.”

The NIHC provided detailed input in three areas the Secretary asked for and provided suggestions about how to better use existing USDA programs to address climate change through the U.S. domestic hemp industry. The three areas that NIHC provided information on include: climate-smart agriculture and forestry; biofuels, bioproducts, and renewable energy; and meeting the needs of disadvantaged communities through USDA’s climate strategy.

“NIHC is proud to represent the U.S. domestic hemp industry through our position as a government partner through USDA’s Market Access Program and serving on the Secretary’s technical advisory committees,” said NIHC Board Chair Patrick Atagi. “NIHC understands the USDA; it’s programs; how they work and our comments are a continuation of the constructive dialogue we’ve been having all year with USDA and the Biden Administration about how to make progress is reducing climate change.

To read the NIHC’s comments in full, please click here.

“Hemp is such an amazingly versatile commodity and when included in the appropriate framework of USDA’s programs, can really be the gold standard for climate smart agriculture,” Atagi concluded.

NIHC Board Member Patricia Sheikh Brings International Trade Expertise to the U.S. Industrial Hemp Sector

 

We caught up with busy Patricia Sheikh, NIHC board member and Senior Vice President, Programs, for Roots of Peace, to discuss NIHC, diversity and the future of industrial hemp.

In her work in the agricultural sector, Roots of Peace is a non-profit organization, with headquarters in California, that helps conflict and post-conflict regions and countries. Their philosophy is to provide market-driven solutions tailored to farming communities of war-torn lands, serving as a catalyst for industry-wide development. By improving farm techniques, addressing supply chain gaps, and supporting local exporters in reaching high-value markets, the organization improves livelihoods and contributes to building peace in war-torn lands.

“The conflict area we are currently focused on is Afghanistan, and the post-conflict country is Vietnam. You would think we wouldn’t have to go there,” Sheikh says referring to Vietnam, “but there are still issues related weapons of war still in the ground that adversely impact smallholder farmers.”

“Root of Peace helps countries rebuild and modify agricultural systems,” she says. “We help them build back their agricultural economy – things like convert from one crop to another – then export it. We look at the full value chain, seed to table. Small holder farmers are not left out of the equation, and they get a return on their money.” A strong agricultural system helps a county increase economic independence and thereby reduce potential for future conflict.

Here is our interview with Sheikh.

What is your view of the work of NIHC, and how you came about being involved?
I am a retiree of Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA. When NIHC board chair Patrick Atagi was a political appointee under President George W. Bush, I got to know him. He was serving as Deputy Director, Intergovernmental Affairs, USDA. I was then Deputy Administrator, International Trade Policy, Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA. Our interactions go that far back.

When he launched NIHC, he thought of me for the board position because I know international trade very well. At that point in my career, I oversaw all international trade – mostly trade with Asia. Personally, I like working in the big markets like China, Japan and India.  Patrick knew that my background could prove beneficial once industrial hemp industry comes into full potential.

What inspired your work with hemp conferences, you have moderated and participated in several, how do events like this help hemp the industry?

I see the hemp commodity as a very important export. It has the ability like no other crop to revitalize the U.S. agricultural sector. I participated as the event moderator in the February 2021 Oregon State University Global Hemp Innovation Center’s National Hemp Symposium because it was an opportunity to hear from many of the sectors in which industrial hemp has great opportunity.

The crop spans many industries, and we heard from energy and biofuel, manufacturing, automotive and transportation, retail, apparel, health and beauty sectors – even the defense sector presented. I have never seen a crop like hemp and it’s exciting; we needed something that can boost our agricultural sector and hemp can do it.

We have to keep the conversation moving forward in the United States. China, the EU and Canada all have vibrant hemp programs. They didn’t experience a shutdown of the crop like the U.S. who made it illegal due to the drug aspect of the plant. We cannot be frightened by the work ahead to catch up; we must keep a steady pace. NIHC is a big part of that effort, especially on the regulatory and trade aspects due to the experience of the entire board and the NIHC team. Patrick wants board members to network and lend guidance on other advisory boards, representing the work of NIHC, when they arise.

What are your views of minorities and women in agriculture and how is it changing?

Ag is a very conservative industry. There are very few women at the top of agricultural companies or even on boards, as well as other minorities. As the first – not the only – woman in the NIHC board, it doesn’t bother me. I will offer suggestions in the future for other women to join our board if their experience fits the needs, but I have to say Patrick has been keen at making sure we have a diverse group, and we have a board of various backgrounds and ethnicities. NIHC is leading and paving a path forward.

To encourage hemp farming among diverse groups of people, including minorities, I think there has to be increased education about hemp. There is still so many misconceptions of hemp. I have to correct people on the product. I am not sure how informed African-American farmers and others are about this particular commodity.

I think seeing the potential in all these sectors mentioned at Oregon State University’s conference was so powerful for participants. It shows that that there is room for everyone. We warmly invite more people to the table.

Tell us about your work with former Ambassador from Zimbabwe to U.S. on hemp industry and other initiatives in which you may be involved in?

That is a very interesting question. Ambassador Mutembwa was Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the United States. He was very familiar with hemp because of his country’s interest in ramping up growing this commodity.

The Ambassador was looking for people who wanted to invest in their country’s hemp production. Because of my background in developing countries and agricultural systems, we connected on that effort. They were not necessarily looking to export to U.S. since their natural market is the EU. He really saw, as a developing country, how hemp could help propel economic development in his country.

Unfortunately, the Ambassador has completed his assignment in U.S., and is now Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Brussels. I am hoping the new U.S. Ambassador will pick up on the effort, but it is too early to tell.

Where do you see the industry in five years?

If we play our cards right and produce more positive messages about hemp– especially the farmers potential to grow hemp and monetarily profit from doing so – and additionally having a market for it which is still in development, the hemp industry will grow very large.

Unlike cotton and other crops, hemp doesn’t need as much water to grow,  It is a crop that is environmentally-friendly and as I have said previously it has a multitude of uses. We will get to a comfortable position for this commodity, it just will take time combined with consistent effort by leadership organizations such as the NIHC.

What are the pathways to a thriving industrial hemp economy?

One thing is advising government. We have begun that process as NIHC is serving on some advisory committees for U.S. government agencies that are addressing hemp and agriculture.

Positive safety initiatives is another. We must get the FDA to engage and intensify its efforts. To ensure the consumer is safe when hemp is used in products they ingest or use topically. Some products are in the marketplace that have not been fully vetted. It is a great sign that these are appealing to the public, but we need consistent standards set by the federal government to continue to grow the marketplace.

We need to keep interactions with Congress moving forward. Hemp has bipartisan support, as seen by both sides overwhelmingly voting in favor of the Farm Bill. As you know recently, it has been a challenge to obtain bi-partisan support for legislation.

States that are hesitant will come along once they see momentum building and factual support for this commodity. They will have to.

Getting factual data is a must. It is exciting to see University’s like Oregon State gearing up their research so we can have this data. Having our own data will corroborate what we know from the European research already available.

Trade competition is a healthy instigator. China is moving full steam ahead. EU and Canada are too. This should inspire action from the U.S.

Are you excited to attend the NIHC 2021 Hemp Business Summit?

I was at the first summit in 2019, where we had to turn people away because we had exceeded our capacity level. It was a great success and there was so much enthusiasm and support among attendees. I look forward to the next one in November, and I know the information shared will take us further along this exciting journey. The conference will benefit anyone in the industry who is looking at the potential of hemp for their company or for their state.

Tag Archive for: USDA

COP29, November 11-22, 2024 Baku, Azerbaijan

NIHC Will Present Hemp at COP29 as Part of the Solution to Climate Change

COP29 - Baku, Azerbaijan is the host city for the 259th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

For two weeks in November 2024 Climate leaders around the globe will meet in Baku, Azerbaijan to discuss solutions to climate change.

NIHC delegate Paul Benhaim will present industrial hemp as a large part of the solution. The focus of NIHC is strengthening international trade relationships and fostering a global hemp supply chain.

As a representative of industrial hemp at COP29, we’re excited about Paul Benhaim’s participation and the opportunity to highlight hemp’s role in global sustainability discussions. The goal of NIHC is to show that industrial hemp is an active player in providing solutions to climate issues. We are working together to negotiate a solution to our global climate crisis.

To learn more about COP29 go to the: United Nations Climate Change website.

 

NIHC’s mission is to strengthen the presence of the US hemp industry on the global stage. As a member your organization can benefit from the international connections developed through NIHC representation. For more information go to: NIHC Membership page.

Asia International Hemp Expo and Forum 2024

Skyline, Bangkok Thailand where the Asia International Hemp Expo & Forum 2024 will be held. It is the leading hemp industry supply-chain trade shoe and forum in Asia. It is an opportunity for US hemp business leaders to create relationships and establish international trade with the emerging Asian hemp marketThe “Asia International Hemp Expo and Forum 2024” is Thailand’s only trade exhibition for hemp industry. This expo is the 3rd edition under theme of “Hemp Inspires.”

It is an opportunity for US hemp industry businesses to create relationships and international trade with the emerging Asian market.

For more information on this event go to this link: Asia International Hemp Expo.

For more information about NIHC and how it supports international trade missions that expand the US hemp industry, go to our Home Page

 
 

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National Industrial Hemp Council
1775 I (Eye) Street NW, Suite 1150
Washington, DC 20006
202-919-3750
Info@HempIndustrial.com

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