Baikal Region to Focus on Developing the Hemp Industry
Recently, it was announced that the interregional scientific and educational center “Baikal” was among the top five winners of the 2021 Scientific and Educational Centers (SEC) competition, which was declared the Year of Science and Technology by the President of Russia. The center’s work program was presented by the head of the Republic of Buryatia, Alexey Tsydenov, and the governor of the Irkutsk region, Igor Kobzev. The “Baikal” SEC will focus on the application of “green” technologies and environmental safety, aligning with global trends in environmental policy.
One of the main projects of the “Baikal” SEC is the creation of a production complex for processing rapidly renewable sources of cellulose. The Buryat State Agricultural Academy (BSAA) is the responsible executor of this project. Scientists from the academy will conduct comprehensive research on the cultivation of industrial hemp, develop technological solutions, and provide technical engineering. The academy will also train specialists for the further implementation of the project, according to the BSAA press service.
It is worth noting that in 2020, BSAA scientists successfully conducted field production trials of industrial hemp varieties “Glyana” and “Nadezhda” in the Ivolginsky, Yeravninsky, and Zaigrayevsky districts of Buryatia. Chemical analysis of the harvested industrial hemp showed a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of less than 0.1%, as confirmed by the examination of the Transbaikal Forensic Laboratory of the Russian Ministry of Justice.
Acting Rector of the Buryat State Agricultural Academy, Belikto Tsybikov, stated: “Studying and developing the technology for cultivating industrial hemp in different natural and climatic zones of Buryatia will give a boost to the development of various investment-attractive uses for this crop. These include mastering the technology for processing raw materials to obtain cellulose, producing food products, dietary supplements, and more. Another major goal of the project is to develop a full cycle for processing industrial hemp at one of the region’s agricultural enterprises.”
Hemp cultivation has a rich history dating back to the Soviet era. This agricultural crop was a strategically important raw material used in all areas of production—from the textile industry to composite elements of spacecraft. However, in 1963, a ban on the cultivation of industrial hemp was introduced, and the once-thriving, export-oriented industry declined. Finally, in 2007, a federal law was passed legalizing the cultivation of 28 domestic varieties of industrial hemp. Industry experts, based on the experience of similar markets in Eastern European countries, believe that the hemp industry will soon become one of the top 10 investment sectors in Russia.
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