Agriculture: hemp, a crop of the future

This is the first harvest of the year for this farmer near Grenoble (Isère). Hemp and its stems almost two meters high, represents a promising crop. It requires little irrigation and no pesticides to maintain it, an asset in a farming sector. Once dried, the hemp is sold to manufacturers. This represents additional income for a farmer near Poitiers (Vienne).

Hemp cultivation has been developing strongly in recent years, because the plant has multiple uses. A cooperative near Nantes (Loire-Atlantique) has embarked on future markets. “Agro-food, with the transformation of hemp seed (…) to get out of vegetable protein, and textiles, where hemp fiber actually finds all its interest”, describes Christophe February, general manager of the agricultural cooperative. Not to mention one of the most important markets, construction. Hemp is used in insulating panels in particular. Today, nearly 22,000 hectares of hemp are cultivated in France.