Hemp, cannabis symposium at SIU seeks to strengthen ties between academia, industry

September 09, 2024

by Tim Crosby

CARBONDALE, Ill. - A symposium at Southern Illinois University Carbondale exploring how to stimulate cooperation between academia and industrial hemp and cannabis production comes to Southern Illinois later this month.

The Southern Illinois Hemp and Cannabis Symposium is set for Sept. 27 at the McLafferty Annex on the campus' far west side. The event, sponsored by SIU's Cannabis Science Center, will showcase the latest trends, research and opportunities in the hemp and cannabis sectors, offering networking opportunities and exposure to a diverse audience of professionals and enthusiasts.

Gary Kinsel, interim director of the Cannabis Science Center, said local growing conditions meant the region was a major producer of hemp fiber during World War II, but postwar prohibitions stunted the industry's growth.

"The hemp and cannabis industry has enormous potential to be an economic driver for Southern Illinois," Kinsel said. "In the intervening years since WWII, little to no agronomic research was done on the plant. Likewise, very few studies of the medicinal potential of many of the compounds that are produced by the plant have been conducted."

Kinsel said collaborations between university faculty and industry partners are essential to realize the economic and societal potential of this rapidly emerging crop.

"This year's conference brings together a thought-provoking mix of industry leaders, academic researchers and policy makers to discuss the future of the hemp/cannabis industry and its role in society," he said. "The credentials of many of the speakers include both academic appointments and private-sector entrepreneurship, allowing them to offer unique perspectives on the importance of establishing synergies between these domains."

Speakers for this year event include hemp and cannabis research scientists from around the country, as well as industry leaders. A representative from the Illinois Department of Agriculture also will provide a keynote presentation on current and emerging legislation related to the hemp/cannabis industry.

"Participants will gain unique insights into the policies and perspectives that are shaping the future of the industry," Kinsel said.

The McLafferty Annex is home of the SIU Illinois Food, Entrepreneurship, Research and Manufacturing (iFERM) Hub. In cooperation with the Illinois Innovation Network, iFERM currently includes the Fermentation Science Institute, the Center for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Science, and the SIU Ultrafast Laser Facility. Its most recent addition is BioLaunch, a 10,000-square-foot complex of analytical and biotechnology core laboratories supporting research and regional business innovation.

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