What Is Hemp Biomass: A Detailed Guide

Hemp and CBD have both become wildly popular in the past few years, as public opinion evolves and the legal situation regarding both products become more and more friendly.

However, it is important to realize that both hemp and CBD are broad fields with many, many applications, as the hemp plant is an extremely utilitarian one – and one that has many uses besides CBD. One such example is Hemp Biomass, a wide range of products that can have numerous business applications. 

What is Hemp Biomass?

Hemp, of course, is a plant. It traces its roots back many centuries and has been used by numerous cultures for dozens of different purposes, including food, industrial, medical, and more. It is arguably best known for its tangential relation to marijuana, which resulted in the compound being largely criminalized in much of the 21st century. However, public opinion on both marijuana, hemp, and its byproducts has evolved, with policymakers loosening restrictions on all of these items. That culminated in the recent passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which paved the way for all states to establish their own hemp production system. The legislation also legalized CBD, creating a huge demand for hemp growth.

Hemp is harvested, and its most useful products – typically its leaves and seeds – are turned into any number of products. CBD can also be extracted and processed from the hemp plant during this time. What remains after this process is Hemp Biomass, which is essentially the waste product left behind after hemp processing. There are two types of Hemp Biomass, and each has very significant industrial purposes. 

CBD Biomass

The first kind of Hemp Biomass is CBD Biomass. This is the biomass that is used explicitly for CBD production. Obviously, only certain kinds of hemp can be used for the purposes of making CBD Biomass. However, this biomass is a vital part of the CBD process.

The use of this type of biomass ensures that farmers who produce hemp can essentially be paid twice for their crops: First for their original purpose, and then for the biomass that produces the hemp. 

Hemp Fibre Biomass

Hemp Fibre Biomass is different than CBD biomass in terms of both its product make-up and the products that are ultimately designed from it. It is comprised of the hemp and stalks of hemp and is essentially the “waste” product of hemp that is used after other parts of the hemp have been used. 

Hemp Fibre Biomass has many potential uses, and its list of uses are expanding as hemp becomes more popular, produced, and researched. Its uses include:

• Paper and other textiles, like packaging materials.
• Concrete reinforcement.
• Alternative fuel sources.
• Fiber that can be used for certain types of rope or insulation.
• Some foods or drinks, like tea.

Some potential future uses of hemp fibre biomass are on the horizon and reveal extremely future abilities. For example, hemp fibre biomass can be transformed into a type of carbon nanomaterial. That material can then – potentially – be used to replace graphene, which can be used in certain materials, such as supercapacitors or batteries.

It is important to also note that one of the reasons hemp fibre biomass has become so popular is because it can easily be rotated in to other crops. As such, it is highly probable that hemp supplies and growth will be used more and more. Furthermore, hemp compares well to other crops in terms of its ability to survive in poor conditions. 

How Can Hemp Biomass Be Obtained For Business Purposes?

Manufacturing and CBD companies have multiple options when it comes to obtaining hemp biomass. Their best bet is usually to contact farmers directly and negotiate purchasing price. Since the demand is so high these days, processors may need to be prepared to spend heavily on obtaining this biomass. This also places a premium on the ability of companies to buy hemp biomass in large quantities.

It is worth noting that all biomass must still comply with the provisions of that 2018 Farm Bill. This means that any product manufactured from this biomass must contain no more than .03% THC. Other than that, federal regulations are relatively non-existent, and this lack of overarching standards can create big problems for people in the CBD, hemp, and biomass industry. However, the FDA has said that they will be releasing regulations on hemp biomass in the near future.

The crux of hemp biomass is this: It is exceptionally useful, a chance for hemp growers to make twice of their money, a chance for the hemp product to be used to its maximum efficiency, and a growing research opportunity when it comes to the hemp plant’s overall potential.