Could 'super-crop' hemp be grown as Scotland's answer to olive oil?

A form of cannabis is being hailed as Scotland’s new super-crop, with the potential to supply the country’s equivalent of olive oil.

Industrial hemp is making a comeback after a pilot project proved it can thrive in Scottish soil.

Farms in the North East have been working with the Rowett Institute at the University of Aberdeen to make the case for growing the plant, which has a wide variety of uses and environmental benefits.

Ali Easson from Barns of Airlie Farm near Kirriemuir in Angus is one of the farmers taking part in the project and has been growing the crop since 2021.

“Hemp was on my radar for environmental reasons, and then, once we started growing it as part of a group, we realised, ‘wow, these seeds are amazing,’” she said.

“They’re really healthy and super-rich in Omega 3, so we thought this could be Scotland’s new olive oil.”

Hemp is a member of the cannabis family, but is not marijuana. It is naturally low in THC, the compound responsible for the intoxicating effects of the class B drug, making it safe and legal to grow under strict regulations in many countries, including the UK.

It has a wide variety of uses, from hemp seed oil for human consumption, to eco-friendly textiles and building materials. It can also be fed to farm animals, as an alternative to imported soya.

As her crop became established, Ali started a business selling cold-pressed hemp seed oil, soap and other health foods.

She’s just secured a Scottish Government grant towards the installation of processing equipment on the farm she runs with her husband, John.

Hemp thrives in Scottish soil according to farmers STV News

“Hemp has huge potential for human and animal health and the environment,” said Ali.

“We know that we can grow it in Scotland, it’s good for the environment, it captures carbon as it grows and can withstand drought conditions with its deep roots.

“All round it can deliver significant benefits and I’d like to see more farmers, and the public, getting involved and really driving the crop forward.”

Scientists at the Rowett Institute at the University of Aberdeen have been studying how the plant can be used.

The research, led by Professor Wendy Russell, has looked at hemp’s potential as a foodstuff for humans and farm animals.

“We’ve done trials with different farms in the poultry sector and we managed not only to replace soya, but in the eggs, we doubled the Omega-3 and we doubled vitamin E.

“So, not only are we working towards a net zero egg, we’re working towards a healthier and higher net value product,” said Professor Russell.

“We’d also like to work with the dairy sector to see if we can improve the nutritional quality of milk and with beef cattle the fat content could possibly be improved by inclusion of hemp into cattle diets.

“To do that we’d need to grow hemp at scale in Scotland and we’d need the processing facilities to manage that hemp and that is what we’d like to get support for.”