Major use categories
Hemp’s value comes from serving multiple markets. The main categories below are useful “mental buckets” for understanding the industry.
1) Fiber & materials
- Textiles, nonwovens, paper
- Biocomposites (e.g., molded parts, reinforcement fibers)
- Construction materials such as hempcrete (hemp hurd + binder)
2) Food & nutrition
- Hemp hearts, protein, and hempseed oil
- Feed ingredients (where permitted)
3) Wellness & extracts (jurisdiction-dependent)
- CBD and other cannabinoids extracted from compliant hemp biomass
- Product quality depends on testing, labeling, and supply chain controls
Takeaway: Hemp is best understood as a multi-output crop that feeds different supply chains — each with its own standards and economics.