FIHO - Federation of International Hemp Organizations

Name

FIHO - Federation of International Hemp Organizations

Legal name

Federation of International Hemp Organizations

Website

https://fiho.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Trade Association

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Trade Facilitation, Customs & Border Regulatory Cooperation (BPADANAG)

Keywords

• Industry federation services
• Global hemp advocacy
• Trade association membership
• Industrial hemp standards
• Intergovernmental policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Not publicly disclosed

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues and Fees: FIHO generates revenue through membership fees from various categories of members including Large Supranational and National Hemp Associations, Small Supranational and National Hemp Associations, Subnational Hemp Associations, Hemp Companies and Individuals, and Governments, Research Institutes, and aligned Non-Hemp Not-for-Profit Organizations. The membership structure includes different fee levels based on member category.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

FIHO is a non-profit global federation that represents and coordinates the worldwide industrial hemp industry through membership-based advocacy, policy development, standards harmonization, and industry coordination. It operates tiered membership for hemp associations, companies, individuals, governments, and research institutes, while driving programs such as the EVOLVE 2033 pledge initiative and online fundraising auctions to support ASTM hemp fibre standards development. The federation engages intergovernmental bodies (FAO, WTO, WHO, OECD, World Bank) on behalf of the global hemp sector.

Product overview

FIHO is a global federation serving as an umbrella organization for the international hemp industry. Rather than offering a unified software product, FIHO provides a suite of programs and services including the EVOLVE 2033 Initiative (a pledge-based program for industry commitment to hemp materials), an Online Auction for Hemp Fibre Standards (fundraising for ASTM standards development), Membership Services (advocacy, networking, and educational resources), and a Hemp Resources Repository (a knowledge clearing-house of research and industry information). These offerings work together to advance the global hemp industry's legitimacy, policy frameworks, and market development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EVOLVE 2033: A FIHO Initiative calling on industry leaders to reintegrate industrial hemp into agriculture for production of bio-based materials and food, with the goal of establishing significant market impact by 2033.

Products and services

• Membership Services Tiered membership program offering industry advocacy and representation at local, national, and international levels, access to intergovernmental agencies and policymakers, coordination of global research and standards development, information sharing, networking with industry leaders, policy and regulatory guidance, and discounts on FIHO events and publications. Targets Large Supranational/National Hemp Associations, Small Associations, Subnational Associations, Hemp Companies, Individuals, and Governments/Research Institutes.
• EVOLVE 2033 Initiative Pledge-based initiative calling on industry leaders to commit to purchasing and utilizing industrial hemp-based raw materials and production where economically possible, aimed at driving market demand for hemp farmers and manufacturers and reintegrating industrial hemp into agriculture for bio-based materials and food.
• Online Auction for Hemp Fibre Standards Silent auction platform hosted on 32auction.com raising funds for ASTM D37.07 feasibility study on test method development for hemp fibres, supporting the modernization of global hemp fibre industry standards. Includes product donations, sponsorships, social media promotion, and press releases for donors.
• Hemp Resources Repository Curated knowledge repository of hemp-related resources gathered over 30 years, including hemp processing facilities, bioplastics research, scientific papers, construction materials, university research programs, and automotive industry applications, available to members and the public.

Quantifiable outcome

• Scaling to 1 million hectares globally could sequester 10-15 million tonnes CO₂e annually, offsetting ~0.2-0.3% of global emissions
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• ASTM InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024FIHO and ASTM International signed a Memorandum of Understanding in March 2024 to formalize cooperation on hemp industry standards. The partnership focuses on the ASTM D37.07 Hemp Fibre Working Group developing international standards for measuring fibre length and width. FIHO is conducting fundraising campaigns and online auctions to support ASTM standards development, with a goal to raise $20,000 for the ILS #1862 feasibility study.
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Global Alliance for Building and Construction (Global ABC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 September 2023FIHO joined the UNEP Global Alliance for Building and Construction in September 2023, representing the global hemp industry in sustainable construction discussions. This partnership enables FIHO to advocate for hemp-based building materials (hempcrete) in international sustainability frameworks and connect with global construction industry stakeholders.
• Emerging ag (Robynne Anderson and international team)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021The FIHO Working Group contracted Emerging ag (led by Robynne Anderson) in early 2021 to facilitate the pre-formation exploration and establishment of the federation. Emerging ag managed the working group process that included 18 hemp associations and resulted in the foundation documents and organizational structure.
• Industrial Hemp Research FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUS-based partner organization that provides tax deduction receipts for US donors contributing to FIHO's fundraising campaigns, including the online auction for hemp fibre standards development.
• American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp (ATACH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of FIHO, representing the United States hemp industry. ATACH is one of eight founding member hemp associations that established the federation structure and governance documents.
• Australian Industrial Hemp Alliance (AIHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of FIHO, representing the Australian hemp industry. AIHA is actively involved in FIHO committees including the Online Auction for Hemp Fibre Standards, and Charles Kovess serves as President of AIHA and FIHO Director.
• Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance (CHTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member and host organization for FIHO's Board Chair, Ted Haney, who manages the CHTA. CHTA represents Canadian hemp industry domestically and internationally, and facilitated the initial meeting that led to FIHO's formation at the CHTA National Conference in November 2019.
• European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of FIHO representing the European hemp industry from Brussels, Belgium. EIHA Board Member Daniel Kruse serves as FIHO Vice Board Chair, providing significant strategic alignment between organizations on hemp food policy and regulations.
• National Industrial Hemp Council (NIHC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of FIHO representing US national hemp industry interests. NIHC President Patrick Atagi serves as FIHO Board Member, and NIHC's Hunter Buffington serves as FIHO Director and Treasurer.
• Kentucky Hemp Growers Cooperative Association (KHGCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of FIHO representing Kentucky hemp growers. KHGCA President Joseph Hickey Sr. serves as FIHO Director and Communications & Engagement Co-Chair, bringing historical perspective from the 1990s hemp revival movement.
• Texas Hemp Growers Association (TxHGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of FIHO representing Texas hemp growers and industry stakeholders.
• Uttarakhand Hemp Association (UHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of FIHO representing the Indian hemp industry from Uttarakhand region, contributing geographic diversity to the federation's global reach.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ASTM International: A globally recognized standards development organization across many industries. ASTM is directly comparable to FIHO's standards work and is a formal MOU partner of FIHO (signed March 2024), collaborating on the D37.07 Hemp Fibre Working Group. ASTM serves as the institutional host for the international hemp fibre standards FIHO is helping to develop.

Regional players

• Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance (CHTA): Canada's national hemp trade alliance and the organization where the original 2019 meeting that led to FIHO's formation took place. CHTA is directly comparable as a national-level hemp industry federation and serves as a founding member and institutional anchor for FIHO through its President (Ted Haney) serving as FIHO's Board Chair.
• European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA): The leading European hemp industry federation based in Brussels. EIHA is directly comparable to FIHO as a hemp trade association, though operating at the European regional level rather than globally. EIHA is also a founding member of FIHO, providing a structural example of the kind of regional federation FIHO aggregates.
• Australian Industrial Hemp Alliance (AIHA): Australia's national hemp industry alliance. AIHA is a directly comparable hemp trade association at the national level and is a founding member of FIHO, with its President (Charles Kovess) serving on FIHO's Board and Communications & Engagement Committee.
• National Industrial Hemp Council (NIHC): The US national hemp industry council representing American hemp interests domestically and internationally. NIHC is directly comparable to FIHO as a national hemp trade body and is a founding member of FIHO, with its President serving on FIHO's Board.

Emerging players

• Vote Hemp: A US-based grassroots hemp advocacy organization focused on changing laws and regulations to allow commercial hemp farming. Vote Hemp is comparable to FIHO in its policy advocacy function, though operating as a more focused legislative advocacy entity rather than a full industry federation.

Others

• International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO): The global body representing the wool textile industry, with functions including standards, trade policy, and market development. IWTO is comparable to FIHO as an international textile-fibre federation, though for wool rather than hemp, providing a useful comparable for trade association models in adjacent natural fibre sectors.
• International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC): An intergovernmental organization for cotton-producing and consuming countries, analogous to FIHO as an international commodity body that coordinates policy, trade, and standards. ICAC provides a comparable institutional model for what a mature global commodity federation looks like.

Direct peers

• Hemp Industries Association: A US-based hemp industry trade association advocating for hemp businesses and consumers since 1994. HIA is directly comparable to FIHO as a hemp industry trade association, operating at the national level in the US with similar advocacy, education, and industry coordination functions.
• National Hemp Association: A US-based hemp industry organization focused on rebuilding the US hemp industry through advocacy, education, and market development. Directly comparable to FIHO as a hemp trade association with overlapping advocacy and policy mandate at the national level.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fiho-global

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about FIHO - Federation of International Hemp Organizations