Hemp Voices: Alex Wu, Kanda Hemp
Alex Wu is founder and CEO of Kanda Hemp.
I lead Kanda Hemp’s seed strategy, supplying reliable, high-performing genetics and agronomy support so growers and processors consistently produce quality fiber and hurd. We also support hemp success through harvesting and processing solution partnerships.
I’m most interested in turning hemp fiber and hurd into standardized feedstocks for building materials and biocomposites—beyond just textiles. With consistent specs, hemp can replace key inputs in insulation, hempcrete, panels, and composite reinforcements. The bigger opportunity is material decarbonization at scale: shifting from petroleum/mineral-based materials to renewable, regionally produced inputs without sacrificing performance.
In the past year 2025, we raised seed quality to a new level since 2021—delivering better seed quality and crop performance results across the country. The win is simple: happier growers and processors, and we’re proud to contribute to domestic fiber production.
What is something about hemp building/construction/processing you didn’t know a year ago?
I didn’t realize how quickly code acceptance is tightening around proof—especially fire-rated wall assemblies and Appendix BL adoption—and how that forces real standardization in both material specs and construction detailing
What bottlenecks have you observed in the industrial hemp industry and how would you solve them?
The bottleneck is that downstream products and specs aren’t standardized yet, so demand is fragmented and processors can’t run consistently. The solution is focused product development around a few proven applications, published specs, and multi-year offtake partnerships to create repeatable demand.
Email: alex@kandahemp.com
Phone: (646) 705-9269
