Listing of Polish varieties marks start of Argentina’s push into hemp grain and fiber

Argentina has reached deep into the heart of Europe for proven hemp cultivars after three years of trials, adding two Polish varieties to the country’s official seed catalog.

The listings in the National Cultivar Registry are a first step toward Argentina aligning itself with international hemp standards and beginning to build the foundation for commercial grain and fiber production, as the country pursues a whole-plant development strategy. They are expected to be followed by other varieties already under evaluation, expanding the range of options for Argentine producers.

The two varieties, Henola and Białobrzeskie, were introduced by Buenos Aires–based IHS Crops (IHS), working with a number of national agencies.

Developed by Poland’s Institute of Natural Fibers and Medicinal Plants (IWNiRZ) the two cultivars – Henola and Białobrzeskie – have shown strong performance in diverse environments from Australia to the United States.

Proven varieties

Henola is an abundant grain producer.

Henola, announced in Poland in 2017, is a compact, early-maturing grain variety. Białobrzeskie, first bred in the 1960s, is prized for both fiber and grain outputs. Both were bred for Europe’s previous strict 0.2% THC limit, and have ranked among top performers in international trials.

IWNiRZ is a state research center. Its Polish Hemp Program oversees Poland’s national hemp genetics, seed certification, and breeding, and carries out research for a wide range of hemp applications.

IHS, a private company with ties to academic research through the Faculty of Agronomy at the University of Buenos Aires (FAUBA), led the application process for cultivar registration. The company is positioning itself as a bridge between international genetics programs and Argentine producers.

The trials, coordinated by IHS and a research team from FAUBA, were conducted under the supervision of the National Seed Institute (INASE), the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), the National Service of Health and Agri-Food Quality (SENASA), and the Regulatory Agency for the Hemp and Medicinal Cannabis Industry (ARICCAME).

“I am really impressed how the industrial hemp sector is developing in South America, especially in Argentina,” said Witold Czeszak, who heads the Polish Hemp Program at IWNIRZ. The Poles have been sharing the Institute’s IPs, knowledge and experience with colleagues from Argentina since 2022, he said. IWNRZ hosted Argentine officials, entrepreneurs, scientists and farmers during study tours that explored the entire hemp value chain .

“It’s the best way to spread our legacy and help new regions develop local industrial hemp sectors,” Czeszak said.

Framework in place

Argentina legalized hemp and medical cannabis in 2022, establishing ARICCAME as the central authority for licensing, regulation, and oversight. A decree published in August 2023 set the THC threshold for hemp at 1.0% and created a “one-stop shop” system to coordinate the activities of multiple government agencies. This framework allows for the production of hemp for seed, grain, and fiber, though CBD production remains excluded under existing rules.

Current regulations permit the import of CBD products for patients by prescription, but domestic production and commercial sales of CBD are not allowed. Industrial hemp activities are initially limited to non-psychoactive uses—seed, grain, and fiber—under a licensing system administered jointly by ARICCAME and INASE.

Argentina’s potential

With vast agricultural lands, favorable climates, and a strong scientific base, Argentina has long been considered one of Latin America’s most promising candidates for a hemp industry. Authorities see potential markets in food products—oils, flours, and proteins—as well as construction materials, textiles, cellulose, and bioplastics.

In recent years, the government has launched funding programs for research and development, created a state technology company focused on hemp and cannabis, and set targets for new jobs and exports.