On February 28th, at the first regular meeting of the Mie Prefectural Assembly, Mie Prefectural Assembly member Nakajima Toshiki (Liberal Democratic Party) conducted questioning on the theme of “Promoting Industrial Hemp in the Green Transformation (GX) Era.”
Nakajima evaluated the decision made by Mie Prefecture last year to relax hemp cultivation requirements without waiting for the revision period of the current Cannabis Control Law that is in progress.
Next, he introduced the fact that on February 10th,ma the Japanese government decided on “Basic Policies for Achieving Green Transformation,” and related bills have been submitted to the current Diet. In the effort to reduce CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions, which is the centerpiece of the initiative, it was pointed out that there is a shortage of technology for absorbing and fixing carbon in the atmosphere (negative emissions). He also mentioned that this issue was raised at the Budget Committee Sub-Committee of the Diet on February 21st, and that industrial hemp products have been practically used in various fields internationally.
- According to research by the EU, industrial hemp can reduce CO2 emissions by 9 to 15 tons per hectare, with the plant growing up to 3 meters in just 5 months. This figure was also compared to the CO2 absorption of a hectare of young forest.
- As carbon pricing systems are being implemented worldwide, industrial hemp is expected to have value beyond just being a product.
- Due to its low environmental impact from being grown pesticide-free, the crop is seen as a potential solution for utilizing fallow land through crop rotation with other plants like adzuki beans and buckwheat.
- The plant has various uses, such as being used as a material to make clothing and as an alternative to cotton.
- Hemp fiber can also be used as a substitute for carbon fiber, which is currently used in lightweight car parts.
- Additionally, it can be used as a building material in the form of hempcrete, which will be used in public facilities during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
- Hemp is also being studied for use in aviation fuel, battery materials, and bio-coke.
- According to a report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the global market size for hemp was expected to grow from $4.7 billion in 2020 to $18.6 billion in 2027.
From this perspective, Representative Nakajima stated that the future potential and possibilities of industrial hemp in the era of green transformation are very high and suitable for the “Zero Emissions Mie” initiative from the perspective of new industrial regulations.
In addition, the Ise Hemp Promotion Association and others are exploring the potential of hemp cultivation for ritual use and as a new industrial hemp. At Mie University, a project for studying industrial hemp for both ritual and industrial use has started. In the town of Meiwacho in Mie Prefecture, which is said to have been a holy land for hemp, a project called “Declaration of Green Transformation with Hemp” will start in March of this year through collaboration between industry, academia, and government.
Considering the future potential and possibilities of industrial hemp from the perspective of promoting agriculture through the use of fallow farmland and its application in various industrial fields, and including efforts to lobby the government, a question was asked about whether it would be worth considering positioning it as the “Zero Emissions Mie Project” based on the characteristics of hemp’s CO2 absorption and fixation.
In response, Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries Department Director Hidehiro Saruya stated that due to the significant relaxation of licensing requirements under the revised Mie Prefecture Guidelines for Handling Hemp, expansion of cultivation areas for the agricultural company currently engaged in cultivation (one company) and the entry of new farmers can be considered in the future. He also stated that the following measures will be taken.
- We will work with cities, towns, and agricultural committees to promote the facilitation of farmland, including abandoned land.
- in the region. In particular, for agricultural companies that are currently engaged in cultivation and plan to expand their cultivation area, we will provide support such as developing a farming plan for production and sales funds for up to about five years in order to ensure management stability, dispatching experts such as small and medium-sized business consultants for expanding management scale and sales channels, and utilizing government subsidy programs and system financing for introducing facility machinery.
- If there is a request for support from farmers who wish to enter into new hemp cultivation, we will work on utilizing the comprehensive measures for developing new farmers, such as securing training locations by introducing producers in Tochigi prefecture, ensuring income from the training stage to the start of management, and reducing the initial investment for facility machinery.
We will continue to closely monitor the changes in related laws and the operation of the national system, and will carefully respond to the requests of farmers in cooperation with cities, towns, and other entities. He added, “We will also keep a close eye on these developments.
Yukitoshi Noro, Director of the Employment and Economy Department, responded, “We believe that the increased use of all plant materials, not just industrial hemp, in industry is an opportunity for decarbonization toward becoming carbon neutral by 2050, and we will actively work to support businesses that are proactive in environmental and social considerations from a long-term perspective in terms of technology development, etc. We will continue to actively engage in technological development support and other initiatives for businesses that are proactive about environmental and social considerations from a long-term perspective.
Akira Yasui, Director of the Strategic Planning Department, stated, “If industrial hemp is recognized as highly effective in absorbing and fixing CO2, and if this is recognized as an added value, such as in the “J-credit system” in which companies trade hemp for its CO2 absorption and fixation function and economic value, and if it leads to new business and job creation, then we will position it as a “Zero Emission Mie” project and work on it. If the project can be positioned as a zero-emission Mie project and lead to the creation of new businesses and jobs, it is conceivable that it could be implemented. Mr. Nakajima then responded, “We will continue to work on this project as a zero-emission project.
Councilor Nakajima then commented, “The Cannabis Control Law is currently under discussion for revision, and we are now entering a phase from regulation to utilization. I believe that Mie Prefecture is the first runner in this process, as it has been the first to deregulate the cultivation of hemp prior to the revision of the Cannabis Control Law.
We also asked the governor, “Isn’t now the time for Mie to demonstrate its superiority?”
Katsuyuki Ichimi, Governor of Mie Prefecture, replied, “I believe that the use of hemp for industrial use will continue to emerge. I would like to take various measures to deal with it preemptively. The governor responded, “I am sure that the use of industrial hemp will continue to emerge in the future.
