Oregon State awarded $10-million to develop hemp supply chains to benefit Tribal nations

In Oregon, the Global Hemp Innovation Center at Oregon State University has won a $10 million grant to develop hemp-based supply chains and equip students from 13 Native American tribes for bioeconomy jobs.

The grant will be used to establish regional business networks, provide education opportunities for tribal communities, present hemp economic development opportunities to tribal decision-makers and determine manufacturing equipment and facilities needs for hemp-based materials and products.

Siuslaw News reports that the project is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and designates OSU’s Global Hemp Innovation Center of Excellence.

“There is still significant interest and potential in industrial uses of hemp,” Jeffrey Steiner, director of the Global Hemp Innovation Center, told Siuslaw News. “But it’s critical that investment decisions be based on sound science and business planning to build out and scale up economic development opportunities with hemp, particularly to benefit Tribal nations and other American rural communities.”