German Cannabis Business Association (BvCW) and Federal Association for Sustainability (BVNG)

Climate protection and bioeconomy – associations call on the new government coalition to launch a 100-day program to promote the climate plant industrial hemp as a CO2 reservoir. Climate and economic policy potential must be exploited quickly.

In the view of the associations, the focus on climate protection and sustainability in the coalition agreement is a groundbreaking signal that the next federal government could position Germany as a leading climate nation in Europe. The associations welcome the fact that the coalition partners recognize the innovative power of the bioeconomy as a driver for climate protection. As the ultimate climate plant, industrial hemp combines both and offers the opportunity for sustainable industrial evolution. The development of a hemp industry with diverse applications creates new jobs and strengthens structural development and value creation in rural regions. 

Berlin, 12/19/2021 – The coalition partners want a “social-ecological market economy”. The German Cannabis Business Association (BvCW) and the Bundesvereinigung Nachhaltigkeit e.V. (BVNG) expressly welcome this approach and propose the consistent development of a commercial hemp industry as the core of sustainable bioeconomic value creation in line with the European Green Deal.

Obstacles and hurdles to this must be removed: “The Bundestag must quickly remove industrial hemp from the Narcotics Act. A motion for a resolution from the B90/The Greens parliamentary group, among others, from the last legislative period is ready for this and can be put on the agenda immediately. The financial support of regional clusters for cultivation and processing, as well as research funding for the diverse potential of the hemp plant, including in mechanical engineering and the food industry, are important tasks for the future of the new government,” says Jürgen Neumeyer, Managing Director of the German Cannabis Business Association.

The increase in the research and development budget intended by the coalition must also benefit the development of the hemp industry. From the associations‘ point of view, the new federal government has set itself the task of simplifying access to venture capital and public contracts for start-ups in the bioeconomy sector. However, further efforts are needed for a comprehensive expansion of the industrial sector, such as the structural promotion of hemp focus regions. “In the last 70 to 80 years, a lot has been forgotten about industrial hemp, little has been developed and even less has been researched. As a driver of innovation, industrial hemp needs this support not only in cultivation and product development, but also in vocational training. Hemp cultivation and processing need know-how. There is great industrial potential in the field of natural fiber-reinforced plastics, which must be 100% naturally degradable, and in building materials,” says Martin Wittau, Vice President of the German Sustainability Association.

The European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) also supports the demands of the German associations and sees a need for action with regard to the competitiveness of the industrial sector and minimizing risks in cultivation, production and trade: “On November 24, 2021, the European Parliament gave a strong boost to the European hemp industry by adopting the new European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Last week, on December 2, 2021, the Council of Europe adopted the Parliament’s proposal. Among other things, this includes finally raising the THC limit value, which applies to direct payments to farmers for the cultivation of hemp varieties from the EU catalog, from 0.2 to 0.3 %. The EU is thus laying the foundations for a growing, green and sustainable industrial hemp sector throughout the Union. This is an opportunity to restore a level playing field in global competition. In order for the EU hemp market to catch up with international competition, such as from North and South America, a clear legal framework is needed for the cultivation and processing of industrial hemp. This would be achieved, among other things, by establishing a further maximum value for THC of 1%, i.e. over 0.3% without direct payments. By international standards, 0.3% is still a low limit. Switzerland, in the heart of Europe, and other EU countries are already working with higher limits to distinguish marijuana from industrial hemp. Scientific studies and many years of experience prove that higher limits pose absolutely no safety risk. New legal framework conditions for Germany should be closely coordinated with European partners,” says Daniel Kruse, President of the European Industrial Hemp Association.

The associations now want to build on the “social-ecological market economy” plans of the new German government. Together with the responsible ministries, we want to develop a corresponding roadmap in a constructive exchange. The experts from the associations will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Please contact:

Cannabis Business Association (BvCW)
Jürgen Neumeyer, Managing Director
mobile: 0163 986 08 88 | e-mail: jn@cannabiswirtschaft.de

Federal Association for Sustainability (BVNG)
Stephan Köster, Head of Networks & Policy Affairs
mobile: 0171 368 4 369 | e-mail: stephan.koester@bvng.org

European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) Daniel Kruse, President
E-Mail: daniel.kruse@eiha.org