A Current Status and Production Potential of Industrial Hemp in Croatia, Based on a SWOT Analysis

In the past, Croatia had industrial hemp cultivation mainly for fiber obtainment. Recently, the interest in seed and flower production has risen worldwide. Industrial hemp is interesting in many aspects, so the study evaluates the current status and potential of production using a SWOT analysis. The average harvested area under industrial hemp in Croatia was around 1,000 ha (2014 – 2023), with a seed yield of 0.8 t ha-1. In addition to the favorable agroecological conditions, a considerable num-ber of products and the medicinal properties of the plant provide most of the strength to the production. Still, the main weakness is a lack of specialized mechanization and specific regulations that the farmers need to circumvent, which may result in a loss of interest in production. The most common products on the market are the seeds, seed oil, and the CBD oil. Stem processing has not been developed yet, even though it has much potential.