Hemp: Scotland’s Undervalued Super Crop
Hemp: Scotland’s Undervalued Super Crop
Hemp could be Scotland’s most underrated crop; a powerhouse for the environment, agriculture, and human nutrition. From improving soil health to providing a sustainable source of protein, hemp is proving its versatility, yet growers still face red tape, limited infrastructure, and lingering misconceptions.
From Niche to Necessity
Once widely cultivated across the UK for fibre, hemp has largely retreated to niche markets, prized for its seeds, oil, and environmentally friendly applications. Small farms across Scotland are now demonstrating how hemp can be harnessed for modern markets, showing that this versatile crop has a future far beyond its historical uses.
Despite its potential, hemp remains a hard sell. Public awareness is low, and misconceptions persist - many people worry about hemp’s association with cannabis or question its safety as a food product. Addressing these myths is essential if hemp is to thrive in Scotland’s agricultural landscape.
Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is closely related to hops, a staple in beer production, and has a long history of cultivation across Europe and beyond. Max Coleman from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh notes that hemp “probably originated in southeast Russia” and has been used for fibre, food, and medicinal or recreational purposes.
Nutritional Powerhouse
Hemp seeds are remarkably nutrient-dense. With 36% protein, 26% dietary fibre, 6% healthy fats, and essential minerals like magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, and zinc, they are an ideal plant-based source of nutrition. Hemp oil is rich in essential fatty acids, supporting heart health.
Research from the Rowett Institute highlights hemp’s potential for dietary diversification in Scotland. Professor Wendy Russell states: “Hemp is ideally placed to boost protein and fibre intake. It has wide and versatile uses and represents a new agricultural revolution.”
Seeds can be cold-pressed into nutty, flavoursome oils, while the press cake can be milled into high-protein powder. Surplus press cake is often fed to livestock, although widespread use in feed is limited by the scale of production.
Farming for the Future
Hemp is a champion of sustainability. It can be grown without pesticides or fungicides, making it ideal for environmentally conscious farming. Despite these advantages, it is not without challenges: fungal diseases can occur, and growers must often manage crops without conventional chemical interventions.
The benefits to soil and biodiversity are significant. Hemp improves soil health, enhances future crop yields, and even raises soil pH, reducing the need for lime inputs. It also supports carbon capture and biodiversity, for example, worm counts in hemp fields have been shown to increase fivefold compared to non-hemp fields.
Scaling Challenges
While hemp thrives environmentally and nutritionally, infrastructure and market access remain barriers. Farmers need more support to grow at scale, and processors need sufficient supply before investing in equipment to handle stalks for fibre, insulation, or hempcrete. Without both, the market struggles to expand.
Currently, many farms focus on seed production because harvesting and processing stalks requires specialised machinery. Scaling hemp production in Scotland will require investment in processing facilities, co-operatives, and support mechanisms to make the economics viable.
Unlocking Hemp’s Potential
Hemp ticks so many boxes: carbon capture, soil health, nutrition for humans and animals. The challenge lies in scaling the sector: farmers won’t expand without processors, and processors won’t invest without supply. Strategic investment could unlock opportunities in food, feed, and consumer markets, creating a robust, localised agricultural system.
With barley prices under pressure, alternatives like hemp are increasingly attractive. Hemp is good for the land, good for people, and good for the climate. It just needs the right infrastructure and investment to make it work at scale.
