*Sergiy Kovalenkov, founder of Hempire UA, speaks to visitors of a hempcrete a refugee housing center with 180 rooms built with hempcrete in Morshyn, Ukraine* *. Photo courtesy of Hempire UA*

Dutch Agency Awards 4 Million Euros to Rebuild Hemp and Straw Houses in Ukraine

By Laura Ramos, Editor in chief, Cannareporter.EU

A consortium formed by the organizations Rawblox, Hempire UA e OpenDoorUkraine.NL has received €4 million in funding to build over 400 sustainable homes in Ukraine using straw and hemp-based technologies to support rural families affected by the war. The funding was provided by Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO)and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.

This funding will enable the consortium to import three new, advanced bio-panel manufacturing lines from the Netherlands and build more than 400 bio-based circular homes with straw-hemp hybrid technologies in Ukraine over the next four years for war-affected rural families, Hempire’s Sergiy Kovalenkov revealed on LinkedIn.

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*Dan Haartge, founder of Rawblox, with Sergiy Kovalenkov of Hempire. Photo: DR*

Scheduled to begin on May 1, the project builds on three years of experience in implementing modern and efficient organic construction methods. A recent architectural study led by Ukrainian expert Alexander Kucheravy confirmed the potential of these technologies as cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions for Ukraine’s reconstruction.

The project proposes a construction model that prioritizes sustainability, accessibility and efficiency, highlighting the following aspects:

Reduced construction costs compared to traditional methods;
Reduction of up to 60% in energy consumption of the owners;
Use of local materials, including straw and hemp, benefiting Ukrainian farmers;
Compliance with EU standards for efficient and CO2-neutral construction;
Training of local workers, training professionals in the construction sector;
Commitment to ethical labor practices, in collaboration with the Construction Workers' Union of Ukraine.

The initiative also aims to integrate European Green Deal standards into Ukrainian regulations, strengthening the country’s natural building industry. Local production of materials and the implementation of new production lines will not only enable housing construction, but also the economic development of the communities involved. Each 60m² house will require around five tonnes of locally grown straw and hemp, boosting Ukraine’s agricultural economy.

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Sergiy Kovalenkov, President of Hempire, has been a leading facilitator of hemp construction in Ukraine and gives workshops and lectures around the world.

Speaking to CannaReporter®, Sergiy said that this award is “a great victory for Ukraine” and that the program “can become a launching pad for sustainable, bio-based building practices in post-war Ukraine.” Sergiy added that “after being terrorized for many years by the terrible war, Ukraine should be rebuilt not with concrete boxes, or with rock wool and OSB, but with local, natural and energy-efficient materials. I want my fellow Ukrainians to recover from the war inside healthy homes made of hemp and straw, and not being tortured by toxic materials imposed by transnational construction companies,” he said.

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*Many buildings in Ukraine have been damaged by mortar shells in the 3-year war after the invasion by Russia. Photo courtesy of Maren Ring*

Ukrainian government facilitates access to hemp cultivation in the country

The advancement of this project coincides with the recent implementation of the electronic accounting system for industrial hemp, the eHemp, implemented by Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine. This digital platform facilitates the quick and transparent registration of crops and processing companies, reducing bureaucracy and strengthening investor and consumer confidence in the hemp market.

In a LinkedIn post, the Ukrainian Hemp Construction Association (UHBA) stated that it “firmly believes that the adoption of relevant legislation and the launch of this service will become the basis for the broad development of hemp construction in Ukraine.”

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In a LinkedIn post, the Ukrainian Hemp Construction Association (UHBA) stated that it “firmly believes that the adoption of relevant legislation and the launch of this service will become the basis for the broad development of hemp construction in Ukraine.”

According to the association, the eHemp system will be able to offer market stakeholders:
✔️ Quick and convenient registration of crops and processing companies
✔️ Transparent license issuance
✔️ Centralized electronic accounting
✔️ Reduction of bureaucracy and administrative burden
✔️ Increased confidence in the market by partners and consumers

The project was also supported by the Ukrainian Medical Cannabis Association, which recognizes the initiative as an example of industry coming together to promote sustainable hemp-based technologies, ranging from medicine to housing.

This collaboration reinforces the importance of hemp as a versatile and essential resource for the country's economic and ecological future.

READ MORE at CannaReporter.EU