HEMP NUTRITION HOLDS VALUE-ADDED POTENTIAL

The strength and durability of hemp fibre is well known, leading to a
number of textile applications. Hemp oil has features that make it a
very attractive ingredient in the cosmetics industry, as well.

Now, thanks to a growing body of research, the nutritional value of
hemp seeds is also being proven, adding yet another dimension to the
crop's tremendous value-added potential.

The Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance (CHTA) is spearheading a
comprehensive research and market development program, the goal of
which is to sustain the industry's current rapid growth by
establishing and disseminating science-based information about the
crop's dietary attributes.

"We're tracking retail sales of hemp products and, overall, the
markets here and in the United States have been growing consistently
by about 30 per cent per year since 2001," said Gero Leson, an
environmental scientist and consultant.

The CHTA received some help in its efforts through the Saskatchewan
Ministry of Agriculture's Agriculture Development Fund (ADF), which
provided funding towards one of the organization's research
initiatives looking at the nutritional characteristics of hemp seeds.

Leson served as a principal investigator for the project.

"The ADF project focused on the fatty acid composition of hemp oil, as
well as select micronutrients, mainly the relevant minerals and vitamins.

There were a couple of minor compounds we looked at, too, such as
flavonoids and phytosterols," he said.

The research analyzed a number of samples, covering the four
commercially relevant hemp varieties grown in Canada and one emerging
variety.

"The first finding was that hemp oil offers a highly balanced fatty
acid spectrum, particularly its content of omega-3 fatty acids. It's
the balance between omega-3 and omega-6 that makes hemp oil unique and
particularly attractive compared to other crops," he said.

"It's also the presence of two 'higher' omega-3 and omega-6 fatty
acids not commonly present in other natural oilseeds that adds another
good quality."

Also found was that hemp seeds offer a veritable bonanza of the
nutrients which are often lacking in the common North American diet.
The product is a very good source of phosphorous, magnesium, manganese
and iron, and a good source of potassium and zinc. Hemp seeds are also
good sources of vitamin B1 and folic acid, as well as several
phytosterols.

Companion studies coordinated by the CHTA have likewise found that
hemp protein is very balanced and easily digestible, further enhancing
its nutritional characteristics, and, because of these qualities,
Leson says hemp stacks up quite well in comparative studies with other
nuts and oilseeds.

"Hemp is just a little more of a powerhouse," he stated. "It's higher
in most of the relevant nutrients, and its protein quality is higher
in general."

Given what he has seen from the crop, Leson feels hemp offers
excellent value-added opportunity for the agricultural community.

"I really believe there is great potential in foods because the
nutritional composition is just so much in line with a couple of the
major trends in nutritional science," he said.

"The one concern would be that competition for acreage with other
crops, and rising hemp seed prices may put a little dent into those
prospects, but I guess that's the same for a number of other
commodities.

Overall, I think our work is showing that there is very nice potential
for the crop to grow."

The fact that commercial hemp farming remains illegal in the United
States gives Canada a real leg up to cash in on that.