CORVALLIS, Ore. (KATU) — Oregon State University is paving the way for the future of the hemp industry.
According to Jeffrey Steiner with OSU, Oregon growers could not grow hemp until 2018. The OSU researchers were able to start their research in 2019.
The university started a formal partnership with the USDA back in 2022.
Now the two will work together with the new $5.5 million funding.
Steiner says “So you think about the hemp plant, you know, it’s a very versatile plant. It produces flowers and it’s from flowers that chemicals such as CBD come from, as well as different aromatic materials that can be used as fragrances or in flavors, you know, in manufactured products. But we’re not really looking at the flower part of the plant. We’re looking at the rest of the plant, which is primarily made up of stalks.”
When the stalk is used, there is potential to make different materials like insulation, construction blocks, or even plastic.
“So hemp could be used in the manufacture of recyclable, biodegradable spoons and forks,” says Steiner.
Also, the fiber can be used to make textiles that are used in making parts of shoes, pants, or shirts.
As for food, Steiner says the plant-based protein source could be made into tofu.
“You know, so we really look looking at it a very holistic way you know all the way from seed to product to market and then also not only just local but nationwide,” Steiner added.
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