Our Vision

The Global Hemp Innovation Center at Oregon State University is the nation’s largest research center devoted to the study of hemp with more than 50 faculty representing 19 academic disciplines engaged in research, teaching, and extension services.

The Opportunity

Hemp has the potential to become a major agricultural commodity in the United States and abroad with hemp plant fiber being used in manufactured products, including clothing, construction materials, and packaging. Meanwhile, hemp seed oil is being investigated for use in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, foods and nutraceuticals. For example, hemp has a long tradition of use in treating ailments by eastern medicine.

Industrial hemp and products are a rapidly growing sector in agricultural markets globally. With passage of the federal farm legislation in 2014 and 2018, a broad spectrum of commercial interests continue to emerge for this crop, especially with respect to its refined essential oils. According to the Brightfield Group, an analytics firm that tracks the cannabis industry, the hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) market is expected to grow from $618 million in 2018 to $22 billion by 2022. 

OSU’s Role

Oregon State University is particularly well situated to provide research, teaching, and outreach and engagement associated with industrial hemp.

The state of Oregon’s geography is viewed as the source region for propagating and growing industrial hemp varieties uniquely rich in phytochemistries. This unique germplasm was bred within the state over the past several decades. Our location on the 45thparallel is the location for optimal growth of hemp.

Industrial hemp has a long history in Oregon. Oregon State University – then Oregon State College – actually hosted a national hemp research center from the 1880s until 1936. 

Our Mission and Strategy

The Global Hemp Innovation Center's mission is to advance Oregon’s leadership in crop production and post-harvest industries related to industrial hemp.

To accomplish this, the center will:

  • Build an internationally recognized research and development enterprise for industrial hemp;
  • Enhance our internationally recognized research and development enterprise for hops;
  • Catalyze innovative, cross-disciplinary research, development and outreach relevant to agriculture, food, fiber, forage, fuel, beverage, sundries, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical products and markets;
  • Facilitate core research and development on hemp plant varieties;
  • Enhance partnerships between OSU and industries in Oregon to build mutual, long-term capacity;
  • Create a platform for collaboration and information exchange/partnering both within OSU as well as with other institutions, governments and industries worldwide;
  • Expand the reach of all of the above through training and continued education by on-campus, Ecampus, and PACE instruction.
  • Build opportunities for University-wide collaboration across multiple colleges leveraging unique disciplines expertise such as: public health, business, design, arts, and engineering
  • Expand the global reach of our knowledge and understanding to build public awareness.
  • Grow strategic collaboration across colleges and departments.

Equity

The Global Hemp Innovation Center (GHIC) is responsive to the questions and needs of all people, no matter their background, level of expertise, or time engaged in agriculture. A founding value of GHIC is the advancement of equity, diversity, and inclusion through our land grant university mission of research, education, and extension engagement. We recognize there are those who have experienced systemic racism and not had access to emergent agricultural business opportunities such as presented by hemp. So especially now, the center wants to help provide Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities network and other assistance to reach equitable access to emergent hemp opportunities.

Based on this commitment, a portion of the net proceeds from the National Hemp Symposium will support the Global Hemp Innovation Center’s ‘Hemp Equity Program.’ The Global Hemp Innovation Center was founded with the goal of devoting ten percent of its discretionary resources to advance equity, inclusion, and diversity initiatives.

To build a truly sustainable hemp-based economy, attention must be given to social justice approaches and actions that are inclusive and equitable for all.

Our Equity partners:

  • Colorado State University Pueblo
  • Alabama A&M University
  • Warm Springs Confederated Tribes
  • Momma Hemp LLC
  • Vote Hemp
  • Phylos Bioscience
  • Columbia Hemp Trading Company
  • Willamette Valley Assured
  • Klamath Tribes