Hemp Grower reports
As wildfires continue to ravage millions of acres of land in the western U.S., including cannabis farms, a university-led work group is looking to study the effects of wildfire smoke on hemp.
The multi-state project will take place over the course of several years as researchers look to determine how smoke affects hemp crops, including their cannabinoid and terpene profiles, heavy metal content and more. The study will also examine the initial safety of flower, extracts and other consumable hemp products after being exposed to smoke.
Researchers with the Oregon State University’s Global Hemp Innovation Center are leading the study, but it will also include the University of California, Davis and Washington State University, as well as private groups within those states.
Jay Noller, the director and lead researcher of Oregon State University’s (OSU) Global Hemp Innovation Center, announced the project during the university’s virtual Hemp Field Day in September. Noller and his team are currently working on assembling a workgroup that includes representatives from all aspects of the hemp industry to provide their input.
