Regulatory pathways for hemp in Brazil to be discussed at Embrapa and Instituto Fícus seminar

In order to discuss and establish guidelines for the regulation of industrial hemp in Brazil, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and the Instituto Fícus will hold the seminar “Regulatory Pathways for Hemp in Brazil” on September 10, from 1:00 pm to 6:30 pm.

The event, which marks the launch of the Embrapa/Ficus Hemp Development Task Force Report, will take place at the Embrapa Headquarters Biomes Auditorium in Brasília, with live streaming on Embrapa's YouTube channel. The seminar is the first deliverable of the Technical Cooperation Agreement signed last month between the two institutions to boost this new agricultural commodity in the country.

The opening will feature Clenio Nailto Pillon, Director of Research and Development at Embrapa; Bruno Pegoraro, President of Instituto Ficus; and Patrícia Villela Marino, President of Humanitas360 and member of the National Council for Sustainable Economic Development, the Executive Branch's “Conselhão”.

The closing will be conducted by agronomist Sergio Vasquez, representative of the Ministry of Agriculture of Uruguay, who will share the neighboring country's experience after a decade of regulating hemp for medicinal and non-medicinal purposes.

Regulatory Context in Brazil

The seminar takes place in a decisive month for the future of cannabis in Brazil. The Federal Government has until September 30 to publish the ordinance regulating and overseeing the production and access to cannabis derivatives for exclusively medicinal use. The action plan guiding this regulation involves Executive bodies, experts, patient associations, scientific institutions, and representatives of the regulated sector.

Among the main points of the seminar is the discussion of elements considered crucial for regulation, such as authorization of cultivation for non-medicinal purposes, the permitted THC limit in hemp cultivation, and mechanisms for social inclusion in the commodity's production chain.

“Our commitment is to bring solid scientific basis to this debate, which needs to be built with transparency and responsibility. Hemp represents an opportunity to generate innovation, inclusion, and sustainability in Brazilian agriculture, but we will only advance if we can align technical knowledge, regulatory security, and social benefits in an integrated manner,” says Dr. Daniela Bittencourt, Embrapa's representative in the Task Force.

During the seminar, she will also present the Cannabis research plan developed by a committee of company scientists.

The program will include an action plan with key proposals for the development of the hemp production chain in the country and data from the report “What Brazil Gains from Hemp Regulation”. Also, content on industrial hemp applications, social inclusion mechanisms, plant physiological aspects, and possibilities for monitoring and traceability.

Service

Seminar: Regulatory Pathways for Hemp in Brazil
Date and Time: September 10, from 1:00 pm to 6:30 pm
Location: Embrapa Headquarters – Biomes Auditorium (In-person), Parque Estação Biológica, PqEB, Av. W3 Norte (final), Edifício Sede – Brasília – DF
Streaming: Embrapa's YouTube Channel (Online)
Organizers: Embrapa and Instituto Fícus