INTERREG Danube Transnational Programme: a Hungarian cluster is looking for municipalities, development agencies, universities, urban planning institutions to promote hemp products in the Danube Region

Research & Development Request

2016/09/29

Hungary

The project under INTERREG Danube Transnational Programme, coordinated by the Hungarian cluster, aims to revivify the value chain of hemp production from primary production to marketing and tourism related to hemp in the Danube region. They are looking for various public actors to join the consortium to deliver strategy development, marketing activities, capacity building.

Towards a greener future: fostering sustainable development and growth based on one of the most versatile plant of the world.
The Danube Transnational Programme was developed taking into consideration the broad policy framework channelling the development efforts on macro-regional, national and regional levels. The drafting process was primarily conducted along the goals and priorities identified within multi thematic strategies on EU and macro-regional levels. Improve frameworks and develop joint and integrated solutions for sustainable tourism (“green tourism”), leisure and culture e.g. in the areas of eco-tourism (e.g. sustainable tourist activities in national parks and nature reserves, geo-parks), cycle tourism, agro-tourism, development of new and existing Cultural Routes relevant in the Danube Region, theme paths and joint products with a critical mass and embedded in wider development and growth strategies which contribute to sustainable jobs and growth.
Hemp is often called as “the most useful plant of the world”, “the most versatile plant of the world” or “the most extraordinary plant of the world”. Hemp deserved these terms because it can be used for several purposes, its products can be used in food industry, chemistry, cosmetics, agriculture, pharmaceutical industry, energy, paper industry, construction, textile industry, automobile industry, and so on. However, these industries belong to the most environment polluter industries, thus it is easy to accept, if products made of the natural stuff of the hemp are used or substitute some elements of production in these industries, we can increase sustainable development in the region.
Literature on industrial hemp provides abundant descriptions on environmental, social and economic advantages gained through the production of hemp and hemp-based products. Industrial hemp provides a true triple bottom-line. The industrial hemp crop sector provides value-added economic benefits through versatile and competitive products, supports sustainable crop production and rural communities, and promises increasing environmental benefits as hemp products are increasingly substituted for fossil fuel derived products. Hemp promises benefits for:
1. Producers (strong farms)
2. Consumers (healthier choices)
3. Business (affordable and versatile biomass with many product outcomes)
4. The environment (non-toxic, organic, biodegradable and sustainable, with the potential to substitute for a broad spectrum of fossil fuel products)
In spite of the fact that hemp production provides numerous advantages from many aspects of the economy and environment, hemp production and its potentials for alternative use regained its importance only in Western Europe. In Central and Eastern Europe this process is still lagging behind. This happens though hemp industry has long and serious history and tradition in the Danube region resulting in a major influence on the cultural heritage in the region. Traditionally, hemp production in the Danube region started more than 100 years ago but in the past few decades this branch lost its importance in this region. In order to revivify hemp production in the Danube region, the possibilities are given: besides the favourable natural endowments of the Danube region, the professional knowledge engrossed in the last decades and huge research and development potentials are still available in the Danube region. Looking at this tradition, this project is crucial from the point of view of preserving cultural heritage.
The current project aims to revivify the value chain of hemp production from primary production to marketing and tourism related to hemp in the Danube region with the exploitation of the long tradition of this branch (including professional knowledge, style of living, etc.) in the region.
The deadline for Expressions of Interest: 31 Dec 2016
The ideal partners are municipalities, development agencies, universities, urban planning institutions.

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