Feed additive production from cannabis commences in Russia

Dinar Shakirzyanov, general director of the Association of Hemp Breeders and Processors, told local news outlet RBC that the plant would primarily focus on manufacturing a unique feed additive from industrial hemp.

“We are increasing the efficiency of the basic feed ration thanks to microbiology and enzymes found in our supplement, as well as increasing the feed nutritional value with [the use of] hemp cake,” Shakirzyanov said, adding that so far, industrial help has not been allowed for use in feed production in the country, but this is about to change. “Product certification is expected in July, so in August, we could already enter the market.”

Not been a smooth path

The hemp processing plant travelled a thorny path. Shakirzyanov recalled that the original idea of launching such an operation in Tatarstan belonged to a group of Japanese investors. He added that for a number of reasons, they pulled out of the project, but the initiative was not abandoned.

Old Soviet technology

For primarily hemp processing, Shakirzyanov added unused equipment from Soviet times was found. The investors plan to “restore it, make it automated, and buy something more” to make the facility operational. Shakirzyanov has not provided any additional information about the production technology.

This year, 150 ha of technical hemp has been sown in Tatarstan. In 2024, the cultivation area will be expanded to 2,000 ha. The investors plan to source seeds from a local supplier Mordovian Hemp Plants LLC.

A tool against the sanctions

Irina Kupriakhina, chairman of the board of the light industry union of Tatarstan, recalled that hemp is not entirely new for the republic. It was grown by local farmers until the 1960s when a nationwide ban on its growing was imposed.

“Why [resuming hemp production] now? First of all, we are returning to this plant because of the sanctions; we have to look for solutions on what we can produce and what to grow. As soon as it was remembered, they [investors] decided that hemp was suitable; it could be grown,” Kupryakhina said.

Shakirzyanov emphasised that the feed additive is due to be based on the technical, not medical hemp. The key difference is that technical hemp doesn’t contain certain cannabinoids found in cannabis plant that make them psychoactive.