The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced grant money through their Supplement and Alternative Crops (SAC) competitive research program would become available to hemp growers. This is an incentive to help growers research “superior performing…industrial hemp varieties and production practices that result in improved cost efficiencies, reduced grower risks, and wider use in production systems.” With the USDA offering a hemp grant for research, it opens up more avenues for industry growth and production.
This program is designed to encourage growers to continue to innovate and create a better product. It’s to create a product not just for human consumption, but for other purposes as well. Recently, Canada announced that all one time use plastics would be discontinued. They are looking to the hemp industry as a possible alternative in sustainable, hemp-based plastics.
“The SAC program encourages applicants to establish and work through region-based, multi-state research networks to address priority national or regional science needs of the canola and industrial hemp industries,” USDA said. “The SAC program seeks to accelerate the development and use of superior varieties and practices adapted to regional conditions that produce benefits to growers and allied industries.”
Previous Grants
This isn’t the first time that the USDA has launched a grant to further research hemp as a viable product. Back in 2019, they launched a similar program to try and help further define the difference between cannabis and hemp. This came a year after they finalized the Farm Bill which legalized hemp. However, marijuana is still a Schedule I drug on the controlled substance list. Previously, total grant funding a grower or organization could receive was $50,000. This year, applicants could receive an average of $125,000 to $225,00. This increase allows for further research and encourages other facilities to work with one another to encourage collaboration.
The application for this federal grant is open until March 30, 2021. Make sure to research if you as a grower or as a facility is eligible for application before starting the process. The USDA is expecting a lot of applications as they have been actively advertising it online. So the earlier you apply the better, as with many grants around the world. The hemp industry could see a large boon in production as well as research in the coming years. There is much excitement to see where this new adventure leads.
Make sure to check back for more cannabis and hemp laws and news.