YREA is exploring the economic, social and environmental viability of establishing local hemp industries. Our plans for the next few years will be as follows:
- To establish and participate in a local green economy by introducing and raising awareness of the benefits of industrial hemp farming to farmers and other stakeholders in York Region and surrounding areas.
- Produce a feasibility report and business plan researching the viability of a social enterprise industrial hemp partnership venture so as to enhance the long term sustainability of the YREA.
- Promote and facilitate the growing, harvesting, manufacturing and marketing of Industrial Hemp while fostering an understanding of the environmental and rural economic development benefits of this plant.
- Promote the development of new products based on industrial hemp fibre and seeds.
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
HEMP PAPER
65% of our boreal forests are cut to produce paper. Deforestation has added an estimated 120 billion tons of CO2 into the air.
The pulp and paper industry is the 3rd largest industrial polluter – 220 million pounds of pollution into air and water each year.
Hemp pulp can be processed without chlorine, reducing toxic dioxin emissions.
BIOFUEL/BIOCHAR
Fuel can be made from local, renewable plant resource and as a by-product of hemp seed flour milling. It is 11% oxygen and contains no sulphur. Hemp stalks can be converted into biochar, a carbon sequestering energy source for soil regeneration, heating and homes.
HEMP GROWING FACTS
- Can grow to a height of 15 ft.
- Needs very little fertilizer and no pesticides because:
- Overcomes most diseases and pests.
- Shades out weeds a few weeks after sowing.
- Excellent rotation crop as over 50% of the nutrients are returned to soil and available for following crop.
- Strong demand for organic hemp seed.
Learn more about growing industrial hemp: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/00-067.htm
