Bavarian tradition thrives on clichés: lederhosen, dirndls, beer and pretzels. It may seem absurd at first that the hemp plant, which otherwise tends to fall into disrepute in the context of illegal substances, should be included here. However, the tradition of the cultivated plant in Bavaria also goes back several centuries. Hemp was used in the clothing industry, shipping, medicine and as a raw material for paper, but it was also recognized as a foodstuff, for example as oil. Four-fifths of the hemp grown in Germany in 1878 on over 2000 hectares came from the south of the country: from Baden, Württemberg, Bavaria and Alsace-Lorraine. An anecdote about the rather clichéd use of hemp can be found in Behr's Von Hanf ist die Rede (1982):
"Back then, hemp cultivation was still common in Bavaria, and the very old stuffed the leaves into their pipes as a substitute for tobacco. [...] "And this is supposed to be a drug?" the chairman of the volunteer fire department is amazed. "Well," I ask, "didn't you feel anything back then?" - "Yes - we just got a little intoxicated. That's why we smoked."
Despite its wide range of applications, this psychoactive effect of the hemp plant led to it being banned in the 1980s. Since 1996, the crop has been allowed to be grown again as industrial hemp, now with a THC content of less than 0.2%. For this reason, the constantly growing product range is more a rediscovery of the seemingly countless possibilities of the clichéd hemp plant. The diverse areas of application allow the plant to be fully utilized; for example, hemp is now also used as a plastic substitute. Hemp cultivation is still concentrated in Bavaria, where hemp is used as an insulating material in ecological building construction, for example. This sustainability aspect supports the current success story of the hemp plant. Thanks to the possibility of growing hemp regionally, it can score points with a good CO2 balance, as explained in more detail here. The proportion of organically produced hemp in Germany is relatively high compared to other crops. This is also due to its frugality and robustness. Its long roots allow it to survive dry years - a factor that is becoming increasingly important, especially in the context of climate change. HANS makes use of the possibilities of the region by processing hemp from Bavaria, which means that long transportation routes can usually be dispensed with. At the same time, the hemp fields provide a habitat for a wide variety of wild animals and insects. The bees find a valuable source of amino acids, minerals and vitamins there, as described in more detail here. In this way, HANS not only supports organic farming in Bavaria, but also counteracts bee mortality at the same time.