Studies cited in the piece show a 20% hemp biodiesel blend can match diesel on performance while cutting key emissions
Recently, the Kerala government ordered random inspections and sample collections at petrol pumps across multiple districts to test for excess Ethanol blending in E20 fuel. This is an aftermath of similar allegations and lab findings in neighbouring Karnataka (where petrol samples allegedly showed up to 31.2% ethanol against the prescribed 20% E20 benchmark) and public complaints regarding vehicle damage and reduced fuel quality.
Keeping aside the above controversy, why can’t Government of India and fuel companies think seriously about using Hemp seed oil instead of Ethanol. Hemp seed oil can be processed into biodiesel and blended with conventional petro-diesel. Studies show that a B20 blend (20% hemp biodiesel, 80% diesel) offers strong engine performance, sometimes matching or improving fuel consumption efficiency while lowering carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC), and nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions (Materials Today: Science Direct, Volume 46, Part 17, 2021).
Hemp has been used for thousands of years for products such as ropes and clothing. After World War II growing hemp became illegal. This was partly due to the lobbying of DuPont, the American manufacturer of synthetic materials. Only in 2018 was the cultivation of hemp re-legalised in the USA.
Hemp seed oil (extracted from Cannabis sativa) contains a high oil content (roughly 25% to 42%) and can be converted into biodiesel to run compression-ignition (CI) diesel engines. Hemp-based fuel burns relatively cleanly with reduced soot, sulphur, and toxic aromatic compounds compared to standard petroleum diesel, and offers superior lubricity for engine components. Researchers at the University of Connecticut found the seeds from cannabis sativa, or industrial hemp, can be used to create a viable, sustainable diesel fuel.
Hemp biofuels could help lead the nation’s economy from a petroleum-based economy to a hemp-based economy, providing a sustainable energy resource which also leaves the planet in better condition than it found it. Everyone who drives a vehicle is aware there is a growing problem with fossil fuel depletion. As the price of petroleum continues to rise, top analysts predict crude oil resources are running out. Crude oil is not a renewable resource, so once it’s depleted, it cannot be replaced. Henry Ford was the first to create a vehicle that used hemp biofuels. His Model T, or “Tin Lizzie”, ran on either gasoline or hemp-based fuels. However, with the discovery of large crude oil deposits in the early 20th century his idea for a sustainable, plant-based automobile fuel was not explored.
Using industrial hemp, researchers may be back on Ford’s trail to unlocking a greener path to renewable fuels which not only provides a valuable resource but helps repair environmental damage in the process. Hemp is renowned for its exceptional carbon sequestration capabilities. During its rapid growth cycle, hemp absorbs a significant amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. In fact, hemp has been found to sequester more carbon per acre than many other crops or trees, making it a valuable asset in carbon farming and sustainable agriculture practices.
Furthermore, hemp is a highly resource-efficient crop. It requires minimal water compared to conventional crops like cotton, making it a viable option in regions prone to drought or water scarcity. Hemp also thrives in diverse soil conditions, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Its deep root system helps prevent soil erosion, improves soil structure, and promotes biodiversity, contributing to overall soil health and regeneration.
Hemp, can be used for bioremediation, a process to restore soil from toxic pollution. Essentially, as a phytoremediator, hemp pulls the toxins out of the soil like a sponge. Farmers in many parts of the world use hemp to restore their fields. Hemp was even used to remove radioactive agents from the ground following the radioactive disaster at Chernobyl! Astonishingly hemp can clean up a broad range of toxins in the soil including metals, pesticides, crude oil, and toxins in landfills.
As a carbon-neutral resource, the Hemp plant ingests carbon dioxide (CO2) very quickly, even faster than trees. Plus, carbon dioxide emissions from biodiesel are reabsorbed through the process of photosynthesis in plants. So, in addition to pulling toxins from the soil, the hemp plant can essentially “scrub” CO2 from the air we breathe.
When growing hemp, it returns about 70% of its required nutrients back into the soil, which means this crop requires much less fertilizer to grow. Fewer fertilizers mean cleaner water supplies.
Creating a renewable resource crop that can restore the soil to health, and pull toxins from the ground, air, and water, while creating a viable energy source may sound like a Utopian dream.
In India, Under Section 14 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, state governments can permit the cultivation of Cannabis sativa strictly for industrial purposes (fibre, seed) or horticulture, provided the THC content is below 0.3%.
Open cultivation is not legal across India. It is primarily regulated and permitted on a pilot or restricted scale in select states like Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Farmers or enterprises must acquire specific state licenses covering land inspection, crop monitoring, transport, and storage. Currently hemp product manufacturers in India depend on imports of raw hemp from Europe, North America and China to produce ropes, mats, bags and shoes. There are no restrictions on the import of raw hemp if they comply with the country’s Phyto-sanitary guidelines.
Hemp oil is not in widespread commercial or mainstream use to power everyday vehicles, as high refining costs, limited land cultivation, and strict cannabis regulations keep it largely experimental. However, some countries are already exploring and utilizing it. North Korea, is reported to have instructed farmers to grow cannabis/hemp to produce hemp oil for fueling military drones and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Many countries (such as France, Germany, China, and the UK) use hemp extensively for automotive parts and bio-composites, such as interior door panels and light-weight materials in brands like BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, and Peugeot.
Indian petroleum companies need to immediately explore, how to utilize Hemp oil as a fuel for vehicles. It’s estimated that in China, hemp is cultivated across 50,000 to 70,000 hectares of land, which makes it the world’s largest hemp producer. As of 2025, China produces an estimated 70% of the world’s hemp. An estimated 40,000 to 50,000 tonnes of hemp are cultivated in China every year.
France is the world’s 2nd biggest producer of hemp. As per industry reports, the hemp industry in France is projected to cross EUR 6.1 billion by 2030, surging from EUR 695 million in 2024.
TechnoArge, a Turkish company manufactures bullet-proof armour, X-ray devices made from hemp. As hemp blocks radiation, the company uses it to cancel out the risk of radiation in suitcase controls at airports and disinfect the luggage. The company received the patents of X-ray devices made from hemp composites in 144 countries.
The company also produces bullet-proof vests using both soft and hard parts of the hemp! These are reportedly 20 times stronger than normal bullet-proof vests.
Government of India should also explore legalizing Hemp cultivation. Hemp cultivation in ancient India has a rich history spanning over 4,000 years, intertwined with sacred traditions, medicine, and industrial craftsmanship. Hemp is first recorded in ancient sacred Hindu texts dating back to 2000–3000 BCE, most notably in the Atharvaveda, which praises hemp (Vijaya) as one of five sacred plants capable of freeing humans from anxiety and distress. When other countries are utilizing the commercial potential of Hemp cultivation, it makes little sense to be enslaved by the NDPS Act, and facing fuel crisis. Bringing back hemp cultivation in India can have a global impact, and also reduce our fuel dependency on imported fuels, which are fluctuating every day. George Washington famously remarked “Make the most of the Indian Hemp seed, and sow it everywhere”.
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