Investigating a New Crop for Florida Farmers

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Industrial Hemp Pilot Project aims to support the future viability and sustainability of the hemp industry through assessment of the crop, cropping systems, and their ecological and economic impacts. The UF/IFAS Pilot Project was funded by industry support. UF/IFAS is also partnering with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to research crop nutrient applications to help improve crop production and protect Florida’s water resources. The UF/IFAS Industrial Hemp Pilot Project was approved by the UF Board of Trustees in 2018 and was permitted in 2019 for cultivation. The UF/IFAS Industrial Hemp Pilot Project is operational at multiple research facilities across the state representing a broad range of research disciplines and goals.

Industrial hemp is a Cannabis sativa plant that has been cultivated for 10,000 years as a fiber and grain crop with modern applications for textiles, building materials, seed oil, and essential oil. It is not marijuana as it contains total THC that does not exceed 0.3 percent per dry weight. THC is the psychoactive chemical that at higher levels defines marijuana.