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:
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Position
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Name of elected official
|
Region
|
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Board Chair
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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:
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Committee
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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:
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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