Hemp is likely one of the most versatile and sustainable vegetation on the planet.
It presents advantages throughout industries like textiles, development, meals, and environmental conservation.
Regardless of its historic significance, trendy science continues to uncover new benefits of hemp, from carbon sequestration to high-yield fiber manufacturing.
This information presents 50 key statistics about hemp. We cowl its development, environmental affect, industrial functions, and financial potential.
Whether or not you’re a researcher, entrepreneur, or just interested in hemp’s position in a sustainable future, these details will spotlight why this exceptional plant is gaining world recognition. Let’s dive into the numbers behind hemp’s resurgence.
Hemp stats on authorized definition and classification
Hemp is legally categorised primarily based on its THC content material, distinguishing it from marijuana. Laws for this differ by nation. That is the authorized requirement hemp has to meet.
- Industrial hemp is legally outlined as Hashish sativa with THC ranges at or under 0.3% of the dry weight of the flowering portion of the plant. THC is the first psychoactive chemical present in marijuana. With ranges as little as 0.3%, there will likely be no intoxicating results.
- In European nations, the THC ranges is probably not above 0.2% for it to categorise as hemp.
Hemp stats on its development and cultivation
Hemp is a fast-growing crop that thrives in varied climates. Completely different varieties are suited to temperate and tropical areas. Listed below are some wonderful hemp statistics concerning the plant.
Progress Traits
3. Hemp can develop to a peak of 1.5m to 4m. That’s concerning the size of a typical hatchback automobile.
4. Hemp reaches as much as 12 ft in peak inside three to 4 months. It’s a very fast-growing crop and thus is commonly used as a rotation crop or grown twice in a yr.
5. Hemp can yield three to eight tons of dry stalk per acre, relying on local weather and selection.
6. Hemp breeders goal to supply hemp with the dimensions of flax or just a little longer, which is round 30 cm.
7. Hemp covers roughly 10,000 ha/yr in France.
Yield & Biomass Manufacturing
8. 1 ha of hemp can produce almost 12 t of dry matter (DM)/yr with a humidity stage of 15%. This dry matter is what will get processed into hemp’s different makes use of. 12 tons of dry hemp matter can produce about 4,000 – 5,000 hempcrete bricks. This is sufficient to insulate a small home.
This quantity of dry matter may also be used to supply 24,000 sheets of paper or as much as 10,000 meters of hemp material.
9. Exported straw from 1 ha of hemp is about 8 t (or 6.8 t of DM).
10. Hemp stalks produce 4–12 t of dried straw per hectare with 15% humidity.
11. One tonne of hemp straw yields:
a. 0.55–0.65 t of hurds
b. 0.2–0.3 t of fiber
c. 0.15 t of powder
Soil Advantages & Nutrient Return
12. Hemp can return 60% of vitamins again to the soil when dried and ploughed again into the soil.
13. Hemp can return as a lot as two-thirds of the natural matter to the soil whether it is field-retted.
Hemp stats on its carbon sequestration capabilities & environmental affect
Hemp is famously generally known as a carbon pores and skin as a result of it absorbs CO₂ quickly. Carbon sinks are something that absorbs extra carbon dioxide than they produce. As a result of hemp grows quicker than bushes, it’s hailed as an environment friendly carbon absorber. Listed below are some stats on hemp’s capacity to soak up carbon.
Carbon Absorption
14. Hemp’s carbon uptake will be as much as 22 tonnes per hectare, which is increased than agroforestry. 22 tonnes of CO₂ is equal to the emissions of two.9 houses in a single yr. It may also be equated to about common gasoline-powered vehicles pushed for a yr.
15. One hectare of business hemp can take up 15 tonnes of CO₂ per hectare.
16. Hemp accommodates roughly 45% of the atmospheric carbon taken up throughout photosynthesis.
17. Hemp’s fast development makes it one of many quickest CO₂-to-biomass conversion instruments.
18. As it’s potential to develop two hemp crops per yr, we are able to offset as much as 30 tons of CO₂ per hectare in a yr.
Hemp stats on its fiber and textile functions
Hemp is a high-yield fiber crop, with fiber-to-Hurd ratios various by selection. Temperate hemp produces extra fiber than tropical strains, making it ultimate for textiles. Listed below are some hemp statistics on the power and sturdiness of hemp fibers.
19. Hemp fiber bundles will be as much as 15 ft lengthy.
20. Bast fibers of hemp vary from 1.2m to 2.1m in size.
21. Bast fiber constitutes 0.2-0.3 t of fiber per 1 t of straw.
22. Hemp fiber and cellulose have lengths various between 5 and 60 mm.
23. Hemp fiber is used to create mix yarns with 20-30% cottonized hemp content material.
24. Hemp textiles present safety towards UV radiation. Hemp material can reportedly block 99.9% of UVA and UVB rays incomes it a UPF ranking of fifty+. This makes it a super alternative for out of doors put on.
25. Hemp materials reportedly have eight occasions the tensile power and 4 occasions the sturdiness of cotton.
26. The tensile power of hemp ranges from 550-900 MPa. Comparatively, that of cotton is 287-597 MPa
27. Hemp fiber’s common diameter varies between 6 and 9 mm.
28. Hemp fiber refinement can have a gravimetric fineness of 5.4 tex to 39.4 tex. 5.4 Tex signifies that 1,000 meters of hemp fiber weighs 5.4 grams. This means that hemp fiber is comparatively tremendous however sturdy, making it appropriate for textiles, ropes, and composites.
Fiber-to-Hurd Ratio in Completely different Varieties
29. Temperate types of hemp stalk have a ratio of fiber to hurds of roughly 25:70%. Owing to this, temperate varieties are properly suited to making hempcrete.
30. Tropical types of hemp stalk have a ratio of fiber to hurds of 18:77%. The excessive woody content material (hurds) makes it environment friendly for pelletized gas, ethanol, and charcoal manufacturing.
Hemp stats on meals and vitamin
Hemp seeds are a nutrient-rich superfood. They provide important fatty acids, protein, and wholesome oils. Due to this, hemp seeds can help a wholesome and sustainable food regimen. Listed below are some hemp statistics on its dietary properties.
31. Hemp seeds can present 2,451 kilojoules (586 kcal) of meals vitality per 100 gm serving.
32. Hemp seed accommodates 31% protein.
33. Common hemp seed accommodates 30-35% oil.
34. Some types of hemp with seeds containing as much as 45% oil have been recognized, in comparison with the same old 30–35%.
35. Styles of hemp have been recognized with seeds containing >5% γ-linolenic acid, whereas traditional strains have 2–3%. γ-linolenic acid, or GLA can assist cut back irritation, enhance pores and skin circumstances, and help joint well being.
36. Hemp has near 49% of fats which will be break up as under
a. Saturated Fats: 4.6 grams
b. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: 9.3 grams
c. Omega-6 Fatty Acids: 28.7 grams
37. Hemp is a superb supply of fiber having 4% fiber in it.
38. These are a number of the minerals out there per 100 grams of hemp
a. Magnesium: 700 mg
b. Phosphorus: 1,650 mg
c. Potassium: 1,200 mg
d. Iron: 7.95 mg
e. Zinc: 9.9 mg
39. Hemp is an effective supply of nutritional vitamins as properly. It’s notably wealthy in Thiamine (1.3 mg) and folate (110 µg) that are each Vitamin B compounds.
Hemp stats on its industrial and development makes use of
Industrial hemp is utilized in automobile components, ropes, and textiles. It’s because hemp is a sturdy and eco-friendly materials. Hempcrete is light-weight, and insulating as well. Listed below are some hemp statistics about its use in development.
40. Hemp pulp is simply 4-10% lignin, whereas bushes include 18-30% lignin. This makes it simpler to course of for paper and textiles. It provides the fiber nice flexibility and breathability in textile functions as properly.
41. In 2024, the worldwide hempcrete market was valued at $25.8 billion and is projected to develop at a CAGR of 5.0% from 2025 to 2030.
Hemp stats on its water necessities
Hemp has a fame for being a sustainable crop due to its a lot decrease water necessities than its counterparts. Listed below are some hemp statistics on its water consumption.
42. Hemp grown within the UK requires round 500–700 mm of precipitation per rising season.
43. On common, 300–500 liters of water are required for the manufacturing of 1 kg of dry matter.
44. Experimental trials present that 2,123 liters of water are required to supply 1 kg of usable fiber from a hemp crop. This may be in comparison with the ten,000 liters of water required to supply 1 kg of cotton fiber.
Hemp stats on soil and nutrient necessities
Hemp thrives in well-drained, nutrient-rich soil. It returns natural matter to the bottom, bettering fertility. It absorbs vitamins effectively, needing minimal fertilizers. Learn on to be taught some hemp statistics on how useful it’s to the soil.
45. Soil moisture needs to be between 50 and 70 cm within the vegetative development section for optimum yields.
46. Fertilizer utilization averages from 2000–2004:
a. Nitrogen: 110 kg/ha
b. Phosphorus: 90 kg/ha
c. Potassium: 100 kg/ha
47. Utilizing hemp as a rotation crop with wheat results in 10% – 20% extra yield of wheat. That is owing to the wealthy vitamins hemp returns to the soil. It may possibly additionally take up heavy metals like cadmium, lead, and nickel drastically bettering soil well being.
48. Hemp has a really in depth root system. Its roots can attain depths of as much as 3 ft which might enhance soil construction, and improve aeration and water infiltration.
Hemp stats on its agricultural and financial advantages
Hemp grows shortly and produces excessive yields per acre. The worldwide hemp market is increasing, creating jobs and funding alternatives. Listed below are some hemp statistics on its contribution to agriculture & financial system.
49. Between 2015 and 2022, the world devoted to hemp cultivation within the EU elevated by 60%, from 20,540 hectares to 33,020 hectares. Throughout the identical interval, hemp manufacturing rose by 84.3%, from 97,130 tonnes to 179,020 tonnes.
50. The full worth of hemp manufacturing within the U.S. reached $824 million in 2021, highlighting its substantial contribution to the agricultural financial system.
51. In 2023, the US produced 49.1 million kilos of hemp fiber grown within the open, marking a 133% improve from 2022. Regardless of this important rise in manufacturing, the entire worth of hemp fiber decreased by 59%, totaling $11.6 million in 2023.
