Hemp, the plant of the future: a lever for sustainable agriculture
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Reading time 4 min
CONTENTS
If there is one plant that ticks all the boxes for the future, it is hemp. Resilient, useful, and environmentally friendly, it revitalizes our soil and adds value to our countryside. La Mama explains why it has become the best ally of sustainable and local agriculture.
Things to remember
- Hemp regenerates soil and absorbs heavy metals.
- It improves crop rotation thanks to its root system and natural resistance.
- Grown locally, it promotes agricultural self-sufficiency and reduces imports.
Hemp is a miracle plant for crop rotation.
It is said that hemp is "the plant that restores the earth." And this is no myth. Hemp has a power that many other crops do not have: it naturally regenerates the soil.
A root that works for the earth
With its deep root system, which can reach up to 3 meters, hemp aerates the soil, improves its structure, and promotes microbial life. It's a bit like a detox cure for the earth. It makes it more supple, more alive, and more fertile. After hemp has been grown, subsequent crops grow better and require less fertilizer.
In addition, its roots help stabilize the soil and limit erosion, a real asset in a context of drought and heavy rains, which are becoming increasingly common.
Rotation that breathes new life into agriculture
Planting hemp every 4 or 5 years in a crop rotation helps break disease and pest cycles. Unlike other plants, it does not leave pathogenic residues in the soil. This means that fewer pesticides are needed, costs are reduced, and, above all, there is less pollution.
This is why some organic farmers and those undergoing ecological transition have reintroduced it to their fields. And since hemp grows quickly (in just 100 to 120 days), it even allows fields to be reused between two main crops.
It's a plant that works for the earth, even when it's growing. And I can assure you that's rare.
A plant that cleans up soil and captures CO₂
Hemp is not just a green crop, it is also a cleansing plant. You see, where the soil has been damaged by years of intensive farming or industrial pollution, hemp acts like a green sponge.
Natural decontamination
Hemp is capableof absorbing and storing certain heavy metals (such as lead, cadmium, or nickel)in its tissues without dying. This process is called phytoremediation. It is a bit like the plant filtering the soil to purify it.
Experiments have even been conducted in Chernobyl and Italy on contaminated soil, with impressive results: after several crop cycles, the concentration of heavy metals had significantly decreased.
And that's not all! Its deep roots also help prevent nitrate leaching, a major problem in groundwater.
By growing hemp, we are helping to restore soil quality while continuing to produce crops. It is a form of regenerative agriculture ahead of its time.
A champion of carbon capture
Hemp is also a CO2 vacuum cleaner. One hectare of hemp can capture up to 15 tons of CO2 per year, which is as much as a young forest! And unlike trees, which sometimes take 20 years to harvest, hemp does this job in just a few months.
This captured carbon remains stored in hemp-derived products, such as hemp concrete, textiles, and insulation, for example.
Local production for more sustainable and sovereign agriculture
Hemp is a 100% local plant, suited to our climate and capable of supporting entire industries based on regional production.
A sober and adaptable culture
Hemp requires very little water, almost no pesticides, and grows in most types of soil. It is what is known as an economical and resilient crop. Where other plants suffer from global warming, hemp continues to grow, even in extreme temperatures.
And since it is grown almost everywhere in Ireland Europe, it helps to boost rural economies by creating value locally.
A complete and circular supply chain
Hemp is also a "zero waste" plant. Let me introduce you to hemp and its uses :
- The rod for fiber, paper, or concrete;
- Hemp shives (the wood from the center of the stem) for insulation;
- Seeds for oil and food;
- Flowers flowers for CBD or cosmetics.
This circularity makes it a model crop for a local, sustainable economy. No need to import, no need to waste. Everything is used, from the roots to the flowers.
French production is experiencing a renaissance
Ireland, as you may know, is already Europe's leading producer of hemp. Local cooperatives such as La Chanvrière, Planète Chanvre, and BioChanvre bring together hundreds of farmers with a common goal: sustainable production and local processing.
It's a virtuous model that creates jobs, reduces transportation, and restores meaning to the land. And if you want Mama Kana's opinion Mama Kana, this is exactly what our agriculture needs: common sense, local production, and respect for living things.
Article written by Benjamin Poirel-Nadal
Passionate about natural well-being and plants with multiple virtues, I've been exploring the benefits of CBD and its various forms for several years.
My aim? To share with you clear information, honest opinions and practical advice to help you integrate CBD into your daily life with confidence and serenity.
