Hemp Global Solutions
Hemp helps increase the storage of carbon in soil - the largest land based carbon sink.
Hemp Solutions
"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."- Brundtland Commission
Contents:
- Hemp - A Short Term Solution to Climate Change?
- Hemp and Rockdust For Soil Health and Climate Change Mitigation
- Hemp Global Solutions and The SEER Centre
- Hemp - The Ultimate Source of Nutrition?
- Hemp, Deforestation and Reforestation
- Hemp for Low Impact Construction
- Home Grown Homes - Entry Level Self Build Community Wanted
Agriculture as a Solution:
In order to restore a balanced (human) relationship with nature and reduce our need to burn the hydrocarbons that contribute so significantly to climate change we must include Industrial Hemp into an overall strategy that encourages sustainable agriculture, and land management practices, thus creating sustainable raw materials.
Hemp for Carbon Victory
HGS is developing a rapid hemp based carbon offsetting system which outperforms agro-foresry in speed, verification, displacement of carbon emmiting practices, raw materials other social and environmental benefits.
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Hemp - A Short Term Solution to Climate Change?
Hemp can be used as a short term solution to the climate change challenge, simultaneously increasing soil carbon, locking carbon into raw materials and replacing unsustainable raw materials across several industries. It is an adaptable, hardy, multi-purpose crop that can play an important role in reducing and repairing human environmental damage.
Since accurate records began in 1850, atmospheric CO2 had increased from pre-industrial levels of 280 parts per million (ppm) to 360 ppm, by 2000. Emitted in a historically short period, this represents an enormous 42% increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. An analysis of future global trends in greenhouse gas emissions has shown that if we continue at the present rate, by 2100 this figure will rise to 540-970 ppm. It is clear that the situation is serious and needs immediate attention Fossil fuel consumption and unsustainable land use conversions can be considered the most responsible for climate change. Around 80% of the CO2 being added to the atmosphere each year currently comes directly from the burning of natural gas, and coal and oil deposits. Combustion of fossil fuel releases their carbon content into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide gas (CO2), increasing the total quantity of CO2 in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide has the capacity to trap energy from sunlight, the so-called 'Greenhouse Effect'
Hemp is far less vulnerable to changes in climate compared to slow to medium growth forests and still has the most useful biochemical characteristics of hardwood. In addition, hemp is a very versatile crop, not just in terms of use value, but also in terms of how it can be managed by farmers. Growing hemp on deforested hillsides prevent landslides, run-off and also prepares land for future crops or reforestation. Large scale tree planting is not feasible without providing an immediate and sustainable alternative to forest resources used by the majority of the worlds population for cooking heating and raw materials. Hemp produces several metric tons of versatile biomass per hectare annually or bi-annually in hotter climates, potentially protecting old growth forests.
Hemp and Rockdust For Soil Health and Climate Change Mitigation
Soil holds the key to effective intervention in climate change. Hemp can be used alongside rockdust for soil bio-remediation. Dusting soil with volcanic based crushed rock simulates the activities of glaciers creating alluvial plains. Each time organic matter is removed from soil (as in food production) minerals are removed and soil is gradually de-mineralized. This reduces the ability of soil to support plant growth. Foods now have very low mineral levels. High mineral levels in food improve the health of our bodies and the effectiveness of our immune systems.
Rockdust increases soil mineral content which in turn improves soil health and thus increases biomass production. Greater biomass increases carbon levels in soil in addition to direct absorption of carbon through carbonisation of the minerals introduced into the soil.
Hemp Global Solutions and The SEER Centre
Rockdust is cheap and widely available, and reduces dependence on chemical inputs in agriculture. Rockdusting combined with hemp cultivation boosts and protects vulnerable soils, allowing re-forestation or high yield low impact agriculture on formerly poor soils. HGS work with The SEER Centre to promote the use of rockdusting to improve soil, environmental and human health. We hope to conduct research with rockdusting and hemp in 2008.
Information on rockdusting and The SEER Centre are available on the HGS stand at Climate of Change, in Southwark, London.
The Ultimate Source of Nutrition?
Hemp seed can be consumed by humans, livestock and fish whith enormous health benefits. It contains all nine Omega oils including the vital 3,6, and 9 oils in the correct proportions for human requirements. It also contains amino acids, micro-nutrients and the most digestible protein known - Edistin. HGS is assisting individuals and companies producing ultra-healthy hemp based foods and working towards introducing hemp as a storable nutrition source for subsistence communities worldwide.
Soil contains roughly the same amount of carbon as the atmosphere and every living thing on the planet combined. The balance of carbon between soil and the atmosphere is key to human intervention in long term climate cycles and energy retention by the Earths atmosphere. The enormous scale of the activities used to transfer carbon from atmosphere to soil requires the employment of powerful, low-cost, widely available tools - we give you hemp and rockdust.