Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
While he didn't achieve the crop yield he hoped for this season, Marc P. Privitera has made good use of his time studying the results of the hemp he planted.
A chemical engineer who specializes in hemp growth, Mr. Privitera owns a business development firm called PreProcess Inc. in California. He plans to use the resources of this region to create a hemp processing industry.
He and representatives from five other companies were issued permits through the state's Industrial Hemp Agricultural Research Pilot Program. This allows him to research industrial hemp processing, manufacturing and marketing.
The state's regulatory process prevented Mr. Privitera from planting hemp on four 1-acre plots he owns until June and July. This was past the ideal time frame in April. His crops also were affected by the excessive rainfall and cold weather conditions we've experienced in the north country.
Mr. Privitera advised authorities to expedite the approval process. Hemp growers need to take advantage of the better conditions offered earlier in the year.
So he conceded that he won't get as much of the crop that he wanted this year. But what he learned through his experience will benefit him in the future.
He studied how hemp grew in different soil conditions, for example, which will guide planting practices in the years ahead. He's also exploring the best procedures for harvesting his hemp and how to effectively market it.
"Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong. That's when you learn the most," Mr. Privitera was quoted as saying in a story published Friday in the Watertown Daily Times. "We now know what we have to do to have a good production yield."
The goal is to process the hemp into material that can be used to make many different items. Mr. Privitera plans to create a $10 million hemp industry in Jefferson County by 2020 with an industrial-scale processing facility near Interstate 81 – which could produce 100 new jobs. One of his plots is about a mile from the old schoolhouse on Route 193 in Ellisburg; the other three are in Binghamton, Cobleskill and Copenhagen.
Established in 2016, the state's Industrial Hemp Agricultural Research Pilot Program was expanded to include both higher education institutions and private entities. It allows entrepreneurs such as Mr. Privitera to partner with colleges and universities to explore the possibilities of hemp through research.
The north country is ideal for growing hemp. The plant tolerates colder climates, requires no pesticides or herbicides, and needs only moderate amounts of water and fertilizer.
Hemp is regularly used to create many different items. These include clothes, cardboard and plastic – all biodegradable. Its seeds can be added to food items to boost their nutritional value, and the CBD oil from hemp can be used for medical purposes.
Mr. Privitera is the kind of entrepreneur we need in the north country. He recognizes the value of this area's resources and has a vision for how to make them benefit the industry here he wants to start.
Last year, Mr. Privitera was awarded a fellowship with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. He also was appointed to the Canadian International Minerals Technical Advisory Board. PreProcess Inc. won the 2010 Technology Pioneering award at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Mr. Privitera approached officials with Jefferson Community College about a potential collaboration, but they declined his offer. Such a relationship, however, would be mutually beneficial.
This involves agricultural research and would help boost the economy. JCC should reconsider its position and help Mr. Privitera achieve his worthwhile goals.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Watertown Daily Times | Fertile soil: California businessman using hemp to boost NNY economy
Contact: Watertown Daily Times | Local News, Sports, Features, and Community Information for Jefferson County, St. Lawrence County, and Lewis County in Northern New York.
Photo Credit: Mateusz Perkowski
Website: Watertown Daily Times | Local News, Sports, Features, and Community Information for Jefferson County, St. Lawrence County, and Lewis County in Northern New York.
A chemical engineer who specializes in hemp growth, Mr. Privitera owns a business development firm called PreProcess Inc. in California. He plans to use the resources of this region to create a hemp processing industry.
He and representatives from five other companies were issued permits through the state's Industrial Hemp Agricultural Research Pilot Program. This allows him to research industrial hemp processing, manufacturing and marketing.
The state's regulatory process prevented Mr. Privitera from planting hemp on four 1-acre plots he owns until June and July. This was past the ideal time frame in April. His crops also were affected by the excessive rainfall and cold weather conditions we've experienced in the north country.
Mr. Privitera advised authorities to expedite the approval process. Hemp growers need to take advantage of the better conditions offered earlier in the year.
So he conceded that he won't get as much of the crop that he wanted this year. But what he learned through his experience will benefit him in the future.
He studied how hemp grew in different soil conditions, for example, which will guide planting practices in the years ahead. He's also exploring the best procedures for harvesting his hemp and how to effectively market it.
"Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong. That's when you learn the most," Mr. Privitera was quoted as saying in a story published Friday in the Watertown Daily Times. "We now know what we have to do to have a good production yield."
The goal is to process the hemp into material that can be used to make many different items. Mr. Privitera plans to create a $10 million hemp industry in Jefferson County by 2020 with an industrial-scale processing facility near Interstate 81 – which could produce 100 new jobs. One of his plots is about a mile from the old schoolhouse on Route 193 in Ellisburg; the other three are in Binghamton, Cobleskill and Copenhagen.
Established in 2016, the state's Industrial Hemp Agricultural Research Pilot Program was expanded to include both higher education institutions and private entities. It allows entrepreneurs such as Mr. Privitera to partner with colleges and universities to explore the possibilities of hemp through research.
The north country is ideal for growing hemp. The plant tolerates colder climates, requires no pesticides or herbicides, and needs only moderate amounts of water and fertilizer.
Hemp is regularly used to create many different items. These include clothes, cardboard and plastic – all biodegradable. Its seeds can be added to food items to boost their nutritional value, and the CBD oil from hemp can be used for medical purposes.
Mr. Privitera is the kind of entrepreneur we need in the north country. He recognizes the value of this area's resources and has a vision for how to make them benefit the industry here he wants to start.
Last year, Mr. Privitera was awarded a fellowship with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. He also was appointed to the Canadian International Minerals Technical Advisory Board. PreProcess Inc. won the 2010 Technology Pioneering award at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Mr. Privitera approached officials with Jefferson Community College about a potential collaboration, but they declined his offer. Such a relationship, however, would be mutually beneficial.
This involves agricultural research and would help boost the economy. JCC should reconsider its position and help Mr. Privitera achieve his worthwhile goals.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Watertown Daily Times | Fertile soil: California businessman using hemp to boost NNY economy
Contact: Watertown Daily Times | Local News, Sports, Features, and Community Information for Jefferson County, St. Lawrence County, and Lewis County in Northern New York.
Photo Credit: Mateusz Perkowski
Website: Watertown Daily Times | Local News, Sports, Features, and Community Information for Jefferson County, St. Lawrence County, and Lewis County in Northern New York.
