Beyond the establishment of processing plants, the project is focused on fostering educational and workforce development opportunities for Native American students and adults within the biobased economy sector.
Jeffrey Steiner, Director of the Center, emphasized the importance of basing investment decisions on solid scientific research and business planning to effectively scale up hemp-related economic ventures, particularly to benefit Tribal nations and rural American communities.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the initiative aims to cultivate sustainable supply chains tailored to the needs identified by an intertribal business consortium, which integrates regional hemp production, processing, and manufacturing.
The grant designates the Global Hemp Innovation Center as a Center of Excellence by the USDA. Oregon State collaborated with the USDA to craft the Hemp Research Needs Roadmap, released recently, which highlights the industry’s primary areas of need.
Building upon a 2022 White House executive order focusing on biobased manufacturing, the grant underscores the potential of hemp-derived materials to replace those derived from non-renewable resources like oil, natural gas, and coal, across various sectors including textiles, electronics, and construction materials.
The grant’s objectives include:
- Supporting the development of a Native American-led intertribal biomanufacturing consortium and establishing regional business networks.
- Providing education and engagement opportunities for tribal communities through curriculum development, student internships, and mentorship programs.
- Identifying optimal manufacturing equipment, facilities, and technology providers to create sustainable manufacturing pipelines for hemp-based materials.
- Enhancing the quality of materials and manufacturing efficiency through advancements in hemp breeding, field production, harvest, handling, and processing systems.
Oregon State University has forged partnerships with 13 Tribal nations spanning Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, and California. Additionally, three other western U.S. land grant universities, alongside various organizations and businesses in the hemp and biobased product sectors, are involved in the collaborative effort to drive economic growth and sustainability within Native American communities.
Photo by: Karolina Grabowska
