Four major national hemp industry organizations have announced the formation of the HEMI Working Group through a jointly signed Memorandum of Understanding. The participating organizations are Hemp Education and Marketing Initiatives (HEMI), the National Hemp Association (NHA), the Hemp Feed Coalition (HFC), and the U.S. Hemp Building Association (USHBA).
"This is a pivotal step toward building a strong, functional ecosystem for American industrial hemp." — Pierre Berard, HEMI Executive Director
The collaborative framework aims to enhance coordination and efficiency across fiber, grain, feed, and building materials sectors.
Key Objectives
- Promoting industry cohesion across hemp sectors
- Enhancing collaborative regulatory efforts
- Leveraging each organization's specialized expertise
- Advancing shared market expansion goals
- Establishing joint campaigns and partnerships
"This initiative brings structure and clarity to a promising sector long fragmented by misinformation and missed opportunities." — Geoff Whaling, Chair, National Hemp Association
Founding Members
The four founding members each bring distinct strengths:
- HEMI — National marketing and education
- HFC (Hemp Feed Coalition) — Scientific and regulatory leadership in hemp feed
- NHA (National Hemp Association) — Federal and state policy efforts
- USHBA (U.S. Hemp Building Association) — Building standards and material development
"The U.S. fiber & grain hemp industry is ready to speak with one voice." — Andrew Bish, Hemp Feed Coalition President
The collaborative model was previously tested at Greenbuild International 2024 in Philadelphia, where 17 U.S. hemp building organizations participated — demonstrating substantial industry momentum.
"The Greenbuild collaboration validated the need for a shared voice." — Amanda Martin-Behrendtsen, USHBA Vice President