The hemp industry has spent much of the last century living in the shadows. Inexorably linked with its more controversial cousin, cannabis, hemp product manufacturers struggled to find a market for their goods. As a result, it’s taken decades for industry advocates to educate consumers on the benefits and sustainability of products like hemp seed oils, hemp clothing, and hemp medicines.
As the regulatory environment eased following the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill in Congress, which allowed for producing and manufacturing of certain types of hemp-based products, consumer education and interest in hemp-based goods increased exponentially. That interest continues to accelerate at a rapid pace.
In 2022 the global market for industrial hemp reached $4.74 billion – a nearly 20-fold increase from 2012. And according to estimates, it is set to grow at an annual rate of 17.1% over the next ten years. The industry’s growth has led to unprecedented innovation and investment, resulting in thousands of new jobs, the development of more sustainable farming practices, increased manufacturing efficiency, more affordable consumer prices, and higher product standards.
“We’ve seen incredible advancements in CBD extraction technology. Today, we can produce high-potency products that were only a dream when we started just a few years ago,” says Glenn Carpenter, a quality assurance manager at South Lake Tahoe-based Cannabiva CBD.
Back in 2015, when Cannabiva first began formulating its premium-quality hemp extracts, most products on the market lacked proper labeling. Consumers often did not even know how much cannabidiol (CBD) was actually in their products because lab testing was not commonplace like today. In those days, consumers would grab any CBD product off the shelf without knowing how it was made, what was in the bottle, or what they were supposed to do with it.
“Things have changed significantly since those early days,” says Carpenter. “We’ve spent years refining our production and manufacturing processes to improve sustainability while focusing on product quality, formula consistency, and consumer safety.”
Scientists at Cannabiva review and analyze the steady stream of new clinical studies from universities worldwide in the perpetual search for improved product efficacy and quality. Technological innovations in extraction, filtration, and laboratory testing enable Cannabiva to develop proprietary blends using, among other tech, a single-pass subzero extraction process that maintains the phytochemical consistency of the hemp plant. Sub zero extraction protects the bioactive medicinal compounds in the plant, unlike other extraction methods that use high heat, excessive pressure, or hydrocarbons which destroy the fragile plant medicines and lead to a less effective and lower quality CBD product.
“Less than a decade ago, if you bought CBD oil off the shelf of your local nutrition store, you might be lucky to get 300 mg of cannabidiol in the entire bottle,” explains Carpenter. “Today’s top-of-the-line 12,000 mg full spectrum CBD from Cannabiva delivers more than that in a single dropperful. That’s 40 times stronger than blends of old with Cannabiva. Reviews of the up-and-coming science and technological advancements are essential, in other words,” he adds.
The higher concentrations achieved with the latest technologies facilitate the creation of innovative consumer products that weren’t possible before. For example, manufacturing CBD honey sticks was challenging because blending honey with low-potency CBD extracts resulted in a bitter-tasting product. With higher concentrations, manufacturers can use less of the raw CBD material and more honey, leading to great-tasting products that remain effective and appetizing. The same applies to other edibles, including homemade baked goods, gummies, and snacks.
Overall, it’s the consumer who wins in the end. Today’s CBD user has more options than ever to help with everyday wellness concerns like stress, aches and pains, and sleep difficulties. As the industry continues to mature, Cannabiva expects even more technological innovation to improve the customer experience with better products, expanded education, a more structured regulatory environment, and collaboration with other industries.
“We look forward to continuing our quest to produce the absolute best CBD and hemp extract products in the world, and we can only do that with industry innovators and partners who share our vision,” says Carpenter.