The application of hemp (Cannabissativa L.) for a green economy: a review

Abstract

The concern for the issues related to the growing needs of human civilization like resource depletion, pollution, climate changes, and health risk has led to a search for eco-friendly alternatives to environmental problems. Recently, hemp started gaining popularity for its medicinal, nontoxic, greenhouse negative, and biodegradable properties. Originating from the steppes of Central Asia, Cannabis sativa L. (hemp) is one of the oldest domesticated plants known to humans. Since 5000-4000 BC, different parts of the plant were used for spinning, weaving, papermaking, the seed for human feed, animal feeds, medicinal, and health purposes. Reports also suggest the use of hemp as an organic additive in the historic earthen plasters of Ellora Caves, India (6th Century). Due to its psychoactive and recreational properties, this environmentally friendly plant lost its importance eventually in the 19th century and its cultivation was made illegal. People, in general, changed their outlook towards the plant and considered it a sign of moral indignation. Recently, food, pharmaceutical, textile, paper, building, energy, and other industries found hemp to be a promising solution for synthetic-based economies. Since then, the cultivation of hemp has been reintroduced, legalized in some countries, and now in recent times, there has been a good reimplementation of the plant in creating a green economy. This review will highlight the application of hemp and display its outstanding qualities in minimizing environmental and health issues. Based on the knowledge gained from various scientific resources; the commercial, industrial, and agricultural potential of the plant will be unveiled to give more push towards the hemp cultivation.

Targeted and Untargeted Metabolic Profiling to Discover Bioactive Compounds in Seaweeds and Hemp Using Gas and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

“…Due to the increasing interest in feed-based methane mitigation strategies for ruminant livestock, seaweeds and hemp are attracting more and more attention as they can fulfil several sustainability goals, being fast-growing, high-biomass-yielding crops, which are rich in dietary fibers and secondary metabolites, with some of them also being rich in proteins [ 7 , 21 ]. However, the profiles of secondary metabolites vary greatly between terrestrial plants, such as hemp, and marine organisms, such as seaweeds, and these also vary within seaweeds, depending on whether they are red, brown or green seaweeds.…”

Hemp as a potential raw material toward a sustainable world: A review

“…It can replenish the soil by killing and displacing other tiny crops or weeds [ 19 ] and absorbing heavy metals from soils [ 20 ]. Hemp can be used for insulation and acoustic purpose in the building sector, paper industry [ 16 , 21 ], medicinal purpose, textile industry [ 20 ], biofuel, cosmetics industry [ 22 ], food and beverage industry [ 23 ], and fiber can be used as reinforcement in polymer matrix composites [ 24 ] or in bio-composite as a substitute of glass and carbon fiber [ 25 ]. The important uses of different parts of the hemp plant in various fields have been shown in Figure 1 .…”

“…Hemp is classified as industrial hemp containing less than 0.2% Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and drug type hemp with greater than 0.2% THC [ 20 , 22 ]. Although the history of the uses of hemp dates back to 5000–4000 BC [ 21 ], prohibition on its cultivation was imposed in many countries in the 20 th century [ 26 ] because it resembled marijuana [ 18 ]. However, after being correctly classified and realizing its environmental and financial benefits, this prohibition is now lifted for industrial hemp.…”

The Cultivation of Industrial Hemp as Alternative Crop in a Less-Favoured Agricultural Area in Southern Italy: The Pignola Case Study

“…In this view, it is essential to understand plant functional responses to soil drying in order to mitigate the effects of drought on crop yield. The hemp plant is highly adaptable to a large variety of climate and pedological conditions and it does not require much effort, both in terms of irrigation and fertilization, for its growth and development [15].…”

“…As reported by [10], hemp crop has a deep root system which decays rapidly, thus providing both soil aeration and fertilization and it also shows an exceptional growing potential in pesticide-and herbicide-free conditions [15].…”