A Scottish hemp crop has attracted more than one million views online as its growers prepare for this year’s harvest.
Hemp It Up, which grows hemp near Kirriemuir, said a short video showing its Scottish hemp seeds nearing harvest has passed one million views across Facebook and Instagram.
The company said the response had brought global attention to its approach to sustainable Scottish agriculture.
The crop is being grown to produce a range of locally made products, including cold-pressed hemp oil, protein powders and hemp hearts. Hemp It Up also produces a handmade soap range. The harvest is expected to take place this week, weather permitting, with the business describing hemp farming as part of a modern approach to farm diversification. While hemp has traditionally been associated with historical and industrial uses, Hemp It Up is developing the crop for food and skincare products.
The company says its hemp oil is cold-pressed and can be used as an alternative to refined olive oils.
It also claims its oil contains 19 times more Omega 3, although the company did not provide comparative testing or further evidence in the material supplied.
The business said the environmental benefits of growing hemp in Scottish soil would also be discussed during the harvest.
The viral video forms part of Hemp It Up’s regular social media crop updates, documenting the progress of the hemp crop as it approaches harvest. The company is hoping the online interest will translate into awareness of its products and the potential uses of hemp grown in Scotland.
The company says that hemp can offer environmental benefits when grown in Scottish soil and believes the crop has potential beyond its traditional industrial associations.
The latest social media video follows previous updates documenting the crop’s progress towards harvest.
Passing one million views represents a significant increase in the audience reached by those updates, with the company saying viewers have come from around the world. The harvest is due to take place this week, weather permitting.
