The wide range of uses from Hemp

When people talk about hemp, a lot of them will relate it too marijuana, (even though they are quite different), and maybe they also name it as a source of fibres for making clothers. But the huge diversity of applications for this crop is for most people unknown. I picked this crop because I believe that we can have much more benefit both financial and environmental wise, if we were too use this crop on larger scale.

Crops can be classified in different ways. In the next part will be discussed how Hemp can be classified, and furthermore, in which categories within these classes it belongs.

Agronomic uses
Hemp can be used either as a grain, forage, or fiber crop.

Grain
Hemp seeds are exellent providers of protein, omega 3 and 6 fats. Besides that, hemp seed is a great provider of Manesium, Iron and vitamin E.(M. Roussellask, diet doctor hemp seeds hype). It is often used in a diet as a replacement of meat because of the wide range of amino acids and protein content. 

Forage
Hemp as feed  is gaining more popularity. The effect on the health and grow seem to have proven its worthyness. A Thesis showed that beef cows with a hemp portion in their diet as the protein supply, showed greater increase in growth and better funtion of the rumen, opposed to cows that had soy bean as the protein supplier in their diet. (M Eriksson, 2007). 

Fiber
Hemp as a source for fibres outplays every other source currently used for fibres, whether it is for paper production, fabric etc. Compared to cotton production, hemp can grow 2-3 times more fibres per acre, has a longer durability and is both stronger and softer than cotton. It also uses less water, can grow in a wider range of climates, and has no need for pesticides and herbisides. (hempbasics.com)

Looking at fibres for paper production, it also has quite some advantages over fibres from trees. It is lighter and stronger for starters, its more durable, and can be recycled more often. Because it grows so fast (120 days) and can be planted so closely, Hemp produces 2-4 times more paper per acre than trees. It would also mean that there would be no need to cut down an establisched habitat over and over again, (although it could be argued that a forest at least provides a habitat until it gets cut down). (hempbasics.com)

Nutritional uses
Nutrition-wise, hemp contains both the complete oils and nutrients. it is rich in lanolin and linolenic acids and has de ideal ration for human consumption. (hempbasics.com)

The highest yielding oil crop so far are sunflower, rape and canola. All of them produce between 100 and 120 gallons of Oil per acre. Hemp produces 3 times as much with an additional by production of 3 ton of food. (Wm. Conde)

Bioenergy uses
Hemp as bioenergy crop can be used in multiple ways. It can be burned to provide heat and generate electricity, but it can also be used to produce both biodiesel, and ethanol.
Biodiesel is produced by pressing the oil out of the hemp seed, and ethanol can be made by fermenting the stalk of the hemp plant.

Hemp uses in Canada
Most hemp is produced for the seeds/ seeds oil and further processed forms of the seed, the stalks were until now of seconday opinion. However, the focus is shifting as the importance of the properties of the staks gain industrial interest. So far there is an estimated 25,000 hemp related products. (gov.mb.ca)