WG5: INDUSTRIAL HEMP (Cannabis Sativa L.) CULTIVATION AND PRODUCT CHARACTERIZATION

The present project strengths the hypothesis to grow hemp as a multi-crop through complete utilization of the plant material. Currently the fiber is used for insulation material and biocomposites. The shivs, the woody inner core of the stem, are used for animal bedding and construction. Hemp seeds, characterized by their high nutritional value, are an ingredient progressively used in food products which represent and ideal choice for vegans and health-conscious consumers. Finally, the non-psychotropic Cannabidiol (CBD) has become a major area of research in recent years, due to its neuroprotective, antiepileptic, anxiolytic, antipsychotic and anti-inflammatory properties. In this scenario, the selection of cultivars and the cultivation conditions will be fundamental parameters to evaluate based on the type of product (seeds for food market, extraction of CBD for pharmaceutical purpose, fiber for new material). Furthermore, the characterization of raw materials (inflorescences, seeds) and food products through targeted and untargeted techniques will be performed to assess the quality and to define and confirm both the type of cultivar selected and the cultivation conditions. 

Project protocol number: 85-2017-15069   Title of the project: La Canapa Industriale: sviluppo e valorizzazione di una nuova filiera agroalimentare ecosostenibile.