Hemp as An Environmentally Friendly Crop

Industrial hemp ( Cannabis sativa L.) production has been a staple of global agriculture for centuries and is currently experiencing a renaissance as a high-yielding, sustainable crop with a wide range of industrial uses. Although hemp was originally grown for its fiber, there is currently an increasing interest in the seeds’ nutritional benefits along with the bioactive secondary metabolites like terpenes and cannabinoids that can be isolated from the inflorescences. Growing hemp has several positive effects on the environment, including absorbing CO 2 from the atmosphere, improving soil quality, increasing biodiversity, reducing the effects of climate change, and restoring healthy ecosystems. Last but not least, it is an important raw resource for several bioeconomy sectors because all parts of the cannabis plant offer several applications and can be handled industrially without energy waste.