Pacific Biodiesel founders obtain license to grow industrial hemp
Photo: Pacific Biodiesel Technologies
April 25, 2019
BY Pacific Biodiesel Technologies
In celebration of Earth Day, and in a continued effort to support sustainable, community-based agriculture and renewable energy, Pacific Biodiesel Technologies and its founders Bob and Kelly King announced April 22 the development of Maui’s first state-licensed industrial hemp farm, operating under the Kings’ personal entity, Imua Energy LLC.
The commercial farming operation will initially produce full-spectrum industrial hemp extract, including CBD. The hemp extract will be manufactured by Imua Energy and distributed by Maiden Hawaii Naturals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pacific Biodiesel and marketed to cosmetic manufacturers. Maiden Hawaii will also incorporate Imua Energy’s premium hemp extract as a featured ingredient in its natural skincare brand, Kuleana by Maiden Hawaii Naturals.
“We are so honored to have been granted the first industrial hemp commercial farming license on Maui,” said Bob King, president and founder of Pacific Biodiesel. “The cultivation of industrial hemp offers a wealth of opportunity for our island, from health and wellness and culinary usage to textile and biofuel production. With this expanded farming operation, we are inspired to continue uncovering new ways to further our commitment to agricultural diversity and renewable energy in Hawaii.”
Advertisement
The Hawaii Department of Agriculture granted the license to Imua Energy for the purposes of research on the growth, cultivation and marketing of industrial hemp. The 10-acre site located within its 115-acre Biofuel Crop Farm in central Maui will be the first industrial hemp farm in the U.S. powered 100 percent by biodiesel. The sustainable farming operation is free of pesticides, herbicides and GMO crops.
This Maui-grown hemp extract will contain the full spectrum of industrial hemp-derived cannabinoids, including CBD. Imua Energy has purchased a supercritical CO2 extractor to allow for production of pure, clean, quality extract with no further heating or distillation required. Premium hemp extract will be blended (per FDA requirements not to exceed 0.3 percent THC) with Pacific Biodiesel’s locally grown Hawaiian Macadamia and Maui Sunflower oils and will be incorporated this fall into the Kuleana Beauty products.
Advertisement
Related Stories
U.S. farmers are expected to plant 83.5 million acres of soybeans in 2025, down 4% when compared to last year, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service’s annual Prospective Plantings report, released March 31.
ADM and Mitsubishi Corp. on March 27 announced the signing of a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) to form a strategic alliance to explore potential areas of future collaboration across the agriculture value chain.
The International Air Transport Association has established the Civil Aviation Decarbonization Organization to manage the IATA-developed Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Registry when it is released.
LRQA, the leading global assurance partner backed by Goldman Sachs Alternatives, has acquired EcoEngineers, a U.S.-based consulting, auditing and advisory firm with an exclusive focus on the energy transition.
The USDA on March 25 announced it will release previously obligated funding under the Rural Energy for America Program To receive the funds, applicants will be required to remove “harmful DEIA and “far-left climate features” from project proposals.
Upcoming Events
