BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6ae75c2e68e3f DTSTART:20230118T080000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20230118T170000Z LOCATION:Geneva\, SUMMARY:Workshop on industrial hemp CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:The UNCTAD Commodities Branch has recently produced a report on industrial hemp that provided the background material for a forum on the ecological properties and economic potential of this commodity.\n\nIndustr ial hemp does not have intoxicating properties. Nonetheless\, it remains a controversial plant\, as it is often mistakenly associated with use as an intoxicant. However\, even though a clear distinction is made between int oxicant and non-intoxicant C. sativa L. products in  international treati es\, the interpretation of the conventions’ scope is still subject to co ntroversy when coming to the inclusion or not of the various parts of the plants. Legislations in vigour in most countries impede the full exploitat ion of hemp plants’ potential in their many uses.\n\nThe report discusse s the many uses of industrial hemp\, and how they are reflected in interna tional production and trade statistics. Based on current experiences and e mpirical expertise\, the report also defines the steps that could be taken by developing countries where climate and agronomic characteristics are f avourable to cultivate the crop to exploit its economic and social potenti al.\n\nThe report provides some information about production worldwide and trade of industrial hemp products. Overall\, about 40 countries currently produce significant quantities of industrial hemp. However\, due to a nar row set of hemp products covered by international trade statistics\, recor ded trade flows do not fully reflect the true size of the global industria l hemp market. Indeed\, despite an estimated overall value of about USD 5 billion in 2020\, trade in such products\, as reported in international t rade datasets\, amounted to a mere USD 42 million. \n\nInformation about prices of hemp products is also scarce. Currently available sources of in formation are scattered and are not easily comparable. However\, some patt erns emerge within the sector. Important price differences exist between r aw\, semi-processed hemp\, hemp yarn and more sophisticated derivative pro ducts.\n\nTo fully exploit the potential of industrial hemp\, countries wo uld need to take specific actions. For instance\, a clarification of the l egal status of hemp as distinct from intoxicant cannabis substances could be the first step taken by governments. A precise understanding of product ion constraints imposed by regulatory frameworks in destination markets wo uld also be necessary to identify market potential. Regional cooperation t o facilitate the establishment of production chains may also be a strategy for developing countries to consider.\n\nThe workshop was highly attended in the meeting room and online and benefited simultaneous interpretation in English and French. Audio recordings and presentations made by panellit s are made available on this website.\n<\;p>\;The UNCTAD Commodities B ranch has recently produced a report on industrial hemp that provided the background material for a forum on the ecological properties and economic potential of this commodity.<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;Industrial hemp doe s not have intoxicating properties. Nonetheless\, it remains a controversi al plant\, as it is often mistakenly associated with use as an intoxicant. However\, even though a clear distinction is made between intoxicant and non-intoxicant C. sativa L. products in &\;nbsp\;international treaties \, the interpretation of the conventions’ scope is still subject to cont roversy when coming to the inclusion or not of the various parts of the pl ants. Legislations in vigour in most countries impede the full exploitatio n of hemp plants’ potential in their many uses.<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p> \;The report discusses the many uses of industrial hemp\, and how they are reflected in international production and trade statistics. Based on curr ent experiences and empirical expertise\, the report also defines the step s that could be taken by developing countries where climate and agronomic characteristics are favourable to cultivate the crop to exploit its econom ic and social potential.<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;The report provides som e information about production worldwide and trade of industrial hemp prod ucts. Overall\, about 40 countries currently produce significant quantitie s of industrial hemp. However\, due to a narrow set of hemp products cover ed by international trade statistics\, recorded trade flows do not fully r eflect the true size of the global industrial hemp market. Indeed\, despit e an estimated overall value of about USD&\;nbsp\;5 billion in 2020\, t rade in such products\, as reported in international trade datasets\, amou nted to a mere USD&\;nbsp\;42 million.&\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;\n\n<\; p>\;Information about prices of hemp products is also scarce. Currently available sources of information are scattered and are not easily comparab le. However\, some patterns emerge within the sector. Important price diff erences exist between raw\, semi-processed hemp\, hemp yarn and more sophi sticated derivative products.<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;To fully exploit t he potential of industrial hemp\, countries would need to take specific ac tions. For instance\, a clarification of the legal status of hemp as disti nct from intoxicant cannabis substances could be the first step taken by g overnments. A precise understanding of production constraints imposed by r egulatory frameworks in destination markets would also be necessary to ide ntify market potential. Regional cooperation to facilitate the establishme nt of production chains may also be a strategy for developing countries to consider.<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;The workshop was highly attended in t he meeting room and online and benefited simultaneous interpretation in En glish and French. Audio recordings and presentations made by panellits are made available on this website.<\;/p>\;\n\n\nView meeting on unctad.o rg\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/workshop-industrial-hemp DTSTAMP:20261101T153510Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR