The future of industrial hemp in the Netherlands

Abstract

Allocation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) subsidies from fiber crops including industrial hemp to biofuel and bio-energy crops, induces competition for cropland and jeopardizes the Dutch hemp cultivation. By means of scientific and professional literature and questionnaires, future prospects were drawn for industrial hemp in the Netherlands. In addition, the role of the Dutch hemp industry in the European and global market was investigated. It is expected that with ongoing competition for cropland, industrial hemp will disappear from the Netherlands. However, contradicting this, the industrial hemp acreage is expected to grow as a result of the many applications and beneficial properties of hemp. Hemp is well adapted to Dutch climate, grows well on poor Dutch soils without chemical additives, provides a sustainable alternative for cotton and synthetic fibers and may be used as bioremediation, making hemp a very interesting crop for the Netherlands.