About the project

The State Plant Breeding Institute (LSA) at the University of Hohenheim is responsible for planning, conducting, and evaluating scientific variety trials with industrial hemp (Work Package 3) as part of the Hempilot project. The goal is to collect reliable data on the performance and suitability of selected varieties for dual use (seeds and fibers).

Based on initial cultivation trials in 2023 and 2024, fifteen EU-approved varieties suitable for fiber or dual use will be tested in randomized field trials at three locations with different climates and soil conditions.

• Heidfeldhof: temperate climate and good soils

• Oberer Lindenhof: cooler climate and good water supply

• Eckartsweier — warm climate and light, sandy soils, which are ideal for assessing drought stress tolerance.

The trials will be repeated twice and comprise 90 plots per year. We record agronomic characteristics, yield parameters, and, in the future, quality characteristics for fiber evaluation in order to define breeding objectives in a targeted manner. These results will be entered into a project-specific knowledge database, providing a scientifically sound basis for decisions regarding variety recommendations, cultivation strategies, and the development of a future breeding program for industrial hemp.

Through close cooperation with the other project partners, the LSA is significantly contributing to the further economic, ecological, and breeding-related development of industrial hemp cultivation in Germany and to exploiting the potential of this crop for the bioeconomy.