Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and Its Uses
In my Bachelor's thesis "Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and its uses" I tried to find the most potential end uses for industrial hemp. This thesis is first extensive scientific article in Finnish about industrial hemp. Source literature includes 240 scientific articles and books. You can download the thesis at the bottom of this page. It's only in Finnish.
Hulled and whole hempseed.
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The most potential applications for fibre hemp turned out to be textile, biocomposite and construction industry. Hemp fibre use can bring added value and ecological sustainability to these industries.
Hempseed is a source for easily digestable plant protein and it contains all the essential amino and fatty acids for human being. Because of the special amino acid content of the hempseed oil, it can act as a health maintaining ingredient in a diet.
Hempseed oil.
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Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is one of the first cultivated plants in Finland. Hemp sowing has spread to Finland probably from China at the Early Neolithic period 4800 BC. In the ancient poems of the Finnish people (Suomen Kansan Vanhat Runot) hemp is mentioned e.g. in The Origin of Fire and The Origin of Iron -poems.
In the beginning the cultivation has been small scale activity alongside with the hunter-gatherer culture. Hemp sowing has become more common in the Late Iron Age 500-800 AD. and the popularity increased around the second expansion of cultivation 1400-1500 AD. Hemp sowing reached it's peak in the 18th century and in the beginning of the 19th century, when it was cultivated almost in every part of Finland.
The Eastern Finnish people used mainly hemp clothing until the 19th century. Hemp fiber was used to weave linen, towels, tablecloths and work clothing. From the hemp yarn the Finns made fishing nets, sacks and sailcloths. Hempseeds have been used in cooking. Hemp fibre was the raw material for ropes until the post-WWII era.
The hemp knowhow of Finland has been evolved in a long term taking influence from many cultures. The specialized cultivation skills and refinement machinery show that the Finns have been inventive and competent in the handling of hemp.
The Eastern Finnish people used mainly hemp clothing until the 19th century. Hemp fiber was used to weave linen, towels, tablecloths and work clothing. From the hemp yarn the Finns made fishing nets, sacks and sailcloths. Hempseeds have been used in cooking. Hemp fibre was the raw material for ropes until the post-WWII era.
The hemp knowhow of Finland has been evolved in a long term taking influence from many cultures. The specialized cultivation skills and refinement machinery show that the Finns have been inventive and competent in the handling of hemp.
Oil and fibre hemp have made a comeback to the Finnish fields. The first big business are the hemp fibre refiner HempRefine Oy and the sertified oil hemp seed producer and reseller Finola Oy. From well-stocked grocery stores one can find domestic hempseed, protein powder, hemp snacks and hemp chocolate!
The end uses of industrial hemp are mapped in two projects. Turku Applied University was awarded a 70 000 euro grant to advance hemp concrete building. In the co-project of the University of Eastern Finland and the city of Juankoski the aim is to diversify the use of domestic hemp fiber. The project was granted funding of 469 000 euros.
The stearidonic acid of the hempseed oil was found in the University of Kuopio by PhD J.C. Callaway. FINOLA breeded by James Callaway and Anita Hemmilä was the world's first hemp variety breeded for seed production.
The end uses of industrial hemp are mapped in two projects. Turku Applied University was awarded a 70 000 euro grant to advance hemp concrete building. In the co-project of the University of Eastern Finland and the city of Juankoski the aim is to diversify the use of domestic hemp fiber. The project was granted funding of 469 000 euros.
The stearidonic acid of the hempseed oil was found in the University of Kuopio by PhD J.C. Callaway. FINOLA breeded by James Callaway and Anita Hemmilä was the world's first hemp variety breeded for seed production.
You can download the thesis from here.
| Teollinen hamppu (Cannabis sativa L.) ja sen käyttökohteet.pdf |
Alternative download link.
