Canada Hemp Trade Alliance taps agribusiness specialist as national changes loom

Canada’s largest hemp association has hired an agribusiness specialist to help lead the group through “monumental” changes looming for one of the world’s top hemp producers.

The Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance, which represents about 500 hemp growers and others in the industry, has hired Ted Haney as executive director.

Haney formerly served on the board of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance. He replaces Kim Shukla, who stepped down earlier this year.

Russ Crawford, CHTA’s elected board president, told Hemp Industry Daily that Haney will be charged with steering Canada’s hemp industry to new heights.

Starting this fall, Canada’s hemp producers will be allowed to use hemp flower for cannabinoid extraction.

That’s coming as part of the nation’s broader marijuana legalization and is expected to trigger an avalanche of interest in hemp production, which currently accounts for roughly 100,000 acres in Canada, Crawford said.

“There are monumental changes coming for our industry,” he said.

Canada is the single largest supplier of U.S. hemp imports, according to the Congressional Research Service, accounting for about 90% of the value of annual imports.

Haney assumes his new role Aug. 1 at CHTA headquarters in Alberta.