Are There Ways To Grow Hemp That Will Help Combat Climate Change?

Posted by Paul Rusnak|May 11, 2023

Ag research and Extension teams from multiple universities across the Southeast U.S. will be prioritizing hemp crops with climate-smart management with help from a five-year, $4.9 million USDA Climate-Smart Commodities grant. The project led by Florida A&M University will help researchers support hemp production for conservation and carbon sequestration that can help combat climate change.

Studies show plants can contribute to carbon sequestration by absorbing carbon dioxide from the air during photosynthesis. The larger the plant, the more carbon dioxide it takes from the atmosphere. Hemp grown for fiber grows more quickly than other crops and can reach 15 feet in height, so it can capture a lot of carbon in a short amount of time.

“A fiber hemp crop can be huge,” says Zachary Brym, University of Florida Assistant Professor and lead scientist on the hemp project. “Previous research has cited that one hectare, which is equal to about 2.5 acres, of industrial hemp can absorb up to 15 tons of carbon dioxide in a growing cycle. This can be more effective than trees on an annual basis, which capture up to six tons of carbon per hectare. We want to encourage the growth of this crop as a strong contributor of conservation and carbon sequestration through agriculture.”

In addition to verifying methods to facilitate hemp’s carbon sequestration ability, the project will engage small and/or underserved farmers in cultivating hemp, and grow market opportunities for industrial hemp. A model to monitor greenhouse gas reductions from hemp crops could help establish carbon credits for farmers who grow the crop for carbon.

Farmers from Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi will be recruited to participate in the project.