Europe’s largest hemp seed processing plant has been launched in the Tula region

The Makosh company opened the largest enterprise in Europe for the deep processing of edible hemp seeds in the Uzlovaya economic zone of the Tula region. The plant will process 20 thousand tons of seeds per year.

“A hemp seed processing plant was launched in the Tula region in the Uzlovaya special economic zone. The products are planned to be used in confectionery, toppings, cookies, gingerbread, ice cream, plant-based drinks, bars, grain bread, sauces and in the production of protein,” Vladimir Abaryshev, executive director of the Makosh company, told RIA Novosti.

There are five such factories in Europe. The largest is in Estonia; it processes 5 thousand tons of raw materials annually. The enterprise in the Tula region will produce purified hemp kernels, hemp flour, cold-pressed oil, water-soluble hemp protein concentrate, hemp fiber, and hemp plant drink.

Investments in the project amount to 1 billion rubles. About 90% of the equipment is domestically produced. Hemp seeds are also Russian. Processing 20 thousand tons is the maximum capacity, reaching this level is expected within three years. It is also planned to export processed products.

The head of the company added that now in Russia there are only 12 thousand hectares of edible hemp crop area, compared to 1 million hectares in the thirties of the 20th century. Only those varieties of hemp that contain no more than 0.1% of the narcotic substance tetrahydrocannabinol in the dry mass of the leaves and inflorescences of the upper parts can be used for industrial purposes.

There are only a few companies involved in the cultivation of edible hemp. Chelyabinsk manufacturer of food products from hemp seeds “Medal” said about plans to supply products to the countries of the Asia-Pacific region.

Read more in the publication “Kommersant” “Hemp grows through sanctions”.

Anastasia Larina