February 28, 2025

Minnesota Becomes The First US State To Approve Hemp Seed Meal As Feed, Green Signals Market Expansion Of Hemp

In a milestone development, hemp seed meal has been approved for use as feed for laying hens by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). This makes Minnesota the first state in the US to approve hemp seed meal for commercialization. 

Last year, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) tentatively approved hemp seed meal for animal feed. Minnesota’s move has created a big potential for future market expansion and commercialization of hemp.

The hemp meal is made from hemp seed cake, which was the tentatively approved animal feed by AAFCO in 2024. The meal is made by grinding the hemp cakes after most of the oil has been extracted from the seeds. The leftover meal is packed with protein, healthy fats, and fiber. This makes it a nutrient-rich food for animals. Currently, MDA has limited the use of hemp meal in the feed for the birds to 20%.

Hemp seed meal as feed

Source

Daniel King, an MDA feed specialist and board member of AAFCO, remarked that the use of hemp meal can help in marketing the produce as having a ‘specialty ingredient’. Studies have suggested an improvement in egg quality when using hemp meal for hens. They also concluded that using hemp in animal feed provides overall health improvement in farm animals. This is directly linked to the fact that hemp seeds are rich in nutrients like essential fats, dietary fiber, proteins, omega 3, and omega 6. King also remarked that this provides an opportunity for market expansion of hemp.

Amidst the positive development of hemp meal in the feed industry, research is still going on for the full adoption of hemp in animal feed. Presently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is allowing the use of hemp with a cap of 2 parts per million (ppm) for THC and 20 ppm for cannabidiol (CBD). Regulating the permissible limits of both is important before hemp meal gets full approval. 

The AAFCO will conduct more research and tests to finalize the safe limits for THC and CBD. The MDA looks forward to adopting the correct limits. These research and tests are scheduled for the next year. King expects that it will take a year or more to mainstream hemp meal in animal feed.

AAFCO’s last year’s tentative approval for hemp seed cake as animal feed was a green signal for the states in the commercial adoption of the same. It is expected that more states will follow suit after Minnesota. Hemp meal is now listed in AAFCO’s official publication. This is a significant development for the hemp industry, as this document serves as an official guide and rule book for everything related to the feed industry.

 The MDA has announced that applications for a legal license to grow hemp are open till 30th April, 2025.

Vishal Vivek is the Founder and CEO of Ukhi, a pioneering bio-materials company dedicated to ending plastic pollution by converting agricultural waste into high-performance compostable polymers. With a background in sustainable entrepreneurship and over a decade of technology experience, he leads Ukhi’s vision to create scalable, planet-positive material solutions. Previously, Vishal founded the Hemp Foundation, where he empowered more than 1,000 farmers and advanced sustainable livelihood initiatives. His work has been recognized through awards such as the HDFC Parivartan Grant and featured in leading publications like Forbes and Entrepreneur. Times Group recognized him as a legendary entrepreneur and published his biography in “I Did IT- Vol 2” alongside social pioneers like Bindeshwar Pathak (Sulabh International) and Anshu Gupta (Goonj). Vishal has authored more than 200 articles on sustainability and hemp, reflecting his deep expertise and advocacy for regenerative solutions. His commitment to grassroots impact led him to live in the remote mountains of Uttarakhand, where he immersed himself in the lives of marginal farmers, understanding their challenges and co-creating economic opportunities through hemp-based initiatives. A deeply passionate innovator, Vishal often draws inspiration from seemingly impossible achievements: “If Elon Musk can make rockets reusable, or Dashrath Manjhi can carve a path through a mountain with rudimentary tools, why can’t we eliminate the demon of single-use plastic while uplifting struggling farmers? We will make it happen—whatever it takes.” Ukhi is proud to be supported by premier institutions including IIT Guwahati, NSRCEL-IIM Bangalore, Indian School of Business (Hyderabad), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR Pusa), and the Indian Institute of Packaging. Vishal is committed to demonstrating that business can be a powerful catalyst for global environmental and social good. Connect with Vishal Vivek