Due to environmental concerns and to the limited amount of fossil fuel in the world theinterest in using renewable material has been and will continue to be on the rise. With theincreasing demand for renewable materials such as bio-based fibers, the research aroundnatural fibers is intensifying. Abaca (Musa Texitilis Nee) is a plant endemic to the Philippineswhich is claimed to contain the strongest natural fiber in the world 1. However, no thoroughresearch on performing tensile strength test on single abaca fibers/cells has been found. Byperforming tensile strength test on the single abaca fibers and relate this will provide freshdata about the single abaca fiber strength that can be compared with other natural fibers.This can later be a reference tool in order to find the optimal fiber for the product to be made. The purpose of this study is to develop a methodology for performing tensile strength testson single abaca fibers with the major objective to relate the tensile strength and E-modulusof the fibers with their microfibrillar angle (MFA). The research was done by using Abaca(grade S2) from Camarines Sur (Philippines) that was chemically disintegrated in order toobtain single fibers. The single fibers were mounted to a custom made paper frame for thetensile strength test performed by an Instron 5944. The MFA of each fiber was also retrievedusing an optical microscope with a polarized filter. The research showed an indication of aninversely proportional relation between MFA and tensile strength of the fibers. According tothe results, the E-modulus of the single abaca fiber was almost constant, independently onthe MFA of the fiber. / The purpose of this study is to do a broad map out of the abaca industry in the Philippines. Furthermore, the study aims to provide an overview of the abaca industry as a tool for finding ways to optimize the fiber production and to find suggestions on how to make a bigger share of the profit from the abaca products to stay by the farmers in the Philippines. The objectives are therefore also focused on describing the way the abaca plant is cultivated, harvested, processed, and further distributed from the farms. Also, the objectives are to describe the abaca supply and demand situation along with identifying challenges for abaca production. Today the outmoded abaca production in the Philippines is experiencing a productivity loss which makes the farmers' incomes unnecessarily low. Important factors that, by this study, have been identified affecting the low productivity and profit are lack of proper farming management, distribution and unoptimized usage of the fibers. A big share of the abaca fibers produced is also being exported. This means that the raw fibers are being made into high-value products abroad and hence the profit to be made is dislocated further from the farmers with low means of improving their standard of living. The study has been performed by doing a literature study complemented with interviews and visits to abaca farmers and other stakeholders within the abaca industry.

This paper is a research through design that answers the question: How can the by-products from hemp production be utilized to create a sustainable material for product design?Hemp is the commercial crop that sequesters carbon dioxide most effectively in the world, but large amounts of bast fibers and hurd emerge as by-products ater cultivation for seeds, flowers, and leaves. These by-products can be difficult for farmers to manage as they require space for storage and often must undergo a lengthy production process before they can be converted into products. The by-products of the hemp industry must be managed properly in order for the whole production chain to be considered sustainable.This paper explores theories like Upcycling and Design for Sustainable Development, so sustainability is always considered while managing these by-products. The research methodology encompasses interviewing six experts within the field of product design and hemp to comprehend the perceived difficulties and possible soultions. Material mapping, user tests and material tests are performed to develop a material from hemp fibres and stoneware clay. Additional user tests, market analysis, requirement list,braindrawing and prototypes are then implemented to ascertain what products that could be made from the hemp clay and how these shall be designed. These methods resulted in the contribution of design for the paper: HampaLampa (HempLamp), a hemp-lampfoot made with hemp clay and linseed oil paint as a surface treatment. / Studien är en forskning genom design som besvarar frågeställningen: Hur kan restprodukter från hampaproduktionen utnyttjas för att skapa ett hållbart material till produktdesign? Hampa är den komersiella grödan som absorberar koldioxid mest effektivt i världen, men det uppstår stora mängder restprodukter i form av fibrer och vedämnen när hampa odlas med frön, blommor eller blad som primärprodukt. Dessa restprodukter är svåra för lantbrukare att hantera då de tar stor plats att lagra och ofta behöver genomgå en lång tillverkningsprocess för att kunna användas i produkter. Hampaindustrins restprodukter behöver hanteras för att produktionskedjan skall förbli hållbar. Studien utforskar teorier som upcycling och design för hållbar utveckling, hållbarhet prioriteras ständigt när processen att använda restprodukterna utforskas. I Metodkapitlet intervjuas sex experter inom produktdesign och hampa för att inse vilka svårigheter och möjliga lösningar de känner till. Materialkartläggning, användartester och materialtester utförs för att utveckla ett material från hampafibrerna och stengodslera. Ytterliggare användartester, marknadsanalys, kravlista, braindrawing och prototyperutförs sedan för att utforska vilka produktersom hade kunnat skapas av hampalera och hur dessaskallutformas. Dessa metoder resulterade i designbidragetförstudien: HampaLampa, en hampa-lampfot skapad av hampalera med en ytbehandling av linoljefärg.

The agricultural sector plays a crucial role in securing a more sustainable livelihood for the world's growing population. An expanded cultivation of multifunctional and environmentally smart crops like industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) can thus be part of the solution in meeting the increasingly high demands of sustainable development. However, earlier research indicates that the global cultivation of industrial hemp is hindered, and that hemp is an underutilized resource relative to its potential benefits. During the 20th century hemp cultivation was banned in large parts of the world. Sweden lifted the ban in 2003, later than most other European countries. In 2017, Swedish hemp cultivation was by far one of the smallest in the European Union. This study thus aims to analyze the position of industrial hemp in Sweden – by using the theoretical framework of political ecology – to investigate which social and societal structures and processes that dictates the access to and the control of industrial hemp in Sweden today. A historical analysis of power relations as well as ideological and cultural contexts – with significance for the cultivation of hemp – is done to make the relationship between Cannabis sativa L. and Swedish society appear more clearly. The material for the analysis has been collected through a literature search and qualitative method using in-depth interviews with Swedish authorities and a national hemp association. The study discusses the relationship between hemp and human society, which is found to be characterized by a complex interconnectedness.  Furthermore, the study shows that Swedish industrial hemp production is negatively affected by, among other things, cultivation bans, strict regulations, government controls, drug conservatism, and group as well as state conformity. Through a more progressive policy, industrial hemp is expected to become a positive contributing factor to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and to a growing fossil-free bio-based industry.

This report covers a preliminary life cycle assessment (LCA) on imitation leather made from hemp fiber (hemp leather) and a comparison to bovine leather, to examine whether hemp leather is an environmentally sustainable alternative. The bovine leather industry is responsible for heavy chemical use and emissions, detrimental effects to the environment as well as to human health. The United Nations (UN) and other organizations call for immediate action against the animal product industry sector to greatly reduce emissions and protect the environment. Hemp is a versatile plant that can be used for many things, including paper, composites, textiles, food and medicine, and is probably a suitable material for imitation leather. The hemp plant requires little inputs, grows fast and without pesticides, has positive effects on the environment and can be cultivated on every inhabited continent. The preliminary LCA was based on a patent describing the manufacturing process of hemp leather completed with data from literature and a few assumptions made. LCA-results for bovine leather were collected from literature and the two leather fabrics were then compared. The comparison showed that hemp leather is superior to bovine leather in all compared categories except for water consumption and hazardous waste. Bovine leather had 99% more energy use, 78% higher acidification potential (AP), 99,9% higher eutrophication potential (EP) and 83% higher global warming potential (GWP) than hemp leather. The large water consumption in the manufacturing phase of hemp leather is possible to be explained by over dimensioning of inputs. The report concludes that hemp leather would be the environmentally and ethically admirable choice between the two leathers and that more research on more modern methods of manufacturing it should be performed. / Denna rapport omfattar en preliminär livscykelanalys (LCA) på syntetiskt läder gjort av hampfiber (hampläder) och en jämförelse med nötskinn, för att undersöka om hampläder är ett miljövänligt alternativ. Nötskinnsindustrin är ansvarig för stor kemikalieanvändning och tunga utsläpp, skadlig inverkan på miljö samt människors hälsa. Förenta nationerna och andra organisationer fordrar till omedelbar handling mot djurindustrisektorn för att drastiskt minska utsläpp och skydda miljön. Hampa är en mångsidig växt som kan användas inom många olika applikationer, såsom till papper, kompositer, textiler, mat och medicin, och är förmodligen ett passande material till imitationsläder. Hampan behöver liten mängd tillförd energi, växer fort och utan bekämpningsmedel, har positiva effekter på miljön och kan odlas på alla bebodda kontinenter. Den preliminära LCA:n är baserad på ett patent beskrivande hampläders produktionsprocess, kompletterat med data från litteratur samt några antaganden. LCA-resultat från nötskinnsproduktion samlades från litteratur och resultaten från de två lädertyperna jämfördes sedan. Jämförelsen visade att hampläder är överlägset nötskinn i alla jämförda kategorier utom vattenkonsumtion och farligt avfall. Nötskinn har 99% högre energianvändning, 78% högre försurningspotential (AP), 99,9% högre övergödningspotential (EP) och 83% högre potential till global uppvärmning (GWP) än hampläder, enligt resultaten. Hampläders produktionsprocess stora vattenkonsumtion kan troligtvis förklaras av en överdimensionering av indata. Denna rapport drar slutsatsen att hampläder skulle vara det mest miljövänliga och etiskt försvarbara valet mellan de två lädertyperna och att modernare produktionsmetoder för hampläder bör studeras.

SITUATION: Multiple sclerosis belongs to the most common chronic neurological disease of the central nervous system. The disease is incurable, however it is treatable. Modern medicine has a variety of medications to relieve the symptoms and slowing the onset and progression. In many cases, however, treatment is not effective and often causes side effects. Cannabis and its products are used in the symptomatic and causal therapy of many diseases. The efficacy of cannabis treatment in multiple sclerosis is confirmed by several studies. Medical cannabis is a way how to relieve pain and muscle spasms. In 2013 in the Czech Republic there have been changes in laws allowing prescribing cannabis for medical treatment. OBJECTIVES: The study's goal is to describe the issues of self-medication using medical cannabis from the perspective of people suffering from multiple sclerosis. The primary objective is to map the following areas: introduction to cannabis and motivation to self- medication, frequency and methods of self-medication, therapeutic effects experienced during self-medication, side effects experienced during self-medication, perspectives of cannabis use in the future. METHODOLOGY: Self-selection in combination with snowball sampling method was used to obtain survey respondents. Data in this study...

Orientador: Edson Lazarini / Banca: Salatiér Buzetti / Banca: Carlos Sérgio Tiritan / Resumo: Nas últimas décadas o SPD (Sistema de Plantio Direto) tem sido adotado pela maioria dos produtores de grãos na região dos cerrados, porém nesse tipo de sistema de cultivo, há um grande questionamento quanto às propriedades físicoquímicas dos solos no decorrer da sua implantação. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi de avaliar e correlacionar os possíveis efeitos de dois sistemas de preparo do solo (direto e convencional), quatro culturas de cobertura (crotalária+milheto, sorgo, crotalária e milheto) e uma área em pousio e dois sistemas de manejo do milho (rotação e monocultura), nas propriedades físicoquimicas de um Latossolo Vermelho de textura argilosa, na safra 2006/2007, após oito anos sob os tratamentos descritos. O trabalho foi desenvolvido na área experimental da Faculdade de Engenharia/UNESP - Campus de Ilha Solteira, localizada no município de Selvíria - MS. Foi feita uma análise conjunta, considerando os dois sistemas de preparo de solo e dentro de cada um deles dois blocos casualizados, com os fatores culturas de cobertura e sistemas manejo do milho segundo um esquema em faixas. Foram realizadas as seguintes avaliações na cultura do milho: produção de matéria seca, altura de plantas; altura de inserção da espiga; produção de grãos e peso de 100 grãos. A caracterização química da área foi realizada com a retirada de amostras nas profundidades 0-5; 5-10; 10-20 e 20-40 cm. Foram determinados o pH e os teores de M.O, P, K, Ca, Mg, H+Al e Al e calculados os valores de SB, T e V%. As propriedades físicas avaliadas foram: macro, micro, porosidade total e densidade do solo, nas profundidades de 0-10, 10-20 e 20-40 cm. Os resultados obtidos permitiram concluir que: - o sistema convencional de preparo do solo favorece a produção de matéria seca pelas culturas de cobertura; o milheto e sorgo são culturas de cobertura... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: In the last few decades the no tillage system has been adopted for the majority of the producers of grains in the Cerrado region, however in this type of soil management system, it has a great questioning how much to the properties physical-chemistry of ground in elapsing of its implantation. The objective of the present work was to evaluate and to correlate the possible effect of two soil management systems (no tillage and conventional), four cover crops (sun hemp + millet, sorghum, sunn hemp and millet) and an follow area with weeds and two crop rotation (monoculture and crop rotation with soybean), in the properties physical-chemistries of a Red Latossol of clayed texture, in harvest 2006/2007, after eight years under the described treatments. The work was developed in the experimental area of the FE/UNESP - Ilha Solteira campus, located in the county of Selvíria - Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. A joint analysis was made, considering the two soil management systems and of each one of them two blocks, with the factors cover crops and crop rotation of the maize according to a project in bands. The following evaluations in the culture of the maize had been carried through: production of dry matter, height of plants; height of insertion of the spike; yield grains and weight of 100 grains. The chemical characterization of the area was carried through with the withdrawal of samples in the depths 0.0 - 0.5; 0.5 - 0.10; 0.10 - 0.20 and 0.20 - 0.40 m. They had been determined pH and the levels of organic matter, P, K, Ca, Mg, H+Al and Al and calculated the values of SB, T and V%. The evaluated physical properties had been: macro, micro, total porosity and soil density, in the depths of 0.0 - 0.10, 0.10 - 0.20 and 0.20 - 0.40 m. The conclusions was: the conventional soil management system favors the yield of dry matter for the cover crops; millet and sorghum are cover crops... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

This dissertation combines large scale datasets to evaluate crop prediction, land values, and consumption of a crop being considered to advance a sustainable bioeconomy. In chapter 2, we propose a novel application of the multinomial logit (MNL) model to estimate the conditional transition probabilities of crop choice for the state of Kentucky. Utilizing the recovered transition probabilities the forecast distributions of total acreages for alfalfa, corn, soybeans, tobacco, and wheat produced in the state from 2010 to 2015 can be recovered. The Cropland Data Layer is merged with the Common Land Unit dataset to allow for the identification of crop choice at the field level. Our findings show there are higher probabilities of planting soybeans or wheat after corn relative to corn after corn, tobacco, or alfalfa. In addition, the transition probability of the crop rotation demonstrates that corn will be planted after soybean, and vice versa and that alfalfa has a lower probability of being rotated with other crops from year to year. These findings are expected with traditional crop rotation in the U.S., and a characteristic of a perennial crop, especially for alfalfa. Finally, forecasting results indicate that there are significantly wider distributions in corn and soybean, whereas there is a little variation in the tobacco, wheat and alfalfa acres in the simulation. In chapter 3, we identify critical consumer-demographic characteristics that are associated with the consumption of products containing hemp and investigate their effect on total expenditure in the U.S. To estimate the likelihood of market participation and consumption level, the Heckman selection model, is employed using the maximum likelihood estimation procedure utilizing Nielsen consumer panel data from 2008 to 2015. Results indicate marketing strategies targeting consumers with higher education and income levels can attract new customers and increase sales from current consumers for this burgeoning market. Head-of-household age in different regions shows mixed effects on decisions to purchase hemp products and consumption levels. Findings will provide a basic understanding of a consumer profile and overall hemp market that has had double-digit growth over the last six years. As the industry continues to move forward, policymakers are going to need a deeper understanding of the factors driving the industry if they are going to create regulations that support the development of the industry. In chapter 4, we investigate the factors that affect agricultural land values by proposing a new rich dataset, Zillow Transaction and Assessment Data (ZTRAX) provided by Zillow from 2009 to 2014. we also examine whether National Commodity Crop Productivity Index (NCCPI) could be a good indicator of land values or not by comparing two different regression models between county-level cash rent and parcel-level NCCPI. Finally, this study incorporates flexible functional forms of the parcel size to test the parcel size and land values relations. Findings show that factors influencing agricultural land values in states with heterogeneous agricultural lands such as Kentucky are not different from other states with relatively homogeneous agricultural lands. This study also provides suggestive evidence that there is a non-linear relationship between parcel size and land values. Furthermore, we find that a disaggregated NCCPI at parcel-level could be considered an acceptable indicator to estimate agricultural values compared to an aggregated cash rent at county-level.

Le béton de chanvre est un matériau de construction biosourcé pouvant répondre aux problématiques environnementales actuelles. Utilisé comme matériau de remplissage avec une bonne capacité isolante, il possède également la capacité de réguler l'humidité relative intérieure. Son comportement hygrothermique complexe résulte notamment de performances thermiques et hydriques interdépendantes. La prédiction de ces effets est réalisée à l'aide de modélisation et simulation de transferts hygrothermiques. Toutefois, l'utilisation de données d'entrée les plus représentatives possibles de la réalité est nécessaire. Les méthodes de caractérisation courantes ont souvent été développées pour des matériaux conventionnels et peuvent montrer des limites dans le cas de matériaux biosourcés. L'objectif principal de ces travaux est de déterminer les propriétés hygrothermiques d'un bloc de béton de chanvre préfabriqués à l'échelle industrielle, de mieux appréhender cette caractérisation et de décrire son comportement hygrothermique via des simulations numériques. Le matériau étudié est formulé à partir d'un liant pouzzolanique et de granulats de chènevotte. Une partie de ce travail de thèse a donc porté sur la caractérisation des propriétés physiques, thermiques et hydriques du béton de chanvre étudié ainsi que sur les méthodes de mesure. Pour chaque paramètre hygrothermique étudié, plusieurs méthodes ont été confrontées afin d'en évaluer l'impact. Dans la mesure du possible, l'influence de la température et de l'humidité sur les différents paramètres a également été estimée. Un modèle de transferts hygrothermiques est proposé avec une évaluation d'ordre de grandeur dans le cas du béton de chanvre à partir des propriétés de la littérature. Ce modèle est appliqué à une étude expérimentale à l'échelle de la paroi, dans une enceinte bi-climatique, mettant en avant l'impact de la sorption et du changement de phase sur les transferts de chaleur. En ce qui concerne les propriétés thermiques, l'étude expérimentale à l'échelle du matériau met en évidence l'impact significatif du protocole expérimental sur le résultat de mesure, en particulier pour la chaleur massique. Pour les propriétés hydriques, les essais mettent en avant l'intérêt de réaliser une étude paramétrique de type round-robin sur les matériaux biosourcés. [...] / Hemp concrete is a bio-based construction material able to meet current sustainable issues. Used as filling and insulating material, it has the capacity to regulate the indoor relative humidity. Its complex hygrothermal behavior results on interdependent thermal and hydric performances. The prediction of the hygrothermal effect is performed through heat and moisture transfer modeling and simulation. However, the use of representative inputs is necessary. Standard characterization methods have often been developed for usual building material and can show some limitations in the case of bio-based material. The main objective of these works is to determine the hygrothermal properties of a precast hemp concrete produced at industrial scale, have a better understanding of this characterization and describe its hygrothermal behavior through numerical simulations. The studied material is based on pozzolanic binder and hemp aggregates. One part of this work deals with the characterization of the physical, thermal and hydric properties of the studied material and with the measurement methods. For each hygrothermal properties, several methods have been confronted. If possible, the temperature and humidity influences have been appraised. A heat and moisture transfer model is proposed with a scale analysis based on hemp concrete properties from the literature. This model has been applied to wall scale experiments highlighting the impact of sorption and phase change phenomena on the heat transfers. With regards to the thermal properties, the experimental study at material scale highlights the significant impact of the experimental protocol on the result of the measure, particularly for the specific heat capacity. For hydric properties, the studies put forward the interest of performing a parametric round-robin test dedicated to bio-based materials. An air permeability measurement protocol designed for regular concrete has been adapted in order to evaluate the performance of a very permeable material such as the hemp concrete. The numerical model is validated on a test from a standard and a test from the literature. It manages to describe test with usual ambient solicitations performed in the bi-climatic chamber.

Phytocannabinoids are the active substances responsible for the medicinal and psychotropic effects of Cannabis sativa. Although the bioactivity of cannabis and its preparations have been known for millennia, several steps in the biosynthetic pathway leading to phytocannabinoids remain unclear. Phytocannabinoids are prenylated resorcylic acids which are formed in specialized plant organs called glandular trichomes. Following the analysis of a pre-generated cannabis trichome cDNA library, a type III polyketide synthase (tetraketide synthase; TKS) was identified and assayed, yielding three major compounds, hexanoyl triacetic acid lactone (HTAL), pentyl diacetic acid lactone (PDAL), and olivetol, yet no resorcylic acid was detected. This lack of resorcylic acid in enzyme assays has instigated the characterization of TKS and a search for putative cyclases in the cannabis trichome cDNA library, and involved protein pulldown, co-immunoprecipitation, and co-assay experiments. These experiments led to the discovery of a novel polyketide cyclase protein named olivetolic acid cyclase (OAC) responsible for the proper cyclization of a polyketide intermediate produced by TKS. This thesis shows that TKS assays conducted with OAC produce olivetolic acid (OA), an intermediate required during the biosynthesis of cannabinoids. The TKS/OAC spatial relationship was also investigated following the creation of fluorescent fusion proteins which show that the enzymes co-localized in vivo when viewed with confocal microscopy. Furthermore, yeast two-hybrid assays using TKS and OAC were performed to establish whether the enzymes physically interact. Finally, an attempt to determine the responsible amino acids involved in OAC’s mechanism was conducted by comparing the activity of single point OAC mutants with the wild-type OAC. Based on the available data, mechanisms for the production of HTAL, PDAL, olivetol, and OA are proposed.

The objective of this research is to study the influence of several recycling cycles on the mechanical properties of four different materials made by the injection of polystyrene. The four materials studied have different characteristics. The first one is polystyrene (PS), the second one is polystyrene reinforced with hemp fibers (PSf), the third one is polystyrene reinforced with hemp fibers modified with AKD (PSft) and the last one is polystyrene reinforced with fiberglass (PSfv). With all these materials tensile strength, bending, hardness and impact is measured. After the measurement of these physical properties, materials are recycled to obtain new injection samples, and its physical properties are measured again. This process is repeated during 24 cycles.After each recycling cycle material physical properties are related with polystyrene molecular weight, melt flow, FTIR spectra and DSC.From reinforced materials, fibers are recovered and through microscopy and image analysis they are characterized to study the influence that recycling has on its structure.