Fuente: WIPO "industrial hemp" Provided are methods for producing levulinic acid from hemp hurds. In some embodiments, the methods include dissolving hemp hurds in an ionic liquid medium to produce a cellulose-rich product; hydrolyzing cellulose present in the cellulose-rich product to produce a glucose-rich product; dehydrating glucose present in the glucose-rich product, and/or fructose resulting from isomerization of the glucose, to produce 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF); and hydrolyzing the HMF to levulinic acid. Also provided are methods for method for producing levulinic acid from sugar sources generally, which can include providing a sugar source, wherein the sugar source is a hydrolysis product produced by hydrolyzing a cellulose-rich product generated from hemp hurds and/or a cellulase digestion product of softwood pre-treated with phosphoric acid (H3PO4) or another acid; dehydrating the glucose present in the sugar source, and/or fructose resulting from isomerization of glucose present in the sugar source, to produce 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF); and hydrolyzing the HMF to produce levulinic acid.