Assessing the relationship between technical efficiency and net carbon balance in industrial hemp production systems...

With the encouragement of international climate agreements, scientific and economic communities are increasingly seeking innovative strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This study aims to determine the net carbon balance of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) production systems, assess the technical efficiency of hemp farms, and examine the relationship between farm efficiency and carbon emissions. Primary data were collected through face-to-face surveys with 49 industrial hemp farms in Samsun province, the leading hemp-producing region of Turkey. Carbon equivalent emissions were calculated using crop-specific emission coefficients. Data envelopment analysis was employed to identify technically efficient and inefficient farms under industrial hemp seed and hemp fiber production systems. The results indicate that hemp absorbs approximately 16 times more carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere than it emits. One tonne of industrial hemp production was found to reduce 1.83 tonnes of CO₂, confirming hemp as a net carbon remover. The net carbon balance of technically efficient farms was 39% higher than that of inefficient farms. Efficient farms absorbed an average of 21.56 tCO₂, compared to 15.49 tCO₂ for inefficient farms. The simulation results show that if inefficient farms improve their efficiency through input control, the net carbon balance could increase by 5.61 tCO₂ per farm, corresponding to a total increase of 196 tCO₂. Overall, industrial hemp production systems provide significant climate-regulation ecosystem services, with higher efficiency levels substantially enhancing carbon sequestration performance.