From Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office:
The state's first
industrial hemp research forum will be held Wednesday, Feb. 28 at
Cornell University to support the development of the industry and help
transform New York's agricultural economy.
The forum is part of the
Governor's 2018 State of the State proposal to establish New York as a national
leader in industrial hemp research, production and processing.
It will
connect researchers and academics with businesses and processors to develop
strategies to advance research in the Southern Tier and throughout the
state.
"New York will continue to make strategic investments that
support agricultural innovation, expand the state's farming and manufacturing
sectors, and help meet the growing demand for local products," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.
"By positioning the Southern Tier at the forefront of
industrial hemp research and production, our farmers will capitalize on the
growth potential of this crop, create new jobs, and boost economies across the
region and the state."
"Tremendous progress has been made since we convened the
very first hemp summit at Cornell in April 2017," said Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul. "As I travel the Southern Tier
and speak to members of the agricultural and academic communities, I sense the
great enthusiasm for this opportunity to create a whole new industry in this
region.
"This research and development forum will expand opportunities for New
York's businesses and farmers to tap into the full potential of industrial hemp
production," she said. "Investing in hemp initiatives will create new jobs and help farmers
continue to grow as part of the Upstate Revitalization Initiative."
The forum will focus on improving and expanding New York's
Industrial Hemp Agricultural Research Pilot Program, which will boost the
agricultural sector and ensure the Empire State remains at the forefront of the
emerging industry.
Growing industrial hemp has the potential to diversify
New York's farms, connect growers to new markets and provide them with new
sources of income.
Industrial hemp also offers opportunities to support
economic growth across the state, including advanced manufacturing of
composites, fibers, nutritional supplements and other products.
During the forum, participants in the state's Industrial Hemp
Agricultural Research Pilot Program will share research findings, challenges
and successes from the 2017 growing season.
In addition, attendees will discuss
ways to capitalize on the potential of this crop by assessing research needs
and identifying key areas for future research.
By bringing together
growers, academics, processors and business owners, the forum will build
connections among participants to enhance the studies being conducted and avoid
duplicating research.
Advancing Hemp Research and Production Across NY
To further support the development of the industrial hemp
industry, the state has invested $650,000 through the Regional Economic
Development Councils to establish a brand new, $3.17 million industrial hemp
processing facility in the Greater Binghamton area.
Southern Tier Hemp, the
company leading this effort, develops, manufactures, and sells cannabidiol
(CBD)-based health products using a proprietary carbon dioxide based method of
extraction.
In addition, as promised in the 2018 State of the State
address, New York will invest $2 million for a seed certification and breeding
program to begin the production of unique hemp varieties.
Current participants
in the Industrial Hemp Agricultural Research Pilot Program rely heavily on
imported hemp seeds, which are expensive and often poorly adapted for New
York's agricultural environment. A seed certification and breeding program
would reduce New York's dependence on seed from other states and countries, and
would support more productive research.
Cornell University will manage the
seed breeding program to work to identify the existing hemp cultivars best
suited for New York, and to facilitate the licensing and production of
certified hemp seed.
Cornell will lead the new seed breeding program by connecting New
York industrial hemp farmers, processors and manufacturers to ensure that
industrial hemp of the desired quality and quantity is available for various
processor uses.
Morrisville State College will expand its research as
well. The college will continue to study pest and nutrient management, and
identify new opportunities for the use of hemp stalks as animal bedding
and the potential for the plant to be used for soil remediation.
