Hemp (Cannabis sativa) is one of the oldest cultivated crops in human history, grown for thousands of years for fibre, seed, and oil. Food-grade hemp is legally distinct from marijuana — industrial hemp varieties contain negligible levels of THC (below 0.3–1% depending on jurisdiction) and have no psychoactive effects.
Hemp seeds (technically achenes — small fruits with a hard shell) are eaten whole, hulled (as “hemp hearts”), or pressed into oil. They have a mild, nutty flavour and a tender texture. Hemp seed oil is used as a salad and finishing oil. Hemp protein powder, made from the pressed seed cake, is a popular plant-based protein supplement.
In Australia, hemp foods were legalised for human consumption in 2017, and a domestic hemp industry has since developed, with growers in Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland, and other states. Globally, Canada is the largest producer of food-grade hemp seed.
How it's produced
Hemp is an annual crop that grows rapidly — reaching two to four metres tall in about four months — in a wide range of temperate and subtropical climates. It is typically direct-seeded in spring into well-prepared soil and requires relatively little input: hemp is naturally resistant to many pests, competes well with weeds, and needs moderate water.
For seed production, the crop is left to mature until the seeds are ripe, then harvested with a combine header. The seeds are cleaned, dried, and either sold whole or further processed — dehulled to produce hemp hearts, cold-pressed for oil, or milled into protein powder and flour. Because hemp is a Cannabis species, cultivation is regulated and requires licensing in most countries, including Australia, even though food-grade varieties contain only trace amounts of THC.
What it costs the planet (per kilo)
≈ Estimated from its category — typical for nuts & seeds, not measured for this item yet. Sources & methods →
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