Chapter 4 Sustainable economic growth through small-scale industrial cannabis farming and technology

Africa has the wealthiest minerals and plants that could bring economic value through sustainable practices. Industrialisation requires that countries be able to extract from within and create value that would contribute to a positive change in economic growth. From time immemorial, cannabis (f. Cannabaceae) has been regarded as an indigenous herbaceous plant that indigenous people have widely used for various purposes. The cannabis industry experienced rapid growth in recent years, driven by increasing demand and led by the decriminalisation of the herb. With these developments, the illicit nature of trading still occurs in the sector. As the herb is extracted directly from the environment, sustainable processes to create value from the plant must become crucial. The value chain of the processing of the plant forms part of a circular economy (CE) that has the potential to benefit a wider society, thus bringing inclusivity. According to the United Nations’ sustainable development goals, the current environment must be used sustainably for future generations’ benefit. Using a systematic review approach, the chapter examines opportunities for small-scale farmers to adopt CE principles and technology interventions to promote sustainability. The study revealed that the value chains of the cannabis trade are still restrictive for small-scale cannabis farming communities. The study also found government regulations to be a major barrier to cannabis cultivation. The study concludes that to grow the industry in South Africa, there is a need for the government to ease legislation and allow farmers to cultivate and transport cannabis freely. To achieve a CE, more focus should be on training and education in the cultivation process of the cannabis plant.