Background of hemp in the UK

Hemp, Cannabis sativa, was historically widely grown crop in the UK. Production declined in the 19th Century as imported cotton displaced hemp from textile markets. Industrial hemp can currently be grown in the field under license to produce fibre, but the harvesting of the leaves, buds, roots and flowers is prohibited in the UK. Hemp is a source of high-value phytochemicals that are used within the health and cosmetic sectors, notably cannabidiol (CBD) extracts and hemp seed oil. Other emerging markets include food (hemp seed), feed and specialist industrial oils.

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Hemp agronomy

Hemp is a fast-growing, spring-sown annual crop with a deep taproot, suited to a range of soil types and climates. However, the need for moist field conditions for retting, followed by dry weather before the crop is baled, removed, and stored, presents challenges in very dry or very wet regions. Retting is the process whereby over 3-6 weeks micro-organisms rot away cellular tissues and pectin’s surrounding the fibre bundles, facilitating separation of the fibre from the stem. 

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Hemp is:

• competitive with weeds, provided that it establishes quickly

• has a relatively low requirement for fertilisers

• Relatively low requirement for plant protection products.