A high Italian farm group is exploring an industrial hemp venture in Kazakhstan because the Central Asian nation accelerates its transfer into authorized cultivation and processing. Officers from the Unione Coltivatori Italiani (UCI) met with the nationwide funding promotion company Kazakh Make investments to debate pilot initiatives and longer-term funding methods in textiles, inexperienced development, and prescribed drugs.
The talks, held in Astana, included UCI President Mario Serpillo and Kazakh Make investments Deputy Chairmen Azamat Kozhanov and Madiyar Sultanbek. The Italian aspect offered UCI’s expertise with closed-loop hemp techniques in Italy—masking fiber, oil, and biomaterials—whereas emphasizing sustainable farming strategies and worldwide regulatory compliance.
In response to each events, the venture will start with pilot plots of as much as 100 hectares in varied areas of Kazakhstan, utilizing solely industrial hemp varieties compliant with the worldwide 0.3% THC customary.
New regulatory period
The announcement follows Kazakhstan’s formal legalization of commercial hemp earlier this 12 months, with the launch of pilot initiatives backed by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Inner Affairs. In June, the nation accredited a authorized framework for industrial hemp manufacturing, clearly separating it from high-THC hashish, and issued 4 cultivation licenses.
“The crop is a renewable supply of uncooked supplies that’s actively utilized in trade, agriculture, medication and the meals trade,” the Ministry of Agriculture stated in a current assertion, calling hemp a instrument for “job creation, financial diversification, and ecological resilience.”
Pilot planting is already underway in Kostanay, whereas a second full-cycle agro-industrial facility is in planning in North Kazakhstan. Authorities stated the brand new regulation permits hemp cultivation between 0.1% and 0.3% THC, distinguishing it chemically from each marijuana and ultra-low-cannabinoid cultivars.
Break with previous
Kazakhstan’s shift marks a pointy break from its previous therapy of hashish. The Chüy Valley and Kyzylorda areas have lengthy been hotspots for illicit hashish, with regulation enforcement seizing greater than 230 tons of medicine since 2014. The brand new authorized regime is designed to redirect cannabis-related infrastructure towards managed, industrial makes use of, whereas remaining underneath the watch of anti-narcotics items.
Through the assembly, each side agreed to arrange a UCI delegation go to to Kazakhstan for deeper talks with authorities ministries, growth establishments, and native companions. Kazakh officers stated they view industrial hemp as a method to diversify the financial system, with specific promise in bioenergy, prescribed drugs, textiles, and lightweight manufacturing.
Inexperienced funding potential
UCI, which represents greater than 300,000 members throughout Italy’s farm and agribusiness sectors, is amongst Europe’s most skilled organizations in sustainable agriculture and rural growth. Based within the Nineteen Twenties, it additionally performs a task in shaping EU agricultural coverage and international meals safety methods.
In the meantime, Kazakhstan’s authorities has recognized over 500 product purposes for hemp, together with hempcrete, bioplastics, insulation supplies, and paper. Home manufacturing might cut back the nation’s dependence on paper imports, which beforehand price over $100 million yearly.
The revival of hemp farming comes after a decade of sporadic efforts. Earlier makes an attempt in 2016 and 2018 failed to achieve traction, however the brand new framework—with authorized readability, pilot funding, and international curiosity—suggests the sector might lastly achieve momentum.
