The last few years have seen enormous changes in the hemp industry, particularly with regard to its extracted oils and the slow but sure acceptance of CBD and other cannabinoids as a safe well-being product.
Being the first company within the EU to have registered products on shelves we have learned a lot about the potential medium to long term problems that may arise.
Consistency is key
Presuming that your company is creating products that customers will continue to purchase, be it CBD oils or hemp fibres, it is important that each purchase is the same, or as close as possible to the previous one. For example, hemp grown for ‘medical/wellbeing purposes in Spain is not going to produce the same product as hemp grown in Poland for industrial use.. The climate is a fundamental element in the growth of hemp plants and the type of plants they produce, along with the amount and breadth of its beneficial compounds such as cannabinoids and terpenes. The end-users will notice the difference.
Hemp that is grown naturally with sunlight always has some degree of difference, that’s the nature of farming by default, minimising these differences is part of the challenge. Spain, with its abundance of sun that’s Cannabis Sativa L thrives on and long daylight hours help with the consistency, along with various protocols that are used by our network of hemp farms.
Availability and Prices fluctuate
Over the last few years, as alluded to earlier, there have been several changes in the industry and the types of crops grown and the number of countries beginning to cultivate hemp as a cash crop. Alongside this we have had global and regional problems; COVID, Brexit, Transport issues and more recently wars and an energy/cost of living crisis.
Not only has this left less money in the public pockets but it has also meant inconsistency in the supply chain and the prices of bulk hemp. Each week we have companies approach asking what stock we have available because their previous supplier is unable to supply. Of course, we are happy to help where we can but a big part of me is thinking about the end customer who in some cases is actually getting a different product from the one they bought previously. As mentioned earlier, there will be noticeable differences in plants that are similar but different strain or is grown in a different environment. This can be critical for a company selling products that may be consumed by people who begin to question the difference in taste, texture or effects.
How can I obtain the required consistency in my hemp plants?
This is particularly related to the products intended for wellbeing, altho it is also true for different reasons for hemp grown for fibre.
It is important to obtain your hemp from the same geographical area and use the same genetics/seeds from the same seed producers. The hemp far themselves should have protocols for consistency.
Can we grow our own hemp?
Any individual or company has the potential to operate a hemp farm and grow the crop themselves. But of course, they will also really need the knowledge and skillset, equipment and appropriate labour. Plus they will need to likely reregister the land and declare the hemp which might take a while in itself. It’s an interesting option but I always ask myself, do corn farmers make cornflakes? Do cornflake manufacturers start growing their own corn? In the majority of cases, of course not, they aren’t farmers; but they do contract the farms directly.
Contracting with Granjacia Farms.
Let’s be frank, Spains’ climate gives it genuine advantages in the production of certain sun-loving crops and hemp is certainly one of them. It also has sustainable and economic advantages. In many ways, Spain is actually the perfect country to supply much of Europe.
Contracting a farm directly can help you provide the consistency that is required. You can dictate which genetics are used, ensuring proper legal standing and listing in the EU database, Utilise farms that are on approved certified and declared land, control your production requirements on a seasonal basis and plan for the future.
You can also save costs compared to buying in bulk each season and at the same time support local farmers who here in Spain traditionally have a history of organic food production.
How do we Begin?
Granjacia can usually contract plots from1 acre in size up to several hectares. Entry costs begin at approximately 1500 Eu per calendar month per acre.
