A Tutorial on Alberta’s Hemp Food, Beverage and Biomaterial Manufacturing Opportunities

Techfibre IndustriesMarch 2017

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....................................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction.................................................................................................................................................4

Hemp History and Botanical Description.....................................................................................................5

History.....................................................................................................................................................5

Description..............................................................................................................................................5

Regulations and Licencing.......................................................................................................................6

Economic Snapshot.....................................................................................................................................7

Table 1 Hemp-licensed Area in Alberta and Canada................................................................................7

Industrial Hemp Production........................................................................................................................8

Suitable Regions......................................................................................................................................8

Seed Selection.........................................................................................................................................8

Planting Equipment and Practices...........................................................................................................8

Seed and Straw Production and Harvesting............................................................................................9

Hemp Seed for Food....................................................................................................................................9

Hemp Seed..............................................................................................................................................9

Dehulling...............................................................................................................................................10

Hemp Oil................................................................................................................................................10

Cold Press Hemp Oil..............................................................................................................................10

Solvent Extraction..................................................................................................................................10

Oil Refining............................................................................................................................................11

Hemp Meal............................................................................................................................................11

Hemp Protein........................................................................................................................................11

Food Regulations in Canada..................................................................................................................11

Hemp for Fibre..........................................................................................................................................12

Straw Harvest........................................................................................................................................12

Straw Retting.........................................................................................................................................12

Field & Winter Retting...........................................................................................................................12

Water Retting........................................................................................................................................12

Enzymatic Retting..................................................................................................................................13

Baling and Storing..................................................................................................................................13

Hemp Fibre Products.................................................................................................................................13

Non-Woven Mats..................................................................................................................................13

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Biocomposites.......................................................................................................................................14

Textiles..................................................................................................................................................15

Pulp and Paper......................................................................................................................................15

Hemp Hurd Products.................................................................................................................................16

Hempcrete Blocks..................................................................................................................................16

Particle Boards.......................................................................................................................................16

Absorbent Products...............................................................................................................................16

Pellets....................................................................................................................................................17

Hemp Straw Processing.............................................................................................................................17

Size Reduction and Screening................................................................................................................17

Pulping...................................................................................................................................................17

Decortication.........................................................................................................................................18

Hemp for Specialty Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals.................................................................................18

Specialty Chemicals...............................................................................................................................18

Cannabinoids.........................................................................................................................................19

Conclusion: Hemp for Alberta Job Creation...............................................................................................20

Organizations Active in the Hemp Sector..................................................................................................21

Links and References.................................................................................................................................21

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IntroductionAlberta’s rural agricultural communities are a cornerstone of Alberta’s economic base. They are seeking opportunities to diversify their income, sustain their vibrant heritage and reach new markets in a globally competitive world.

World populations are rising, projected to grow by 2 billion people by 2030, representing tangible market opportunities for sustainable food and fibre products. How can Alberta serve this market?

Alberta, and the prairie provinces, possess a climate that that favours the production of a fast growing, multiple purpose crop that was foundational to the early settlement of Canada. Hemp was grown for 300 years providing food, clothes, ropes, and oil before being banned in North America in 1938 under the Opium and Narcotic Act.

Sixty years later in 1998, industrial hemp, which lacks the narcotic properties of its predecessors, was introduced. It is an ideal complement to the provincial staple crops of canola, wheat and barley. Through significant investment of time and effort by the provincial government and research scientists and engineers, a wealth of information on hemp production is becoming available to farmers.

In 2003, over 2,700 hectares were grown in Canada and by 2015 almost 34,000 hectares were cultivated, with Alberta hosting about 40 percent of the production.

Alberta has approximately 9.5 million hectares of land in crops and hemp has been found to grow in nearly all regions of the province. Industrial hemp produces seed, oil and fibre that can be processed as food, food ingredients and bioindustrial products ranging from sustainable construction materials, textiles, paper, specialty chemicals and biocomposites.

The potential for Alberta to manufacture these products is significant given the expanding market for food and fibre, but what would the entrepreneurial activities look like that might capture the value that hemp can offer?

With increasing farmer adoption and domestic and global markets to be served, the likelihood of interest and inquiries by stakeholders will rise. This hemp processing tutorial is intended to inspire ideas for new business ventures and to begin the process of developing business, marketing and facility plans to create rewarding jobs and careers with Alberta grown hemp.

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Hemp History and Botanical DescriptionHistoryHemp can trace its origins to central Asia and was brought to Canada by European settlers in the 17th century. Hemp was cultivated as a dual purpose crop for food and fibre for 300 years until 1938 when the Opium and Narcotic Act banned the North American cultivation, possession and processing of hemp. Later, it was banned internationally in 1961 under the United Nations’ Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.

At that time, Cannabis plants (such as hemp or marijuana) had leaves and flowers containing a psychoactive drug called delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). However, in 1994, as a result of agricultural research and business interests in its versatile food and fibre uses, Canada began to issue research licenses to grow ‘industrial’ hemp on experimental basis.

Industrial hemp is now a distinct crop from marijuana with THC levels less than 0.3%. By 1998 commercial cultivation of industrial hemp was legalized in Canada under the licencing and regulations of Health Canada.

DescriptionIndustrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a short day, temperate climate, annual plant with distinctive palmate leaves, slender stems 1/4” to 3/4” in diameter, growing between 1.5 and 4.5m in height, depending on variety and conditions. A cross section of the stem reveals a central pith area, surrounded by a woody plant material known as hurd (sometimes referred to as ‘shive’ in other parts of the world) and an outer layer of tissue in which strong bast fibers are found.

The hemp stem grows until the end of June or beginning of July with seed produced in spikes of small greenish flowers at the top of the plant. The seed is popcorn kernel shaped and brown coloured, typically under 4 millimeters in size, with a 1000 kernel weight in the range of 13.5 grams to 21.5 grams depending on variety and growing conditions. The average hemp bushel weighs 20 kilograms.

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Regulations and LicencingAll Cannabis species are considered controlled substance in Canada regardless of their THC content. In 1998 the industrial Hemp Regulation Program began to allow Canadian farmers to grow low-THC cannabis varieties approved for their region for industrial use under controlled circumstances. It includes licences, permits and authorizations for all persons in Canada engaged in the cultivation, distribution, importation, exportation, processing, plant breeding, analyzing, and sampling of industrial hemp. Products derived from industrial hemp include dehulled hemp seed (hemp hearts), hemp seed oil, and hemp flour.

The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act imposes additional requirements for utilizing industrial hemp sprouts, leaves, flowers or bracts. However, product manufacturing utilizing bare mature industrial hemp stalks (without leaves, flowers, seeds, and branches) for hurd and fiber are not governed under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

In 2016 the Canadian government began to simplify aspects of its industrial hemp licencing program recognizing the evolving status of the hemp sector.

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Economic SnapshotApproximately 30 countries in Europe, Asia, and North and South America currently permit producers to grow hemp. China is the largest producer and exporter of hemp textiles and related products. The European Union’s temperate ecozones have an active hemp market beginning in 1993 based in France, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Romania, and Hungary with about 10-15,000 ha grown in 2012. Canada’s leading hemp producing provinces are Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Canada’s industrial acres have been climbing rapidly in recent years (Table 1).

Table 1 Hemp-licensed Area in Alberta and Canada.

The global market can be generally subdivided into agriculture, textiles, automotive, furniture, food/nutrition/beverages, paper, construction materials, and personal care. It is difficult to determine the economic value of these markets due to the nascent nature of the industry.

The Hemp Industries Association (HIA) estimates that the total U.S. retail value of hemp products in 2013 was $581 million. In contrast, the value of Canadian hemp seed exported, in 2012, was approximately $10 million, indicating that the value-added potential for this crop is substantial.

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Industrial Hemp ProductionSuitable RegionsHemp is adapted to all soil and climatic zones in Alberta and has been successfully grown as far north as High Level and down to the US border.

However, heavy clay soils and high spring precipitation or snow melt should be avoided (areas in the Foothill should be selected carefully for example) as the plants are set back in wet, waterlogged situations.

Seed SelectionProducers are required to plant certified seed (no common seed is allowed) from an approved variety. Variety trial testing has been conducted in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and the Maritimes and the provincial seed guides will have recommendations for specific geographic areas.

There are eight organizations consisting of co-ops, private companies, and an Alberta research institute, conducting hemp breeding in Canada with approximately 40 varieties currently available. The breeding programs and certified seed requirements ensure low THC content and consistency in yield and quality traits such as oil and protein.

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Planting Equipment and PracticesHemp seed can be sown conventionally or as zero till (where seed is sown into stubble from the previous year’s crop) with planting equipment similar to that used for wheat and barley.

Hemp can be grown with conventional or organic practices and is suitable for the annual crop rotations utilized in the different regions of Alberta. Its rapid development quickly shades and controls a wide range of emerging weeds. Growing hemp also increases the time between successive canola or cereal crops which can reduce weeds and plant disease potential for those crops as well

Seed and Straw Production and HarvestingHemp plants in Alberta can grow up to 15-20cm per day, one of the fastest growing plants in North America. Varieties can be grown to produce hemp seed and straw (for the fibre and hurd in the stems) while some varieties are planted for straw only. Harvesting methods have been developed that accommodate varieties that can reach up to 4m in height.

Grown for Seed

Seed is ready for harvest about 3.5 – 4 months after sowing depending on conditions and will begin to shatter (be released) from the plants. Therefore harvesting should be timed to optimize yield. If the seeds are too dry, they can be damaged by the mechanical forces of harvesting. If the moisture content is too high when the seed is stored it can promote rot and heating damage and the seed will degrade quickly. Drying the seed is important to maintain quality.

Grown for Straw

For most fibre applications, harvesting the seed first while leaving the straw standing for a second harvesting at a later point optimizes the value for both seed and straw. Dryland hemp straw yields can be as high as 12 tonnes/ha depending on the variety and conditions.

If the straw is intended for use in textiles or apparel, harvesting the seed too early could produce low yields and weak fibre strength while harvesting seeds too late could produce coarse undesirable fibres.

Equipment

There are several equipment combinations and practices to harvest hemp seed, however, straight combining the upper stem containing the seeds, and leaving the standing straw for subsequent harvest is common. Purpose built hemp harvesting equipment is being explored which can incorporate several operations at once.

Hemp Seed for FoodHemp seed is currently the primary market driver for Canadian hemp production.

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Hemp SeedHemp seed (sometimes called ‘hemp nut’) has a hard outer hull and an inner kernel. “Hemp seed” or “hemp hearts” sold at grocery stores are typically dehulled hemp seeds. The seed contains desirable oil profiles, proteins, essential amino acids, Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. As an oil-bearing seed it has a shelf life and can become rancid due to oxidation or thermal degradation, factors which should be considered when developing food formulations.

Hemp hearts impart a nutty flavour to foods like cookies, bars, granola, and yoghurt. They are gluten free and can be used as breadcrumb substitutes or sprinkled directly on food. Hemp hearts can also be formulated as a lactose free dairy substitute.

DehullingThe harvested hemp seed is cleaned to remove plant debris and other materials by mechanical seed cleaning equipment. The cleaned seeds are passed into a mechanical dehulling and separation step using a combination of blades, sieves, pneumatics and vibration to separate hemp hulls from the hemp kernels.

The equipment assembly can be sequential or there are specialized units that can remove impurities, dehull, and separate hemp seed in one operation.

Hemp OilThe processed hemp hearts are cold pressed, producing hemp seed oil for food and personal care products and a press cake (sometimes called hemp meal) by-product which can be further processed into protein powder for food and beverage products.

Hemp seed oil can be used like olive oil drizzled on salads, pastas, grilled vegetables or other foods. Hempseed oil is not ideally suited as a frying oil as the typical temperatures used for French fries, fish, chicken, doughnuts etc. are too high and the oil will begin to break down.

Cold Press Hemp OilThere are many expeller equipment designs that can press the oil from hemp hearts but most work on a common principle of a rotating screw within a cylinder. The cylinder will typically contain steel flutes set perpendicular to the screw to press the seeds. The oil will flow down and out and the remaining press cake will be forced out of the cylinder by the action of the rotating screw. Controlling conditions such as speed, pressure and temperature during pressing can optimize production of high quality oils.

Most hemp oils currently sold into food markets as dressings etc. are cold pressed (under 50°C) and unrefined (i.e. no further processing). Hemp hearts yield approximately 1/3 of their weight in oil.

Solvent ExtractionHigher yields of oil along with seed fibre and protein and can be obtained by solvent extraction of the residual press cake. In solvent extraction, the hemp meal is saturated with successive rounds of solvent and decreasing levels of extracted oil until the oil recovery process has completed. The residual

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saturated hemp meal is treated to recover the solvent with a series of heat-driven processing stages, leaving behind hemp meal which is cooled, dried and available for packaging or further processing.

Solvent extraction requires more detailed engineering to meet process safety and environmental regulations to handle organic solvents (such as n-hexane). These processes are well-established for canola oils and require significant capital investment and safety protocols.

Oil RefiningOil derived from the cold press process, or through solvent extraction techniques, can be refined to retain their flavours and extend their shelf-life. The oil goes through a series of washing, neutralization and purification steps to remove undesirable plant material, flavours, odours and colours.

Hemp MealThe hemp meal (or press cake) coming from either the cold press process or solvent extraction route is cooled and dried by circulating air. The hemp meal has had most of the oil removed and contains a high concentration of protein.

The meal can be stored at this stage or fractionated into granules or pelletized for plant protein food applications.

Hemp ProteinPlant proteins represent a potentially large global market where rising populations and changes in wealth distribution are creating demands for proteins. Hemp protein, whether in dehulled seeds or hemp meal, has a favourable protein fraction for direct consumption or incorporated into food products. It is gluten free and also suitable for vegan diets.

Food Regulations in CanadaHemp food manufacturing facilities should apply science-based food risk management practices and must maintain good standing with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The CFIA verifies industry regulatory compliance through registration and inspection of food processing plants and product testing (for both domestic and export markets).

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Hemp for FibreChinese archeological evidence suggests at least a 4,000 year history of hemp fibre utilization. Hemp fibre was used extensively in Canada by European settlers in the 1700’s to make ropes, sails and textiles. This continued until the early 20th century until its prohibition in 1938.

Straw HarvestStraw left standing in the field after seed harvest, or fibre-only varieties ready for harvest, are cut down commonly with a sickle bar mower or swather in the same season.

The straw may require drying before being baled (wet bales can lead to rot and degradation of the hurd and fibres contained within the straw, and to increased fire risk for bale stacks). Windrowing, turning the straw back onto itself to form long rows in the field, facilitates drying and the removal of leaves from the straw (required under the Industrial Hemp Regulation Program).

Depending on the intended use, the straw can then be baled and used directly or they may undergo a retting process.

Straw RettingRetting is a process where the straw begins to breakdown to allow separation of the bast fibres from the hurd. The process can be accomplished through microbial, chemical or enzymatic actions which breakdown glue-like polysaccharides. The degree of retting makes mechanical processing easier, can lead to lower cross impurities between hurd and fibre, and contributes to desirable qualities such as colour.

Field & Winter Retting Field retting (sometimes called “dew retting”) is the typical route in Canada. The straw is left in the field and microbial breakdown will begin and proceed naturally over time generally taking from 2 weeks to as much as 4 weeks to complete, depending on conditions.

Winter retting is another method of field retting where stalks are left standing through the winter and then rolled, to break the steams, and windrowed in the spring before baling. Leaving hemp standing over winter turns the stalks from green to white as the residual chlorophyll leaches out of the stem and the sun bleaches it.

Water RettingWater retting involves fully submersing the straw in a water bath for several days and allowing natural microbial action to occur. Water retting is common in Chinese hemp production. Traditionally, this was done in a lake or river, but the process can contaminate and pollute water. In a modern facility, stalks are tank retted and the wastewater is treated appropriately. Water retting can produce more uniform

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and higher quality fibers than field retting but the process is capital intensive, has a higher operating cost than field retting, and can be detrimental to the environment if not properly designed.

Enzymatic RettingLike water retting, enzymatic retting is a process that could potentially enhance hurd and bast fibre separation in a controlled industrial environment. A high value proposition would be required to afford the capital and operational costs associated with this process. Enzymatic retting can be initiated either in the field (through application of enzymes with a sprayer or an irrigation pivot) or in an industrial retting facility.

Baling and StoringBaling can be accomplished with typical farm equipment found in Western Canada. Large round bales or large square bale formats are suitable using plastic mesh or natural fibre twine (plastic mesh must be removed prior to processing). Baling at low straw moisture levels is desirable to prevent mould and rotting in storage, and to reduce risk of fires. Straw quality is best preserved when the bales are stored under dry conditions.

Hemp Fibre ProductsThe Canadian hemp fibre industry is at a tipping point. A number of companies have recently begun operations in Western Canada, with several located in Alberta, utilizing hemp hurd and fibre for hempcrete, bioplastics, biocomposites, fibre mats and insulation.

The process of separating hemp fibre and hurd from the hemp straw is called decortication. At present there is decortication available on a pilot-scale located at the Innotech Alberta research institute in Vegreville. However, with the growing demand for hurd and fibre, commercial investments into decortication facilities will likely follow.

The seed market is driving hemp production in Canada, which will influence the quantity and type of straw available and the timing of its harvest. When non-seed demand is sufficiently established, hemp may be contracted specifically for hurd and fibre qualities allowing commercial decorticators to specify the varieties, harvest timing, and post-harvest conditions required for particular products.

Non-Woven MatsNonwoven mats are typically manufactured by combining short bast fibers (typically about 1” - 6” in length) together in the form of a sheet and binding them together with a mechanical process and/or with polymeric binding materials. Hemp fibres provide good thermal and acoustic insulation properties with less potential for skin rash then from handling fibreglass. Hemp fibres can also be used in outdoor situations where a durable, but decomposable, material is required.

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Examples of nonwoven mats include hemp fibre mats as a fibre glass replacement, insulation batts, acoustic insulation for appliances and automotive applications, mattress cores, disposable cloths, geotextiles, filtration media, and upholstery padding.

Needle punching is a mechanical process where serrated needles are pushed through the fibre sheet to cause the fibres to become interlocked.

Binder methods include the use of an adhesive web or thermal binders introduced into the mat and then melted in a heating process to bind the fibers together. Alternatively, the surface of the fibres can be treated with a resin that will cure through the addition of heat or a catalyst.

BiocompositesA biocomposite is a combination of natural fibers and resins that can be formed into products for use in industrial, transportation, construction or home finishing applications. Resins can range from lignins naturally found in plants to synthetic phenolic, acrylic or specialty resins derived from petrochemicals, depending on the application.

Replacing fibreglass with natural fibre mats can theoretically produce a lighter material for weight sensitive applications in the transportation sector. Natural fibres are less irritating to the skin than glass fibres, which is a consideration for fibreglass manufacturers and workers. The natural appearance of biocomposites has consumer appeal and can also be found in interior applications such as cabinets, floor and ceiling panels. Exterior markets for structurally insulated panels or siding also exist where wood products currently prevail.

Hemp fibres can be incorporated into plastics to create lighter functional bioplastic components that contain less resin. Depending on the application the resins can be biodegradable or resistant to degradation. The end-use markets for bioplastic products are packaging, construction (such as window frames), and automotive, with other markets in electrical and electronic components, furniture, and various uses.

Vacuum Resin Transfer Molding

Hemp fibre mats can be infused with resins and used as fibreglass substitutes in the transportation industry including engine hoods, and passenger compartment trim and accessories. The process uses negative pressure to assist the resin flow through a hemp fiber mat contained within a mold tool. After the resin has been impregnated throughout the fibres the composite part is cooled and post processing treatments applied if necessary.

Compounding, Injection and Extrusion Moulding

Injection and Extrusion moulding processes can utilize pellets that have been compounded with hemp fibre and resin in an extruder after being chopped to a suitable pellet length. The injection moulding process is done on a discrete mould (such as an automotive part) while extrusion moulding is done in a continuous manner (such as pipes or brackets). The basic principles are similar: the compounded pellets containing fibre and resin are fed into a hopper above the extruder and metered into a barrel containing

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a continuous screw and various controls for maintaining desired temperatures and pressures through to the mould where the part is formed.

TextilesHemp fibre textiles have been used for several thousand years in China, and remains the leading producer of hemp fibre textiles. North American consumer interest in environmentally sustainable natural fibres is creating business opportunities for Alberta hemp production. The industrial capacity exists in Canada to produce apparel, fabrics and yarns from hemp fibre, or from hemp fibre blends with other natural fibres (such as cotton or wool) or man-made fibres. The remaining hurdle in Canada is the availability of commercial decortication facilities to supply sufficient quantities of hemp fibre that meet the quality specifications for textiles.

There are several routes to the manufacturing of textiles. Hemp fibres can be processed to have fibre lengths suitable for use in a cotton manufacturing process (i.e. cottonized hemp). Longer fibres can be produced with specialized decortication equipment which can be used in a linen manufacturing process.

Another route to textile production is to convert hemp bast fibre to a dissolving pulp which can then be converted to rayon fibres using the viscose process. Bamboo-based apparel is manufactured using this process. This process is not currently being applied to hemp in Canada.

Pulp and PaperPaper made from hemp fibre is another practice that is thousands of years old. Due to the high strength of its fibres, hemp has been used to make high-quality papers for cigarettes, currency, security papers, and fine stationery. However, the advent of mechanical and chemical pulping in the 1800’s, and the banning of hemp production in North America in 1938, led to the use of wood pulp for paper. In other countries, where hemp production was allowed to continue, plant-based pulping for paper is common.

Today in North America, hemp fibres could make paper more recyclable by replacing virgin wood pulp normally required for added strength in the recycled paper. Hemp production in Alberta is presently too low to be practical as an alternative fibre for Alberta’s established pulp mills, however, smaller markets are accessible for specialty paper and fibres. Hemp could be pulped at a smaller scale on the site of an existing wood-based pulp mill to capitalize on available infrastructure and expertise, which would offer the partnering mill an opportunity to explore new high-value markets.

Hemp fibre pulp has high tear and wet strength and can be incorporated into speciality papers, technical filter papers and hygiene products where margins are sufficient to compensate for the current lack of economies of scale. Its use as a reinforcement pulp in commodity paper grades, while possible, is not recommended due to the low price of current reinforcement fibre sources. Instead, Alberta could take advantage of the specialty nature of hemp fibre pulps in emerging consumer product paper grades, where it can displace higher-value viscose fibres and offer a “greener” image.

Hemp varieties grown specifically for fibre can produce two to four times the straw biomass of varieties grown for seed and could serve the textile and paper markets well once there is sufficient demand to decouple hemp production from the seed market.

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Hemp Hurd ProductsHemp hurd comprises the cellulosic inner portions of the hemp stem and is obtained during the decortication process. Hurd is highly absorbent and can be used in animal bedding or industrial absorbents. It has excellent thermal and acoustic properties when formed into panels for construction or indoor furnishing applications. In Alberta, the hempcrete construction market appears to be driving the demand for hurd.

Hempcrete BlocksHempcrete is a biocomposite construction material composed of a mixture of hurd, lime and water. It is a highly insulating, yet permeable, wall construction product that does not require a vapour barrier. The embodied carbon in the hemp hurd is bound within the hempcrete making it a carbon sink for the reduction of greenhouse gasses.

Hempcrete buildings have excellent thermal and acoustic insulation properties and are fire and pest resistant. Typical methods for hempcrete wall construction would pour the hempcrete mixture into forms surrounding a traditional stick frame construction. An Alberta company has recently developed a structural and modular hempcrete block which eliminates the need for a stick frame and forms.

Particle BoardsHemp hurd can be used as a substrate for the production of engineered particle boards, alone or in combination with wood. Hemp hurd is low density and creates lightweight particle boards which are suitable for making kitchen cabinets, door cores, ceiling panels, veneered furniture etc.

The process of making hemp particle boards is similar to that for wood particle board made from waste wood fiber and sawdust. Hemp hurd is dried and screened to create a uniform particle size. The hurd is sprayed with a resin while it is conveyed to a blending hopper. As with other composite applications, the type of resin applied is dictated by the end use requirements.

The resin-soaked hurd is blended for consistency and piped into a press which forms an uncured sheet of particle board. The boards are cured through a process that places them under pressure in the presence of superheated air to harden the resin.

Particle boards can used as is, or veneered as in the case of furniture and cabinets as an alternative to natural hardwoods.

Absorbent ProductsHemp hurd is well known in the high value animal bedding market such as for horses and pets, due to its superior absorbency properties and low dust content. The oil and gas industry can also utilize the absorbency properties of hemp hurd to effectively clean up spilled drilling muds and other effluents.

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PelletsHemp hurd can be combined with dust, steamed and compressed into pellets or briquettes for bioenergy applications.

Hemp Straw ProcessingThe ability to commercially process straw will lead to significant opportunities for Alberta businesses. Once the straw is baled, either after first harvesting the seed, or grown directly for fibre, it must be processed to meet the desired end use requirements.

Size Reduction and ScreeningDifferent lengths of fibre may be required depending on the end use application. Some applications, like textiles, may want the stalk and fibres as long as possible, while short straw and fibres may be suitable for other applications. Traditional equipment, like tub grinders, used to size reduce other types of straw may have difficulty with hemp because of its tough fibres and its ability to wrap around moving parts and potentially cause plugging or fires.

Industrial shredders and guillotine choppers, designed with higher horsepower and durable materials for tougher feedstocks, can size reduce entire bales (square or round) of hemp from stock lengths of several meters to a meter, a centimeter or a few millimeters.

PulpingPrimary size reduction is an important process for pulp, paper, fibreboard and other larger-volume applications that are price-sensitive or have special fibre requirements. A pulping process could include the following activities;

Cut hemp plants green; let field dry, bale and transport for processing, Chop the hemp straw to 10mm; screen to remove oversized fibres, Mechanically or chemically pulp fibres to release the plant components, Screen the pulp to separate bast fibres from hurd, Use the bast for specialty chemicals or specialty pulps, Use hurd for hardwood-equivalent non-wood pulps in printing papers and paperboard.

A chemical pulping process would involve cooking the hemp materials in vessels containing sodium hydroxide and other chemicals under high pressure to separate the lignin and hemp fibres. The hemp pulp would then be washed and screened for quality.

A mechanical pulping technique would utilize a refiner that would apply heavy shearing forces to the hemp material between rotating steel disc and a fixed plate. The resulting mechanical pulp will contain a mix of fibres and fibre fragments of different sizes which would be screened to produce a suitable grade of pulp for paper.

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In either process, the resulting pulps can be bleached if necessary for use in particular products.

DecorticationThe process of decortication is the physical separation of the bast fibre layers from the core of the straw stalk. The process is typically mechanical and involves several sequential size-reduction and screening steps, beginning with a guillotine blade or shredder, followed by a hammer mill and a rotary trommel screen in which the bast fibre, hurd and dust are physically separated. This type of decorticator will often process short and medium fibre lengths (approximately 25 mm to 200 mm in length).

If much longer fibres are needed (>300mm) the traditional scutching process can be employed instead to separate the fibre from the core/hurd. This involves keeping the long stalk intact, aligning the stalks in the field and baling them to retain their alignment. The aligned bale is then unrolled and stalks run through a series of breakers and beaters, which cause the hurd to fall away from the fibre.

Retted material (discussed earlier) will make the decortication and scutching processes more efficient (i.e. less energy required, higher yield, less cross-contamination of product streams). Approximately one tonne of bast fibre and 2-3 tonnes of core material can be decorticated from 3-4 tonnes of good quality, dry retted straw.

Hemp for Specialty Chemicals and PharmaceuticalsWhole plant utilization of hemp provides the potential for several revenue streams as additional markets are developed beyond hemp seed and oil. The hemp plant contains hemp hulls, oils, waxes, proteins and other components of interest to the personal care and cosmetics industry.

In addition, hemp is a good source of cellulosic chemicals which often share common uses between food ingredients and the personal care and cosmetic uses.

Specialty ChemicalsIn Alberta a hectare of hemp can produce over 2,500kg of hemp hurd and 1,000kg of bast fibre. Bast fibre is comprised of over 50% cellulose with low levels of gummy impurities such as lignins or pentosans.

Transformation of these cellulosic fibres into cellulose ethers (such as carboxymethyl cellulose) or cellulose esters (such as cellulose acetate) , through chemical pulping, can be performed in a facility with suitable vessels and process controls.

Cellulose ethers are used as gelling, thickening and suspension ingredients. Carboxymethyl cellulose inhibits crystallization in frozen foods, icing products and is a stabilizer and emulsifier for products such as toothpaste, body creams and shampoo, and in industrial applications such as firefighting foams, pesticides, plastics, oil drilling and completion fluids, and mining.

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CannabinoidsThe main psychoactive constituent of medical marijuana is the narcotic delta-9 THC which has been shown to provide relief from nausea and improve appetite in patients. Industrial hemp has less than 0.3% THC but contains many other bio-active components such as the non-psychoactive cannabinoid called CBD. CBD does not have a psychoactive effect however it has several potentially beneficial pharmacological properties that are currently being explored. Cannabinoid chemistry is being actively researched in several countries.

These bio-active components are typically found in hemp leaves which are not currently approved for commercial use in Canada. Supercritical extraction with carbon dioxide which utilizes temperature, pressure and solubility differences between the various components is one of several processes that can be used to isolate components of interest.

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Conclusion: Hemp for Alberta Job CreationAs seen in the previous sections there are three main value chains that arise from the primary production of hemp: the current seed value chain, and emerging value chains based on hemp fibre and hemp hurd. These opportunities for hemp can build on Alberta’s existing manufacturing activities with food & beverages, textile mills, clothing manufacturing, pulp and paper, fibreboard, chemicals and plastics.

The opportunity is to identify stable end markets that can accommodate potential volume limitations and pricing requirements while establishing these new product, company and value chain relationships.

Alberta’s food and beverage processing industries represent the province’s third largest manufacturing sector and Alberta is the third largest producer and exporter of agri-food products in Canada. There are opportunities to develop new product lines in seeds and oilseed milling, beverages, specialty food ingredients and animal food sectors.

Alberta's building products sector has a worldwide reputation for cold-weather construction, pulp & paper, and engineered composite product innovation for homes. Hemp fibre and hurd can contribute additional value to this industry

Small to medium sized businesses represent over 60% of manufacturing operations in Alberta. The establishment of a local hemp processing and finished goods facility can sustain or create new jobs for producers and farm workers, facility operators and staff in primary and secondary manufacturing, truck drivers, distributors, engineers, consultants, financiers and investors.

Alberta has the resources to assist businesses to develop new food, beverage and material processes and products such as Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Alberta Food Processing Development Centre, Agriculture & Food Council of Alberta, Alberta Innovates and Innotech Alberta, universities, colleges, consultants and local engineers.

This tutorial is intended to inspire ideas for new business ventures and to begin the process of developing business, marketing and facility plans to create rewarding jobs and careers with Alberta grown hemp.

About Techfibre Industries: Techfibre Industries offers consulting engineering services to the biomass processing industries, including product development, process conceptualization and design, flowsheet development, material/energy balances, capital and operating cost estimation, management and implementation of scientific research, process audits, equipment specification, installation and start-up support.

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Organizations Active in the Hemp SectorThis list is for information purposes only (inclusions should not be considered endorsements nor should omissions be considered censure).

Alberta Agriculture and ForestryApparel Innovation CentreAthena BioplasticsBio Composites Group (BCG)Canadian Greenfield TechnologyCanadian Hemp Trade AllianceHempCoInnotech AlbertaJust Biofiber Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods & Hemp Oil Canada Inc.SynermulchTechfibre IndustriesTTS

Links and ReferencesIntroductionArable Crop Land in Alberta: < http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/agrc25j-eng.htm>Seeded hemp:<https://www.albertafarmexpress.ca/2015/02/26/organic-hemp-supply-cant-meet-demand/>Manitoba Hemp production: <https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/production/hemp.html>

Hemp History and Botanical DescriptionHemp History in Canada:< http://www.hemptrade.ca/>Plant Origins:< http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex126/$file/153-830-1.pdf>Botanical Description:<http://www.hemptrade.ca/>Seed description: <http://www.oilseedcrops.org/hemp/>

Economic SnapshotTable 1 Seeded acres: <http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$Department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex126>Hemp commodity value:

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'Hemp as an Agricultural Commodity' < https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL32725.pdf>Hemp Seed Exports: <http://cdnseed.org/seed-exports-by-hs-code/>Industrial Hemp ProductionHealth Canada: http://hc-sc.gc.ca/hc-ps/substancontrol/hemp-chanvre/about-apropos/index-eng.phpRegulatory History: <http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/econ9631/$file/Final%20-%20Industrial%20Hemp%20Production%20in%20Canada%20-%20June%2025%202012.pdf?OpenElement>

Hemp Seed for FoodCanadian Hemp Trade Alliance < http://www.hemptrade.ca/eguide/>OMAFRA Ontario: <http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/00-067.htm#harvesting>Production Stats:http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hc-ps/substancontrol/hemp-chanvre/about-apropos/stat/index-eng.phpVarieties: <http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hc-ps/alt_formats/pdf/pubs/precurs/list_cultivars-liste2013/liste_cultivars-liste2013-eng.pdf><http://hc-sc.gc.ca/hc-ps/substancontrol/hemp-chanvre/about-apropos/faq/index-eng.php#a6>Purdue University: <https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Cannabis_sativa.html#Description>Hemp oil processing: <http://www.hempoilcan.com/products/hemp-seed-oil/>Food Regulations in Canada: <http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/organizational-information/at-a-glance/eng/1358708199729/1358708306386><http://www.canolacouncil.org/oil-and-meal/what-is-canola/how-canola-is-processed/steps-in-oil-and-meal-processing/><http://oil-expellers.com/>

Hemp for FibreEvidence for hemp cloth use:<http://naturalfibres2009.org/en/stories/hemp.html>Textiles: <http://naturalfibres2009.org/en/stories/hemp.html>Fibreglass skin rash: < http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0738081X92901014>Growth and Harvesting:<http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex126/$file/153-830-1.pdf> <http://www.globalhemp.com/wp-content/uploads/2000/01/ages001Ee.pdf>Wood Pulping: <http://www.paperonline.org/paper-production/pulping/types-of-pulping-processes>

Hemp Fibre ProductsMaterial Uses: <https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-284.html>Biocomposites: <http://www.serecon.ca/public/download/documents/6640<http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926669015304453><http://www.hemp-technologies.com/page15/styled-20/page35.html>

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Bioplastics: <https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/plastics-plastiques.nsf/eng/pl01409.html>< http://www.albertabiomaterials.com/services/commercialization-technology/>Textiles: <http://www.cbc.ca/news/bamboo-textiles-no-more-natural-than-rayon-1.938759>

Hemp Hurd ProductsHempcrete: http://www.americanlimetechnology.com/what-is-hempcrete/Particle Board: <http://www.wisegeek.com/how-is-particle-board-made.htm><https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-284.html>

Hemp for Specialty Chemicals and PharmaceuticalsCellulose Ethers as food additives: <http://celluloseether.com/application-cellulose-ether-food-industry/>Cannabinoids <https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-topics/ncicdr0000683767>Super Critical Extraction: <https://supercritical-co2-extraction.com/tag/cannabinoids/>Cellulosic Chemistry<http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex126/$file/153-830-1.pdf>Personal Care & Cosmetics: <http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$Department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex126><http://www.albertacanada.com/files/albertacanada/BioBased-Chemical-Import-Replacement-Report_Full-Report(237_pages).pdf>

ConclusionsManufacturing Information: <http://work.alberta.ca/documents/industry-profile-manufacturing.pdf><http://www.albertacanada.com/business/industries/agrifood-about-the-industry.aspx>

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