Can Existing Soil Protection Values Be Transferred to Industrial Hemp? An Exploratory Assessment of Economic Valuation Evidence
Débora Paulino
Abstract
Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is increasingly discussed as a multifunctional agricultural crop with potential environmental benefits, yet economic evidence that can inform comparisons with alternative land uses remains limited. This study examines what existing economic valuation evidence can reveal about soil protection services potentially relevant to industrial hemp cultivation. An exploratory benefit-transfer approach was applied to valuation studies identified through the Environmental Valuation Reference Inventory using the terms “soil protection”, “soil conservation”, and “soil erosion”. Five studies met the predefined inclusion criteria, covering cost-benefit analysis, contingent valuation, willingness to accept compensation, and avoided-cost approaches in agricultural contexts in Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Spain, and Guatemala. The evidence was synthesised comparatively rather than combined into a single pooled estimate because the studies differ substantially in valuation concept, spatial scale, time horizon, currency, and decision context. An illustrative annual unit-value transfer was retained only for the study reporting directly comparable annual soil-related benefits; under the exploratory currency conversion used here, this corresponds to approximately €6–14 ha−1 year−1. This figure is not interpreted as the economic value of hemp’s soil protection. Instead, it is treated as a lower-bound reference value for a specific category of soil-related benefits. The analysis shows that existing evidence can provide useful reference points but is insufficient for hemp-specific valuation. Future research should combine biophysical evidence on hemp’s soil effects with primary economic valuation to establish context-specific values.