Canadian Hemp Fiber and Grain Seeds

Canadian seed genetics company shares insights on dual-purpose varieties, industry growth, and why getting farmers a fair share is the real goal

The industrial hemp industry stands at a crossroads. While the CBD boom and bust left many growers with a bitter taste, a quieter revolution is building in grain and fiber hemp—one that could finally deliver sustainable profits to farmers. On this week’s iHemp Hour, Mark Lawty, General Manager of UniSeeds, joined hosts Dave Crabill and Blaine Bechtold to discuss Canadian hemp genetics, massive infrastructure investments north of the border, and why the real opportunity lies in getting producers their fair share of the value chain.

From Commodity Markets to Hemp: Mark’s Journey

Mark brings a unique perspective to the hemp seed business. Before joining UniSeeds about 18 months ago, he worked as a research analyst studying corn, beans, and wheat markets, providing advice to Canadian farmers on commodity trading.

“I was a research analyst, so I studied the corn, beans, and wheat markets and provided advice on those markets to Canadian farmers. Then got into more sales and helping farmers be more profitable—basically at the end of the day.”

His agricultural roots run deep. Growing up in a rural community outside Ottawa, Ontario, Mark reconnected with a childhood friend who had started an industrial hemp company when Canada legalized the crop in 1998. That connection eventually led him to UniSeeds, where he now serves as General Manager.

“I really fell in love with the whole scope of what hemp is and what it can be used for—the different uses of it, but then also what it can do for the environment.”

The Canadian Hemp Landscape: Infrastructure Is Coming

Canada legalized industrial hemp in 1998, giving them a significant head start on the U.S. But even after 24 years, Mark describes the industry as being “on the cusp” of dramatic change.

Massive Investments in Alberta

Alberta has emerged as Canada’s leading province for industrial hemp development, with support flowing from the provincial government down to individual municipalities.

“I would say Alberta is probably the most advanced in the promotion of industrial hemp in Canada. There is tremendous support for industrial hemp. They historically have been an oil-producing province, and that has gone through some hardships. They’re looking at what can bring some of that economy back, and industrial hemp could be part of that solution.”

Two major processing facilities are coming online:

• Inca – Approximately $175 million investment, with contracts already in place with Toyota and Winnebago for door panels and RV interior components
• Blue Sky Hemp Ventures – Another roughly $175 million facility focused on fiber processing

“There’s been some press releases… about 350 million in total. Inca right now has contracts with Toyota and Winnebago where they’re taking industrial hemp and making door panels and panels for inside RVs.”

The Vision: Decorticators Like Grain Elevators

The long-term vision in Alberta is for decorticators (hemp fiber processing facilities) to become as common as grain elevators, giving farmers multiple market options for their straw.

“The whole idea in Alberta is that there would be eventually decorticators like there would be grain elevators, and so farmers would have options to present their straw to multiple different firms.”

UniSeeds Genetics: Bred for Northern Latitudes

UniSeeds focuses exclusively on monoecious varieties—plants that have both male and female flowers, resulting in cleaner, more consistent fields. All their varieties were bred in Ontario (except Silesia, developed in Western Canada), making them well-suited for Michigan’s similar latitude and climate.

Key Varieties

Variety	Type	Characteristics
Anka	Fiber	Pioneer variety, 8-11 feet tall, ~7,500 lbs/acre straw yield
Altair	Dual-purpose	True grain and fiber variety
Vega	Dual-purpose	True grain and fiber variety
Silesia	Fiber	Developed by Alberta Innovates with John Saloski; UniSeeds holds global rights

“Our philosophy is providing good genetics—excellent genetics. We have some genetics, Altair and Vega, that we would consider a true dual-purpose crop.”

Maturity and Performance

Most UniSeeds varieties mature in 100-120 days, with consistent height and harvest timing across the field.

“We’re really starting to see, especially with our genetics, they’re very consistent when it comes to time for harvest. They’re relatively all the same height. It’s a clean field—there’s no real rogue male plants out there causing problems.”

The Real Question: How Do Farmers Get Their Fair Share?

Dave posed the question that resonates with growers everywhere: How do we change the dynamic where producers consistently get the short end of the stick?

Mark offered a sobering reality check about current commodity markets:

“Right now commodity prices are at record levels. But if you go out and ask a farmer, are they netting any more money? A lot of farmers we’ve talked to—no, that’s not necessarily the case. Because what else is really high right now? Fertilizer prices. All their input costs went up. Land prices have gone crazy.”

UniSeeds’ Approach to Farmer Value

Rather than leaving farmers dependent on a single buyer, UniSeeds aims to put growers in control:

1. Dual-purpose genetics – Varieties that can be marketed for both grain and fiber
2. Multiple market options – Connecting farmers with various grain buyers and fiber processors
3. Seed dealer opportunities – Some farmers become seed dealers themselves
4. Future carbon market potential – An additional revenue layer as carbon credit systems mature

“We want to get farmers in a position where they’re able to market their crops in such a way that they create their own value. There might be a couple different options for the grain, a couple different options for the fiber, maybe some options with seed genetics.”

Carbon Markets: Early Days, Big Potential

Both Canada and the U.S. are exploring how hemp fits into carbon sequestration programs. Canada has already implemented carbon taxes that affect farmers directly—including taxes on diesel fuel delivered to farms.

“Farmers are interested in it up here. We’ve heard carbon sequestering for a number of years, but I think what’s different this time around is we’re starting to see government really crack down. We got carbon taxes up here now.”

Mark expressed particular interest in whether different hemp genetics might be more efficient at carbon sequestration—potentially related to factors like tap root length. However, he acknowledged the industry is still in early stages:

“Nobody’s really come up even with a system for testing. We’re still trying to figure out what the protocols are, who’s going to do it, and who’s going to be involved.”

Rotation Benefits: Breaking Disease Cycles

One of the most promising developments Mark shared involves hemp as a rotational crop for potato farming:

“There’s rumors that some pretty big potato manufacturers in Canada are looking at industrial hemp as a rotational crop. It can break up disease cycles, it can break up some other insects. Pretty interesting stuff.”

This aligns with hemp’s well-documented soil benefits and could open significant acreage opportunities if major agricultural players adopt it.

Livestock Feed: Progress, But Still 1-2 Years Away

Like the U.S., Canada cannot currently use hemp in feed for livestock destined for human consumption. The Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance (CHTA) has formally submitted an application to the government, but Mark estimates approval is still 1-2 years away.

“The rub from what I understand is they’re looking at studies—how much cannabinoids is left in an animal? Will that be transferred into human consumption?”

The pet food market (dogs, cats, and other non-food animals) offers nearer-term opportunities, with some hemp-containing pet products already on the market.

Where to Get UniSeeds Genetics

UniSeeds varieties are available through multiple distributors in the U.S.:

Region	Distributor
West & Midwest	Horizon Hemp (South Dakota)
East Coast	Seedway
Direct	UniSeeds.ca

📧 Contact Mark directly: mark@uniseeds.ca 🌐 Website: uniseeds.ca

Mark will also be exhibiting at the 2022 Midwest iHemp Expo in Lansing, May 20-21.

Bonus: Hemp as Fish Bait?

In a lighter moment, Mark shared a personal fishing experiment:

“I took some hemp oil and dipped my plastic baits before I would cast them. The fish would come right up and roll around on the surface of the water where that oily substance was.”

With the 8th Annual Blessing of the Grows (August 27th) featuring a youth fishing contest, Dave suggested a competition: hemp-baited versus conventional lures. Stay tuned!

Industry News Roundup

FDA Delta-8 Warning Letters

Five companies have received the first FDA warning letters over Delta-8 THC products for making unsubstantiated health claims. Reminder: Stay in compliance—don’t make claims you can’t back up with research.

Cannabis Sales Milestone

Global legal recreational and medical cannabis sales in 2021 exceeded Starbucks revenue and surpassed the global opiate market. Cannabis sales are now at roughly half of global cigarette sales.

Upcoming Events

📅 Midwest iHemp Expo – May 20-21, 2022 📍 Lansing Center, Lansing, MI 🎓 US Hemp Authority Certification Training – Thursday, May 19 ($200 for iHemp members) 🏆 Hempies Awards Party – Friday evening 🔗 MidwestiHempExpo.com

📅 8th Annual Blessing of the Grows – August 27, 2022 Features MDARD’s Molly Mott, CRA Director Brisbo, and a youth fishing contest Starts at 12:00 PM

📅 Pennsylvania Hemp Festival – July 30, 2022 📍 Hershey, PA

📅 Southern Hemp Expo – August 18-20, 2022 📍 Nashville, TN

Recipe: Cinco de Mayo Hemp Guacamole 🥑

From The Hemp Nut Cookbook

Ingredients:

• 2 large ripe avocados
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 2 medium tomatoes, small dice
• ½ cup minced shallots or red onion
• 1 clove fresh garlic, minced
• ½ cup shelled hemp seeds
• ½ to ⅔ teaspoon sea salt
• 1-2 teaspoons minced cilantro

Instructions: Peel avocados, place in bowl, and mix all ingredients until well combined. Serve with your favorite crackers or chips. Makes about 2 cups.

Next Week on iHemp Hour

Robin and Hannah from Canopy US Seed will discuss their European hemp genetics, insights from Czech Republic hemp production, and what’s happening with feed products and fiber applications overseas.

Growing the future from seeds of the past.