Hemp Carbon Footprint

Note that for the basis of calculations, mid-height hemp cultivars grown in a dual use (seed and fibre) scenario. Planting density is 1/3-1/2 of a dedicated fibre crop, which would probably involve plants of greater height and hence more biomass in whole though individual plants may have less biomass.

" Assume: Carbon content of the raw biomass averages 40% of the total available. (Industry standard)

Assume in the processing process there is a 15% loss?

3.5 - .15 = 2.975 Tonnes per Ha

This would have 2.975 x .4 = 1.19 tonnes of C available to sequester. Depending on where that fibre is used the carbon would be sequestered. For example if it was burned, it would not be sequestered but would be considered to go back into the carbon cycle. If it was put into insulation it would be considered sequestered as it would be out of the cycle and tied up for the life of the house - 100 years?. It could be argued that it would be then put back in to the cycle but it might also then be popular to recycle it at that time so it would be truly sequestered

Assume: Carbon sequestering as a result of the growing of a plant with a higher root biomass. Root biomass is approximately equivalent to 20% of the above ground biomass.

A 3.5 T crop would have a potential .7 tonnes Biomass or .28 t of C to that could be sequestered.

Total C that might be sequestered from hemp is 1.89 T per ha. You could also compared to an alternate major acreage crop grown in the area like wheat, which on average will produce 1.853 tonnes per acre straw vs. 3.5 tonnes per ha of hemp straw per year.

Wheat above ground would sequester .741 Tonnes. Roots would produce .3706 tonnes of biomass or .148 tonnes of carbon for sequestering per year. Total C sequestered from wheat = .889 T per ha.

A net benefit for growing or switching wheat acres to hemp acres in the agriculture production system would be 1.89 - .889 = 1 tonne of carbon sequestered extra by growing hemp instead of wheat"

The proposed fibre processing plant in Dauphin, MB would sequester about 17,000 T of Co2 a year in their products (insulation and matting). Carbon market values currently range between 4$ T to 15$T

My conclusion is that hemp has great value in carbon sequestration, and as its an annual crop, it will outperform many forests, but only provided that the hemp fibre is processed into durable, long lasting product. For example, I think hemp fibre insulation that would last 90 years is more preferable than a t-shirt that will last for 5 years, but discarded earlier because its colour and make is no longer in fashion.

A call is being made to persons interested in joining this think tank.

The Challenge:

Debby Moore debby@hempforus.com P. O. Box 48258 Wichita KS United States 67201 HempForUS.com 316 524 6001 (tel) (fax)

My background, so you'll know what level I am thinking on. Having read books like "Emergence", and "The World Is Flat". A two decade subscriber to 'Women's Wear Daily', and magazines like 'Mother Earth News', and the www-weekly environmental net publication 'Rachel Weekly'...I have a question I need help answering.

Can some one help me establish the CARBON FOOTPRINT OF HEMP, as it relates to products made of hemp.

Specifically example Time Magazine April 9, 2007 edition "The Global Warming Survival Guide - 51 Things You Can Do To Make A Difference." Particularly on page 99 - #46 Plant a tree in the tropics: "It seems like simple arithmetic: A tree can absorb up to a ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime, so planting one should be an easy way to mitigate climate change. Turns out it's not so simple. Recent studies have shown that trees in temperate latitudes - including most of the U.S. - actually have a net warming effect on the climate. The heat that dark leaves absorb outweighs the carbon they soak up."

Hemp leaves are a much lighter green than Elm Tree leaves. I suspect that the new light green tea from China, popular in upscale health food stores, is actually powered hemp leaves, which are not illegal to import - like fabric.

Canada hemp growers have documented exactly which butterflies, bees...many minute details of their hemp plots over the past ten years. I think they can offer much toward establishing Hemps Carbon Footprint.

On my website, I have all the minute details of hemp oil production in relation to motor oil, documented in 1933 by fuel science. Most recently, a NASA car driver, used hemp oil in his vehicle.

Please help if you are interested, or share my concept with others who might be willing to research the challenge.

Please respond if you have interest

Debby Moore, CEO, Hemp Industries of Kansas

**********Comments @ May 5, 2007**********

Date: Fri, 04 May 2007 11:33:02 -0600 From: Arthur Hanks <hcfr@sasktel.net> To: debby@hempforus.com

Hi Debby

Nice to hear from you.

We've done a little bit of work on this, but it hasn't been verified by any carbon trading organisations. This math is from Keith Watson at Manitoba Agriculture.

Note that for the basis of his calculations, he is looking at mid-height hemp cultivars grown in a dual use (seed and fibre) scenario. Planting density is 1/3-1/2 of a dedicated fibre crop, which would probably involve plants of greater height and hence more biomass in whole though individual plants may have less biomass.