CO2 capture
Analytical methods, to be endorsed by national and international entities, to measure CO2 capture on land planted in Latin American soils.
Industrial Hemp Project LATAM 2026 to 2030
Tropical Hemp and its allied company, Tropical Cannabis SAS, created an Industrial Hemp Park to develop products and research the whole supply chain.
The park
A hub for product development and research
The National Center of Excellence for Food and Industrial Hemp is part of joint work with government bodies and universities, with three common objectives:
- Reviving the food and industrial hemp industry.
- Creating socio-economic development focused on the reconstruction of communities.
- Studying and creating a sustainable food and industrial hemp supply chain.
Research priorities
What we are studying
Priorities are grouped by market category and market area.
Nitrogen fixation
Land regeneration through the cultivation of food and industrial hemp.
Agronomy
Fertility levels, green manure, planting dates, yield and biomass, weed and pest control.
Hemp seed bank
A germplasm bank and plant breeding without GMOs, with varieties recommended per thermal zone.
Fiber
Fiber yield and quality, drying methods, and life cycle analysis.
Biosafety and food safety
Antimicrobial hemp textiles for hospital use, hemp bioplastics, and protein-rich food varieties.
Biofuels and bioplastics
Hemp as a biofuel, pelletized fuel, injection-molded plastics and an industrial lubricant.
High-tech applications
Research on nanolayer technology, 3D printing and the electrical properties of hemp.
Timeline
From 1929 to 2030
- 1929Industrial hemp starts in Valle del Cauca, Colombia.
- 2017A new cultivation law is approved (Decree 613) in Colombia.
- 2022Resolution 227 sets procedures for industrial use of hemp in sectors such as food, beverages and textiles in Colombia.
- 2026–2030Industrial Hemp Project LATAM.
Licenses
Licenses and registrations
- SeedNational Seed Registry, seed certification, multiplication permit, registration of seed importers and exporters, and phytosanitary compliance.
- Energyenvironmental license, connection and operation permit, water concession where applicable, generation project registration, and construction and land use permit.
- Ministries of Justice and Healthlicense for the use of seeds for sowing, for cultivation and for the production of derivatives.
National interest
What hemp can bring to LATAM
- Producershigher returns from a high-yield crop with relatively low input costs, and a way to diversify agricultural production.
- Consumerswider access to hemp food, ingredients, care and fiber products, biochar and energy solutions, and science-based information.
- Industryshared standards and a credible partner for research and promotion.
- Economymore value-added agricultural jobs, higher export revenue and a stronger research base. The Colombian government projects 44,000 jobs from the industrial use of hemp by 2030.
Market
The US hemp market, as a reference
The USDA reported that the value of hemp production in the United States was USD 739 million in 2025, up 64 percent from 2024. Figures are in USD millions.
| Category | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Floral hemp (grown in the open) | 574 |
| Seed (grown in the open) | 49.7 |
| Fiber (grown in the open) | 13.5 |
| Grain (grown in the open) | 8.09 |
| Floral hemp (grown under protection) | 81.6 |
| Total, all hemp | 739 |
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, National Hemp Report, April 2026. The total includes categories not listed, so it is larger than the sum of the rows.