05/26/2023
"Scientists to deploy h**p crops in ways to combat climate change and support underserved farmers
Initiated this year, UF/IFAS h**p research and Extension teams will prioritize h**p crops with climate-smart management with help from a five-year USDA Climate-Smart Commodities grant. The $4.9 million grant led by Florida A&M University will help researchers support h**p production for conservation and carbon sequestration that can help combat climate change.
Carbon sequestration is the process of removing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses from the air. Plants can contribute to carbon sequestration by absorbing carbon dioxide from the air during photosynthesis. The larger the plant, the more carbon dioxide it takes from the atmosphere. H**p grown for fiber grows more quickly than other crops and can reach 15 feet in height, so it can capture a lot of carbon in a short amount of time.
“A fiber h**p crop can be huge. Previous research has cited that one hectare, which is equal to about 2.5 acres, of industrial h**p can absorb up to 15 tons of carbon dioxide in a growing cycle,” Zachary Brym, UF/IFAS assistant professor, agroecologist, and lead scientist on the h**p project. “This can be more effective than trees on an annual basis, which capture up to six tons of carbon per hectare. We want to encourage the growth of this crop as a strong contributor of conservation and carbon sequestration through agriculture." (By Tory Moore)
Read more: https://bit.ly/431hlMY
**passociation **pforward **p **p