UFMT hosts a series of lectures on industrial hemp in Brazil

The Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT) will host a series of lectures dedicated to industrial hemp on March 26, 2026, bringing together researchers, experts, and institutional representatives to discuss the strategic potential of the crop in Brazil. The event will start at 8:30 am at the auditorium of the Faculty of Architecture, Engineering, and Technology (FAET) in Cuiabá.

The initiative is organized by the Faculty of Agronomy and Zootechnics (FAAZ), in partnership with the Uniselva Foundation, the Latin American Industrial Hemp Association (LAIHA), and the University of Waterloo in Canada. The goal is to expand the institutional debate on industrial hemp and its applications in areas such as agriculture, bioeconomy, environmental sustainability, and technological innovation.

Program 

The program will feature prominent figures, such as agricultural engineer Lorenzo Rolim da Silva, who will discuss the experience of hemp production in Latin America, with a focus on Paraguay. "Finally, the debate on industrial hemp reaches Brazilian universities and it arrives in the best possible place, in the heart of Mato Grosso, the largest agricultural producer not only in Brazil but in the world! Here we can literally say that the land is fertile for this development, Brazil has all the conditions to lead in this sector and easily surpass major players like Canada and France. Now we just need Regulatory support from the Government and expand the research and development network with the plant, the productive part we will handle with ease," says Lorenzo Rolim, who is also confirmed for the Agro & Tech module of the Brazilian Medicinal Cannabis Congress, from May 21 to 23 at the Transamerica Expo Center in São Paulo. 

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Professor Rodolfo Sebastião Estupinan Allan will discuss regulatory advances and research challenges with Cannabis sativa L. in the Brazilian academic environment.

Another highlight is the participation of Professor Leonardo Simon from the University of Waterloo, who will present global perspectives on the industrial use of hemp, including applications in sustainable materials and biomass competitiveness. The event will conclude with a roundtable discussion bringing together experts and representatives from the public sector.

In addition to disseminating technical knowledge, the series aims to stimulate the creation of cooperation networks and strengthen the foundations for the development of a hemp production chain in the country. In a scenario of growing global interest, the discussion on the topic gains strategic relevance for Brazil.

Registration is free and can be done online. The event is open to the public interested in science, innovation, and sustainable development.

Program – Industrial Hemp Lecture Series

Date: March 26, 2026
Location: "Mofão" Auditorium – FAET/UFMT
Time: Starting at 08:30 am
Register here

 08:30 am – Registration

 09:00 am – Hemp Production in Latin America: The Experience in Paraguay
Speaker: Lorenzo Rolim da Silva
Agricultural engineer and specialist in medicinal cannabis and industrial hemp production, also involved in mushroom production for food and nutraceutical uses. President of the Latin American Industrial Hemp Association (LAIHA) and board member of the Federation of International Hemp Organizations (FIHO).

 09:50 am – Hemp at the University: Navigating the New Regulatory Framework for Research with Cannabis sativa L.
Speaker: Rodolfo Sebastião Estupinan Allan
Professor at the Faculty of Law at UFMT. Bachelor in Mathematics (USP), Master in Mathematics (Unicamp), and Ph.D. in Physics (UFMT). Specialist in Agribusiness Law. Works with the Mato Grosso State Court of Justice (TJMT) and the Euvaldo Lodi Institute (IEL-MT/FIEMT).

 10:40 am – Industrial Hemp: New Horizons for Sustainable Development and Biomass Competitiveness
Speaker: Leonardo Simon
Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo (Canada). Engaged in teaching and research in the areas of materials science and engineering, polymers, nanocomposites, and nanotechnology, focusing on the development of sustainable materials for industrial applications.

 11:50 am – Roundtable Discussion

Participants:

• Nelson Borges de Barros – Superintendent of the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Agriculture in Mato Grosso (MDA/MT)
• Glaucio da Cruz Genuncio – Professor at the Faculty of Agronomy and Zootechnics (FAAZ/UFMT)