Future thinking, resilient, profitable, and competitive rural industries that actively consider what is coming next – and are well placed to respond – are widely supported and required to be developed by the new hemp supply chain. There is currently a disconnect between farmers and the industry of hemp. There are limited decortication facilities in North America, the current supply chain is hit or miss and there is limited consistency in products. This is where hemp on an industrial scale is required so that a missing piece can be added and create an industry standard.  

Under the new hemp regulations, growers can also harvest hemp flowers, leaves, and branches and sell them to licensed cannabis processors, although the vast majority of hemp grown in Canada to date has been grown for hempseed (non-viable seeds), which have been used in a wide range of food products (such as hulled hemp seeds, hemp-based snack foods, hemp oils, hemp protein powders, hemp flour and hemp meal).

In Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) regulates livestock feed. Hemp and hemp products are not currently approved as livestock feed or feed ingredients in Canada. In the future, each hemp product intended to be used as a livestock feed single ingredient (such as hemp meal, hemp oil, or hemp seeds) will require separate approval.