Czech-based
hemp cluster CzecHemp has lauded the so called European
Green Deal,
an ambitious growth strategy that aims to make the continent carbon
neutral by 2050.
European Commission (EC) President Ursula von Leyen presented the plan in mid December 2019; it was adopted by nearly all EU Member States.
“The
European strategy adopted this month aims for carbon neutrality
despite the current insecure international cooperation to fulfil the
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” CzecHemp said in
praising the development.
Supporting bioeconomy
The European plan calls for supporting the bioeconomy, creating a circular economy, investment into R&D of sustainable technologies, preserving biodiversity, transition to green energy, and reducing pollution.
“CzecHemp welcomes this step, fully supports the EC strategy, and underscores
the role the hemp industry can play in realizing the European Green
Deal,” the organization said in a statement.
The
cluster comprises private
companies, and public sector, research and education institutions
which aim to strengthen cooperation among Czech hemp and medical
cannabis stakeholders.
CzecHemp
cited hemp’s possibilities to substitute environmentally harmful
fossil-based raw materials used in many sectors, referencing
specifically hemp’s potential in textiles, construction, food and
feed, paper, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and bio-plastics.
A key role for hemp
“Agriculture
based on hemp heals contaminated soil thanks to the crop’s
advantages such as low pesticide requirements, its phytoremediation
potential as well as a fast-growing root system which enriches the
soil structure,” CzecHemp also noted. “CzecHemp hopes that the
European policy makers will finally prefer the relevant scientific
data to the six decades of the irrational stigmatization of hemp.”
CzecHemp
said the New Green Deal plan can lead to the removal of legislative
barriers to hemp within the EU member states while at the same time
spurring development of critically needed infrastructure for hemp
production.
“Then
and only then can the hemp industry supply chain be renewed and
hemp’s potential be fully exploited,” CzecHemp said.
