Hemp builds organic matter and sequesters carbon in the soil – by some estimates, it’s twice as effective at converting CO2 to biomass as forests. Learn more in this interview with Cambridge researcher Darshil Shaw. 

The USDA Economic Research Service tracks total U.S. acreage planted with industrial hemp.  Check out this map showing the proliferation of the crop in 2019. 

Learn more about ongoing challenges and trends in the industrial hemp industry from USDA: Hope for Hemp: New Opportunities and Challenges for an Old Crop

This 2021 article from Stateline offers more details on the hemp boom and potential future directions for the market: The Hemp Boom Is Over. What Now?

Today, the hemp market is dominated by massive players like Delta Agriculture, which supplies 70 percent of biomass for every CBD product by some estimates. See Delta Agriculture

A 2021 study found that 84% of CBD products tested did not contain the potency claimed on their labels, while one in four brands did not test for things like heavy metals, pesticides, and other contaminants. Read the study here: CBD Buyer Beware by Leaf Report

In 2023, the FDA committed to developing new regulations for CBD, concluding that existing regulatory frameworks are insufficient. Read the announcement here: FDA Concludes that Existing Regulatory Frameworks for Foods and Supplements are Not Appropriate for Cannabidiol