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The Federation of International Hemp Organizations (FIHO) announces the start of its activities

Lorenzo Rolim | Published on 3/23/2022

March 23rd, 2022

Press Release

The Federation of International Hemp Organizations (FIHO) announces the start of its activities

After months of coordinated work between global hemp industry associations, FIHO finally opens its doors to lead the industry into a new era.

Based on the recent advances and renewed global interest in hemp as an industrial commodity, a group of hemp industry associations worldwide got together to discuss the creation of a global entity with the mission to bring together industry leaders, market expertise, and resources to speak with one voice on hemp issues at the global level and to identify and create opportunities to scale sustainable hemp production, marketing, and trade to benefit the global hemp industry, consumers, and the environment.

FIHO, as a global organization committed to the hemp sector, will work to advance the global production, consumption and trade of industrial hemp and provide an unparalleled platform that promotes research, development and innovation, standards harmonization, regulation, knowledge dissemination, and awareness creation.

On March 17th, 2022, the interim Directors gathered for the first interim Board meeting and selected the elected interim Officers. The election process resulted in the following:

 

Position

Name of elected official

Region

Board Chair

Ted Haney

CHTA, Canada

Board Vice-Chair

Daniel Kruse

EIHA, Europe

Treasurer

Geoff Whaling

NHA, USA

Secretary

Hongliang Ding

CHA, China

 

The following committees were established:

Committee

Name of elected official

Region

Communication and Engagement Committee Chair

Lorenzo Rolim da Silva

LAIHA, Latin America

Policy and Regulation Committee Co-chairs

Lorenza Romanese

Erica Mcbride Stark

EIHA, Europe

NHA, USA

Research, Standards, and Sustainability Committee Chair

Keith Jones

CHTA, Canada

 

Other directors that compose the Interim Board:

Position

Name of elected official

Region

Interim Director

Charles Kovess

AIHA, Australia

Interim Director

Gaurav Dixit

UHA, India

Interim Director

Hunter Buffington

NIHC, USA

Interim Director

Jason Fung

CHA, China

Interim Director

Joseph Hickey Sr.

KYHA, USA

Interim Director

Kyle Bingham

THGA, USA

Interim Director

Patrick Atagi

NIHC, USA

 

We are very happy to have reached a broad understanding on the goals and roles together as a global organization working to promote hemp and turn it into a mainstream global agricultural commodity integrated with multiple different industrialization streams.

Ted Haney, interim Board Chair said “This work is the result of months of meetings and high-level discussions among the members. Considering the long experience and high degree of knowledge of our member parties, we can safely conclude that the global hemp industry is destined to achieve greatness under the direction of FIHO. We are working to provide the conditions the hemp industry needs to flourish for everyone on earth, promoting inclusion, diversity and social and environmental responsibility.”

FIHO expects to have a fully operational structure, including all the required framework to welcome new associates on Q3/2022. The information necessary for the inclusion of newcomers will be released to the general public over the next few months.

For more information:

Please email: lorenzo@laiha.org