Cultivation, harvesting and processing of hemp straw and hemp seeds
Description
Hemp straw, a residue of dual-purpose hemp cultivation, is pelletised on-farm and converted into high-absorbency animal bedding, replacing conventional peat- or wood-based materials. On-site pelleting equipment to process straw that would otherwise have no market outlet, creating a new circular income stream from a crop by-product.
Sector
A1.6Support activities to agriculture and post-harvest crop activities
Needs/ Problem statement
Hemp cultivation was rare in Germany despite its versatile applications. Farmers needed new diversified income sources and sustainable alternatives for straw valorisation beyond soil incorporation or burning.
Objective
Implement new value chains for industrial hemp in the Werra-Meißner district. Process hemp straw into pellets for animal stable bedding and develop hemp nut markets, helping farmers generate diverse income from a single dual-purpose crop.
Bioeconomy fields
Crop residues and perennial plantsx
Designer crops for optimised biomass contentnull
Algae biomassnull
Waste or recycled materialnull
Microbial assisted processingnull
Biorefineries null
Feedstock
Biomass residues
Outcomes and final product
Hemp straw pellets for animal bedding; hemp seeds/nuts for food market; on-site partial processing facility.
Mobility
null
Value chains
1
2
3
2 - Medium potential - Significant availability of feedstocks available by 2035.
C Sink
1
2
3
2 - Medium potential - strong potential for carbon sequestration at the feedstock or product level only.
Intended user
Farmers in temperate cereal-growing regions with access to hemp cultivation licences. Requires on-site processing equipment and regional market linkages for hemp nuts.
Complexity of the process
1
2
3
null
Final user
Farmerx
Foresternull
Researchernull
Advisornull
NGOnull
Training organizationnull
Processor or retailernull
Consumernull
Public Authority + LAGnull
Othernull
Economic sustainability
1
2
3
3 - High potential - Expected to bring at least 3 significant economic benefits.
Social sustainability
1
2
3
2 - Medium potential -Expected to bring 2 or 1 social benefits.
Environmental sustainability
1
2
3
2 - Medium potential - Expected to bring 2 or 1 environmental benefits.
