PORTLAND, Oregon (KOIN) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will award $ 10 million to the Oregon State University Global Hemp Innovation Center (OSU) to study sustainable hemp production.
The five-year exploration is funded as part of $ 146 million in grants issued by the National Institute of Sustainable Agricultural Systems of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA) for agricultural and climate research.
“Hemp is already becoming a commercial crop in Oregon and its multiple uses, from hemp hearts in a salad to fiber for a t-shirt and therapeutic CBD oil, create great potential for farmers around the world. the state, “said Sen. Jeff Merkley.
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U.S. Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden helped push the decriminalization of hemp by gaining bipartisan support to pass the 2018 agricultural bill, which formally recognized hemp as a U.S. agricultural product.
Oregon State University World Hemp Innovation Center (courtesy: Oregon State University)
“While I continue to push USDA to develop a fair and reasonable regulatory framework for the hemp industry, further research is vital to inform both producers and regulators,” Merkley said. “I’m pleased that this award supports OSU’s innovative hemp research.”
Since decriminalization, hemp has become one of the fastest growing commercial crops in the state, and some lawmakers estimate that hemp production could generate more than $ 1 billion in sales in Oregon in the near future. .
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The plant, which is very diverse, can be used to create a wide variety of hemp-based products, including ropes, textiles, insulation, biofuels, paper products, and more.
Hemp-based products (courtesy: Oregon State University)
The non-water-intensive properties of hemp contribute to the attractiveness of the harvest for Oregon farmers, who continue to fight the devastating effects of ongoing droughts.
“The Global Hemp Innovation Center with its many partners is fortunate to receive this grant that will allow us to work closely with farmers, businesses, manufacturers and the rural community and tribal leaders of the American Indies to determine what types of hemp should be cultivate and process facilities located to help expand opportunities for the hemp industry in Oregon and the rest of the West, ”said Jeffrey Steiner, OSU Associate Director of the Global Hemp Innovation Center.
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Under the project proposal, OSU plans to investigate how to optimally weave sustainable hemp production into existing market systems in the regional economy of four states of Oregon, Washington, Nevada and California.
Researchers at the Oregon State University Global Hemp Innovation Center (courtesy: Oregon State University)
Steiner added: “Working together, we will be able to build a strong scientific and business base to produce healthy food and personal care products, high-performance textiles and bio-based materials.”
An OSU press release states that the scientist will focus on the potential of hemp to advance economic development in socially disadvantaged communities.
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“The initial involvement of tribal communities along with other rural communities in this work is critical to their success,” Steiner explained. “The potential economic opportunities that this new commodity can have present enormous potential for rural communities and our project has set out to ensure that these opportunities are equally available and relevant to all types of farmers.”
Oregon State University World Hemp Innovation Center (courtesy: Oregon State University)
OSU has partnered with several local Native American tribes in its program study, including the Confederate tribes of Warm Springs in Oregon.
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“The Warm Springs Tribe is interested in exploring and expanding our agricultural opportunities in hemp production and this is one way to achieve this,” Laurie Danzuka, coordinator of the Warm Springs cannabis project, said in a press release. of the OSU. “This collaboration will allow us to identify possible sustainable uses of hemp, use best agricultural practices and provide learning opportunities for members.
Additional partners who support scientists at OSU’s Global Hemp Innovation Center include researchers from OSU’s business, engineering and pharmacy faculties and the University of California Extension Service. Davis; Washington State University; University of Nevada, Reno Extension; USDA, Agricultural Research Service; U.S. Department of Transportation, Volpe National Transportation Systems Research Center, the federally recognized tribe extension program; 7 Generations, a Native American-owned company specializing in Indian business development; USDA, National Agricultural Library; and the USDA, Western Development Center.
