Hemp - a low type of Cannabis sativa with a low level of the cannabinoid THC - is a wind-pollinated, annual broadleaf plant with a taproot. It is cultivated for its production of long fibres for textiles, hemp seeds for oil and other uses.

Under optimum conditions, hemp germinates within three to five days. It is a fast grower, generally requiring about 120 days to mature, preferably under warm and light conditions. The yield of seeds and biomass (stems and leaves) is lower in dark and cooler climates.

Hemp is a high-production crop that can yield more oil than peanuts and up to four times as much paper pulp than trees on the same size of land. Hemp can also be farmed hydroponically (farming that only uses water and essential nutrients, and not soil).

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