Project Description

Hemp4Water would link in with the successful and innovative Hemp4Soil project which explores the benefits of hemp for soil health.

Eutrophication (excessive richness of nutrients in water bodies) due to agricultural runoff is one of the main ecological problems for lakes, rivers and coastal zones around the world. The increase in nutrients (mostly nitrogen) originating from slurry and artificial fertiliser has multiple consequences on freshwater and marine ecosystems, such as harmful algal blooms, zones of hypoxia or anoxia, and subsequent loss of biodiversity.

The theory Hemp4Water aims to prove is that hemp planted around the edges of a field or pasture can act as a buffer zone and soak up the excessive nutrients that slurry and artificial fertilisers contribute before these can enter and contaminate nearby freshwater bodies, the groundwater or the ocean.

Hemp4Water would run over a year (spring to autumn) with regular water testing taking place in the vicinity of the fields selected for this pilot project.

Project Justification & Objectives

If successful Hemp4Water would not only provide an elegant solution to eliminate harmful agricultural runoff, it would also offer farmers an opportunity to diversify and benefit from the growing hemp industry in Ireland while being able to keep their traditional dairy or beef livestock.

Potential Project Stakeholders*

• Loop Head Together

• Wild Atlantic Hemp

• Loop Head farmers

• Teagasc

• Local Authority Waters Programme

• Irish Wildlife Trust

• Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation

*Potential Project Stakeholders means all stakeholders have not necessarily yet been contacted to help co-design the project, but are mentioned here as they would be a desirable project partner. We may have forgotten some - please let us know!