Hemp cultivation in Spain has been one of the great industries of the past. For many years hemp fibre was the economic sustenance of thousands of Spanish families, thanks to the excellent climate and fertile land of this European country. But this source of income was affected by changes in the law, promoted by the economic interests of third countries. Would you like to know how important hemp was and can be in Spain?
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⭐ Brief history of industrial hemp in Spain
The cultivation of hemp plants for fibre in Spain dates back several centuries, approximately from the 5th century BC. The excellent climate of this land for the cultivation, added to the infinity of utilities that can be given to that plant, caused it to spread quickly throughout its geography.
It has been proven that on Christopher Columbus’ expeditions to America, the sails and other components of the ships were made of this material. At that time in the Middle Ages, the Spanish kingdom became a worldwide power, thanks to hemp, among other things.
In this country it was cultivated in many places: Andalusia, Aragon, Galicia, Catalonia or Valencian Community. Still today you can visit the hemp museum in the town of Callosa del Segura, in the province of Alicante, this shows how important hemp cultivation was in some parts of Spain.
But everything changed during the 1930s and 1940s, when marijuana was banned in the USA and synthetic fibres such as nylon appeared. From that country a war began to exterminate hemp all over the world, and Spain would be no exception.
⛳ Hemp cultivation in Spain nowadays
Spain belongs to the European Union, which approved the cultivation of hemp for industrial use in 1999, as long as a number of rules are met. Spanish companies that want to plant hemp can even apply for subsidies granted by the E.U. and can plant up to 25 different varieties of hemp seed.
It is currently making a comeback thanks to the medicinal components of the plant, mainly. Cultivation for fibres is not very profitable, but there are more and more products on the market that contain CBD, so there is a rebound in this sector.
A few years ago, the Spanish Association of Hemp Producers and Processors (AEPTC) was founded in Granada (Andalusia) to enable small businesses to join forces, and at the same time make known a unique model of sustainable development, while advising new companies that want to enter a sector that continues to grow.
✨ Hemp companies in Spain
Some of the most important companies in the industry have entered the medical market, either directly or through third parties. There have even been cases like Cafina S.L. which after obtaining the license to produce medical cannabis has been absorbed by the giant Canopy Growth from Canada
The most notorious case is that of Alcaliber S.L. belonging to the Torreal group, which was sold to Linneo Health and has already harvested medical marijuana in Spain. This company is dedicated to the production of morphine and theine, with Bayer as its main customer, and now also the German cannabis market.
However, there are still companies that grow industrial hemp in Spain to obtain seed. The nutritional power of hemp has always been known, but thanks to the trend of superfoods these days they are consumed like never before. Among the most important seedlings in the country are the Galihemp cooperative in Lugo, Celulosa de Levante in Tarragona, Agrofibra in Barcelona, Agrosa semillas in Guadalajara and the Taller Textil de Triste in Huesca.
👌 Legislation for planting hemp in Spain
To be able to have your legal hemp plantation in Spain, it is necessary to fulfill 5 indispensable requirements:
- Request authorization from your local agricultural council.
- Buy seed of certified varieties by the European Union.
- Present the certification of the seeds to the local agricultural regional office, together with a report on the use and final destination of the product.
- Register the plantation in the general registry of agricultural production, also presenting the memory of use and final destination.
- Inform in different Civil Guard and Seprona offices in the area
☕ Licenses to grow medicinal hemp in Spain
In the case of Spanish producers of hemp for medicinal uses permits are a little more complicated. The competences in this sense go from the Ministry of Agriculture to the Ministry of Health, and whenever you want to obtain CBD, or create products with medicinal properties, you need the approval of the Spanish agency of medicine and health products.
Nowadays, it is not easy to get a licence to produce medical cannabis in Spain, only 5% of all applications have been granted in recent years. We hope that this may change in the short term, as other countries are regulating the sector and business opportunities are multiplying.
📖 Conclusion
Spain needs serious regulation of the sector, at a time in history like this, when we cannot clear more forests, we cannot release more CO2, new jobs and economic activities need to be created, we need more sustainable biodegradable materials and, above all, the number of patients who need medical cannabis to live better, we cannot afford to keep this sacred plant banned or super-controlled. If you liked this article, we would appreciate it if you could share it with your networks.
Hi I am writing to ask the following I have a plot of land in Jean and would like to plant hemp for industrial purposes, how can I go about doing this please if at all. instead of planting tress for instance.
Thank ou any information would be great.
Hello Tim, a colleague will contact you and clarify any questions.
Greetings.
Hi yes please give me all information for licensing and growing hemp in Spain detailed step by step plan to start growing hemp commercially if anyone knows?
Hi, same as above, I would be very interested in growing hemp commercially. Could you ease provide info how to start, what are the legal requirements etc.
I look forward to get any advise.
Thank you
I am very interested in growing hemp.could you tell me how to get started. EU Certification ect
Hi, please give me all information for licensing and growing hemp in Spain detailed step by step plan to start growing hemp commercially. I live in the Alicante region
Hi Michael,
For next year we have the full quota of hemp growers who can work with our license.
If you are interested, next year we will start with the 2021 crops.
Thank you for trusting PEV Grow
Hi Alan I am wanting to grow hemp for CBD in Spain how do I go about this would appreciate any feedback
Hello Leonie,
I leave you the necessary information regarding the legal issue:
To grow hemp you have to buy seeds of varieties certified by the E.U. and then go to the regional agricultural office in your area with the invoice or purchase receipt and the seed certification label. There you have to register the crop in the REGEPA registry (general registry of agricultural production) Then you have to go to the civil guard barracks belonging to the town where the crop will be housed, deliver a photocopy of the the certification of the seeds, purchase invoice of the same, and the sealed documentation of the regional agrarian office.
These are the normal procedures to be able to cultivate hemp with the intention of producing fibers or seeds, if the crop is going to be destined to the production of flowers it is more complicated, especially if it is for the extraction of CBD, since being a medicine enters the AEMPS (Spanish Agency of the medicine)
If you have any questions, you can contact us by email: customer@pevgrow.com
Greetings.
Hi Alan
I am living in Andalucia (Almeria Region), I am working for an Australian Hemp and Medical Marijuana investment company, we also currently have operations in the US where we currently have nearly 1000 acres of Hemp in growth (first batch ready to harvest in early December, we operate via Joint Ventures (JV’s) with the farmers out there, and we are looking to come into the Spanish market, through tie ups, something of interest? I am currently working on Spanish regulations for this (trying to understand!!) We also have a seed facility in the US, which we use with the farmers. Also looking to import the Hemp seeds into Spain, we have plenty!!
Await your reply if of interest
Regards
Michael Morris
Hi Michael,
I’m a Brit living in Spain. I might be interested in doing a collaboration with you. I speak Spanish too. Got some money to invest.
Email me at sacredwood@protonmail.com
Best
Rich
Hi Alan, I like Tim have a plot of land in Canilles, Baza region and would like to plant hemp for industrial purposes, how can I go about doing this please if at all.
Thank you
Shaune
Hi, i would like to grow industrial hemp in Granada, Please can you send me information on how i can obtain the licence.
I too would love to know more about doing this in Granada
Has anyone found a guide yet for this?
Best
Rich
Hi Alan,
I am moving to Spain, the Balearic Islands, Would like to grow industrial hemp commercially. Do I need a license to grow hemp in Spain? Can one also harvest the buds for CBD? Like the other people who have posted on this site, is there a step by step guide to licensing in Spain and growing industrial hemp?
Hi Katrushka, a colleague will contact you shortly to give you the necessary information.
Happy New Year
Hi Alan,
My family and I are moving to the Valencia area and am very interested in establishing an industrial hemp farm for textiles and seed/protein production. I would greatly appreciate any licensing, financial projections, and growing requirements needed.
Greatly appreciated,
Jordan
Hello Jordan,
All the information is on our blog
but if you need more help or advice you can talk to us through our email:
customer@pevgrow.com
Regards.
Hola,
estoy interesado en cultivar cañamo industrial en Lugo, dispondo de una finca de 10 ha.
me gustaría tener más información al respecto.
gracias
Hola Jose,
Si necesitas asesoramiento, siempre puedes contactar mediante este email,
customer@pevgrow.com
Saludos.
Hello,
I am interested no know what industrial hemp strains can be cultivated in Spain?
The current EU list shows 95 certified varieties for the EU, versus only 25 varieties in the
Real Decreto 1729/1999. ( Spain is part of the EU ).
What is the situation here? Can you please explain?
Thank you for your e feedback.
Best regards
Hello Marc,
I leave you the necessary information regarding the legal issue:
To grow hemp you have to buy seeds of varieties certified by the E.U. and then go to the regional agricultural office in your area with the invoice or purchase receipt and the seed certification label. There you have to register the crop in the REGEPA registry (general registry of agricultural production) Then you have to go to the civil guard barracks belonging to the town where the crop will be housed, deliver a photocopy of the the certification of the seeds, purchase invoice of the same, and the sealed documentation of the regional agrarian office.
These are the normal procedures to be able to cultivate hemp with the intention of producing fibers or seeds, if the crop is going to be destined to the production of flowers it is more complicated, especially if it is for the extraction of CBD, since being a medicine enters the AEMPS (Spanish Agency of the medicine)
If you have any questions, you can contact us by email: customer@pevgrow.com
I hope it helped you.
Good morning, I have large quantities of land in the Valencia province, with many water actions. We are looking into alternative farming crops and beings as I have worked in the alternative medecine field for many years, the production of hemp would be a main priority for a post covid world and for my children’s future. How do the present laws stand and how long is the process for permissions, is there a max. Amount you can cultivate? I have many questions if you would contact me. Many thanks.
Hello Justine,
I leave you the necessary information regarding the legal issue:
To grow hemp you have to buy seeds of varieties certified by the E.U. and then go to the regional agricultural office in your area with the invoice or purchase receipt and the seed certification label. There you have to register the crop in the REGEPA registry (general registry of agricultural production) Then you have to go to the civil guard barracks belonging to the town where the crop will be housed, deliver a photocopy of the the certification of the seeds, purchase invoice of the same, and the sealed documentation of the regional agrarian office.
These are the normal procedures to be able to cultivate hemp with the intention of producing fibers or seeds, if the crop is going to be destined to the production of flowers it is more complicated, especially if it is for the extraction of CBD, since being a medicine enters the AEMPS (Spanish Agency of the medicine)
If you have any questions, you can contact us by email: customer@pevgrow.com
I hope it helped you.
Hello, i am interested in growing industrial CBD on canary islands. I would highly appreciate, if you could forward me further details for the licensing in Spain or any information which will bring some clarity to the CBD subject if and how it might be possible and especially with how much costs for licensing i have to deal with.
Thanks kindly for a reply ,
Renate
Hello Renate,
The economic issue varies depending on the terrain and the objective of the plantation, if it is only to extract fibers or if for example the objective is the flowers.
On the other hand, here I leave you the necessary information regarding the legal issue:
To grow hemp you have to buy seeds of varieties certified by the E.U. and then go to the regional agricultural office in your area with the invoice or purchase receipt and the seed certification label. There you have to register the crop in the REGEPA registry (general registry of agricultural production) Then you have to go to the civil guard barracks belonging to the town where the crop will be housed, deliver a photocopy of the the certification of the seeds, purchase invoice of the same, and the sealed documentation of the regional agrarian office.
These are the normal procedures to be able to cultivate hemp with the intention of producing fibers or seeds, if the crop is going to be destined to the production of flowers it is more complicated, especially if it is for the extraction of CBD, since being a medicine enters the AEMPS (Spanish Agency of the medicine)
If you have any questions, you can contact us by email: customer@pevgrow.com
Greetings.
Hi, I would like to know if there is any company in Cantabria buying hemp fibers. I’m going back and have a land. Was thinking in growing hemp. Thank you
Hello Jose,
Here you can see several companies that treat hemp fibers,
https://empresite.eleconomista.es/Aividad/CANAMO/