In conversation with Jamie Bartley, a member of the Cannabis Industry Council and All Party Parliamentary Group for Industrial Hemp
Jamie presents to industry leaders and government officials in his Midnight Blue Hemp Shirt
CT: What are the most significant regulatory challenges facing UK hemp farmers today?
JB: Climate change and the increased temperatures crops experience in summer. This increase in temperature can stress the crop, causing a rise in Cannabinoid content, meaning crops that historically have been well below the 0.2% THC limit in the in the field, could test over the compliance limit.
CT: How has the UK’s post-Brexit regulatory framework impacted the hemp industry, particularly in relation to trade and market access?
JB: Nothing positive came out of Brexit for the industry, fewer cultivars are approved on the UK seed register, compared to the EU list. Plus additional onerous paperwork when importing the seed to the UK for drilling, as we currently have no UK certified seed producers.
CT: How can the UK government better support the industry?
JB: We need co-investment into the primary and secondary processing infrastructure, allowing for the development of 100% UK supply chains, into textiles, construction, food, and bio-composites. Farmers want to grow the crop and there is end use demand for the multitude of downstream products, the infrastructure is the missing link in the chain.
Hemp growing in Yorkshire
CT: What is the most exciting recent development in the UK hemp industry?
JB: We have recently had the world’s first hemp biochar Carbon credits validated, which opens up the possibility of funding infrastructure via the presale of credits, which is really exciting and could be a tipping point for lots of projects. We have also been funded by DEFRA via Innovate UK for this project, which will collate lots of viable data around Hemp and Flax Carbon sequestration into the soils and biomass.
CT: What Babble & Hemp shirts do you have, and when do you wear them?!
JB: Well lots....you have to practice what you preach after all! I got married in a Lymington Pink one! But have added the Portobello Ivory, Oyster Grey, Midnight Blue and Bourgogne to my collection since! I always make sure if I'm presenting to MPs, Government Departments, Industry or the public about the benefits of Hemp, I'm wearing a B&H shirt and I tell them!
