Northern Ireland Hemp Association
Helping the Hemp industry grow in Northern Ireland
What is NI HEMP?
Northern Ireland Hemp Association is a not-for-profit membership organisation that supports the Hemp industry across Northern Ireland and Island of Ireland. We provide help license applications, business consultation, advice and networking to all areas of the Hemp industry.
Why is NI HEMP needed?
NI Hemp can help you establish links and network with a wide range of businesses such as: the aerospace industry, agri/farming, engineers, building and construction industry, print and packaging, manufacturing and processing, fuel and energy, food and drinks industry, and research and development, academic bodies along with many many more.
What are the main activities of NI HEMP?
We aim to provide a passionate and representative voice, expert business advice and consultation services to the Hemp industry in Northern Ireland in order to promote and facilitate economic change on the ground and at government (national and local) as well as agency level.
Our aim is to create a legacy organisation that will support a sustainably vibrant, thriving and profitable Hemp industry across Ireland. Ultimately, we strive to make a positive impact upon current legislation and policy regarding the Northern Ireland hemp industry through rigorous policy evaluation with due diligence.
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WHY HEMP?
Why hemp?
Northern Ireland has a unique opportunity to establish a leading position within some of the most important and rapidly growing agricultural and industrial markets that have emerged for decades.
In response, the Northern Ireland Hemp has been formed by a group of hemp businesses and industry advocates. It is part of a growing worldwide movement that supports hemp and the use of the plant and we have joined together to promote a healthy and robust hemp industry here in Ireland.
Hemp has been used globally for thousands of years as an extremely versatile, robust and environmentally friendly plant. This crop can deliver considerable societal and economic benefits to people and communities. It is one of the oldest food crops in our diet and the basis of one of the oldest fabrics used by humans.
CARBON SEQUESTRATION
One hectare of industrial hemp can absorb approximately 15 tonnes of CO2 (Lhoist 2016) making it one of the fastest CO2-to-biomass conversion tools. Industrial hemp is the perfect carbon sink because it absorbs more CO2 per hectare annually than any other commercial crop or commercial forestry.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Hemp grows to between 1.8 and 4.5 metres tall (dependent on variety/cultivar) in four to five months in Ireland. Weeds are suppressed under a dense crop canopy, this reduces the need for herbicides and pesticides. It can also be grown with no agricultural chemicals, reducing soil toxicity.
RESTORES SOIL HEALTH
Hemp is so versatile that it thrives in adverse soil conditions. It sends out strong root networks, locking Nitrogen in its leaves. The deep roots provide a binding function, helping to prevent soil erosion, and hemp was also used to clean up the nuclear spill in Chernobyl, Russia.
SUPPORTING FARMERS
HEMP IS NOT MARIJUANA
While they come from the same plant species, Cannabis Sativa, hemp products have only trace amounts of THC, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana. Industrial Hemp cannot get you high.
HEMP HAS A LONG HISTORY IN IRELAND & BRITAIN
In 1533, King Henry VIII made hemp cultivation compulsory by law. For every 60 acres, farmers had to grow about 1/4 acre of flax or hemp, or else they would face a fine for breaking the law. They could even pay their taxes with Hemp.
PRESENT HEMP SITUATION IN THE U.K.
In the UK, it is estimated that the maximum area under cultivation is no more than 810 hectares. By comparison, in 2016, Europe cultivated over 33,000 hectares of industrial hemp an increase of more than 30% on the previous year.
HEMP IS MAKING A COME BACK
Although the size of the Irish hemp cultivation sector is currently extremely small, we are already bringing innovation to the industry through pioneering research at Queens University Belfast and other universities including Ulster, Limerick, Dublin, and Galway.
HEMP FOR HUMANITY
Globally, hemp has been recognised for thousands of years as an extremely versatile, robust and environmentally friendly plant delivering considerable societal and economic benefits to people and communities.
MAKE HEMP FARMING ACCESSIBLE
For hemp to be a viable cash crop for our farmers and processors, we need to be allowed to utilise the entire plant. NI Hemp’s focus is to contribute to inform, educate and lobby for progressive and environmentally responsible legislative change.
HEMP CREATES JOBS
Market Entry Opportunities
Hemp offers over 10,000 diverse industrial applications ranging from an ideal plant protein to a graphene substitute and including; bioplastics, construction, food and beverages, textiles, paper, composite panels for the automotive industry, food supplements, other composite materials and biofuels.
NI Hemp connects hemp farmers, processors, entrepreneurs and other hemp-based businesses to help this rapidly growing sector become a major and environmentally beneficial industry in the UK.
Hemp Cultivation and Farming
NI Hemp supports farmers and the hemp industry by educating and lobbying to remove current barriers, which dates back to legislation created in the 1960s and bring hemp into the 21st century. Our aim is to enable utilisation of the whole plant.
A licence is required to cultivate low THC Cannabis (Industrial Hemp) and each grower must be individually licensed.
Licence holders are required to complete an Annual Licence Review – Grower Statement at the start of the growing season which must then be returned to the Medicines Regulatory Group.’
If you are interested in growing industrial hemp, you will need to apply to Northern Ireland’s Department of Health for a hemp cultivation licence.
Industrial Applications
At present the hemp industry is limited in its industrial applications due to the barriers to growth and the restrictions placed on businesses and growers, specifically, being unable to process the whole plant.
The scale of opportunity for hemp’s numerous industrial applications is considerable and global. The worldwide movement towards creating environmentally responsible manufactured products places industrial hemp at the forefront of product innovation, with major societal and economic benefits possible for the UK.
Europe is expected to grow over 125,000 acres of hemp in 2018, supplying the car composites market. Canada is expected to cultivate around 250,000 acres, and now has the first industrial scale bio-plastics facility. China has also increased its hemp output in the last few years. It grew 74,000 acres in 2017 and is expected to cultivate 150,000 acres this year. At the 2017 International Conference On Hemp Industry the Australian Hemp Alliance showcased very fine hemp fabrics of an unprecedented quality.
Hemp Foods and CBD Oils
Naturally gluten-free, Hemp seed protein can supply any diet with a vegetarian source of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fibre, chlorophyll, together with the essential fatty acids and amino acids 3-6-9 needed for a healthy body and mind.
Hemp-derived cannabidiol or CBD has been declared by the World Health Organization’s Expert Committee on Drug Dependence, as safe and tolerated in humans and animals. Supplements obtained from hemp contain many health promoting compounds, including particularly the phytocannabinoids/CBD and also provides important nutrients to maintain, support and optimise our mental and physical well-being.
If you are a producer, primary importer or UK white/private label brand owner, you need to comply with UK Food Law. NI Hemp is working on a document for members that references food law and best practice when selling hemp extract/CBD food supplements. If you are a reseller, there is no obligation to join any particular association; all you need to do is comply with the Health Claims Regulations.
MEMBERSHIP
Join The Northern Ireland Hemp Association
Northern Ireland Hemp Association provide our members with licensing application support, business consultation, advice and networking to all areas of the growing Hemp industry. Membership also provides a number of other benefits, including access to technical and agronomy advice, contractor links, event discounts and an open network of sharing knowledge.
- NI Hemp works to ensure the best interests and first market opportunities are available for our members in the local Hemp industry.
NI Hemp networks with academics and commercial industry to connect the best with the best.
- NI Hemp has access to source the best markets for local and worldwide Hemp products and raw materials.
NI Hemp will keep our members informed of developments in the industry through the social media channels, website news and monthly newsletter.
- NI Hemp provides guidance and education on best practice in order to maintain the integrity of the industry.
NI Hemp works strategical to develop an all island and UK Hemp Industry.
INDIVIDUALS
- For individuals
- Farms under 10 hectares
SMALL BUSINESS
- For small businesses
- Farms up to 20 hectares
LARGE BUSINESS
- For large business
- Farms up to 100 hectares