Open Access
Table 4
SWOT analysis of hemp-based food products in Sicily.
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
| Relevant for crop diversification in wheat-based systems Relatively simple products already developed and tested Nutritional quality (proteins content, quality fats) Origin EU/Italy/Sicily Potential capacity for quality differentiation versus imported products? |
Still some confusion in consumers’ mindset (drug versus food) → requires a certain investment in communication Still limited local processing capacity (but local actors are interested in investing) Coordination and strategic orientation of the sector not yet structured |
| Opportunities | Threats |
| Italian food culture includes pasta and oil consumption, making the potential market very large (although specific pasta and oil still represents a change in habits) Tourism = interest for local, high quality products |
Countries with large production are very competitive (eastern Europe, Canada, China) Risk of competition versus coordination in the territory Growth of the acreage may lead to increased pest pressure8 |
8
According to O’Brien and Arathi (2019), as cultivation of hemp continues to expand, insect pests on hemp could become prevalent.
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