For Immediate Release
December 15, 2003
Pain Court, Ontario
After many months of planning and investigation, the Ontario Hemp Alliance (OHA), with the backing of several companies active in hemp processing and with the generous support of the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) has begun a hemp breeding project, the objective of which is to develop hemp varieties with improved characteristics and oriented to growing conditions in Ontario.
Hemp is grown for both its grain and its fibre. Hemp cultivars (or varieties) are generally classified as fibre or grain or dual purpose varieties. The grain is used for human and animal nutrition in the form of whole seeds, de-hulled hemp nut, protein supplements, gluten-free baking flour and for the oil extracted from the seed. The oil itself has culinary uses, is used as a nutritional supplement and is used industrially for wood finish. The fibre is derived from the stocks of the fibre varieties or from the straw of the dual purpose varieties. The fibre has been traditionally used for rope, twine, thread and fabric. The OHA sees great potential in Ontario for hemp fibre being used as reinforcement for automotive parts and construction panels. Additional uses and by-products include animal bedding, insulation and brick manufacture.
Most hemp varieties currently available and approved for planting in Canada are imported from Europe and eastern Asia.
The OHA breeding project has a budget of $121,500.00 over three years. The AAC has approved grants totally $60,750 over three years with $51,333 already committed for the first two years. The breeding project will focus on an oilseed cultivar with a high grain yield, large seed, low in Tetra Hydra Cannibinol (THC) and with a superior fatty acid profile, particularly those commonly known as omega-3, omega-6 and GLA. The breeding project will build upon research undertaken over several years involving the University of Guelph and the considerable efforts of an Ontario company that was an early innovator in hemp development. The project involves the analysis and cross-breeding of nearly one hundred cultivars from many parts of the world. In the process it is assumed that varieties will also be identified for subsequent projects that exhibit good fibre and/or good bio-mass yield.
The
OHA is a membership driven
organization dedicated to the development of a viable, vertically integrated
hemp industry in Ontario. Its mandate is to
-
raise
public awareness of hemp's uses and benefits
-
facilitate
analysis and development of markets for hemp products
-
facilitate
research and development of hemp based processes and products
-
promote
the sharing of information and interaction between members
-
act
as a lobbyist for the hemp industry
The OHA will be the owner of any cultivar developed through this project and will derive royalties from the sale of the cultivar(s) thus providing sustaining income.
The AAC receives its funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through their Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development Fund. In addition to the direct benefits to the OHA and its membership, other long range impacts include:
- Job creation in secondary industries for processing and harvesting technology.
- Business opportunities for import/export for the food and rural industry.
- Industrial hemp becomes included in cropping systems as rotational crop, particularly for organic systems.
- Rural Development through value added processing and marketing.
For further information contact Claude
Pinsonneault, Executive Director, Ontario Hemp Alliance. Tel.: 519-352-1022,
Fax: 519-352-2349, E-mail: claude@kent.net
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