Growers invited to learn more about industrial hemp at University of Sydney field day

The University of Sydney, Narrabri, is holding a field day event about the Industrial Hemp Varietal Field Trial currently taking place which is funded by the AgriFutures Emerging Industries Program.

Farmers and growers interested in finding out more about the crop are invited to inspect the site and find out more at a field day on Tuesday, February 14 from 9 to 11am.

Industrial hemp has a low level of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) with the industrial hemp industry currently experiencing significant growth.

It has a wide range of uses including value-added food products for human consumption, textiles, paper, rope, fuel, oil, stockfeed, building materials, cosmetics and pet food.

However, to become a valuable crop in Australia, the industry requires an increased scale of production, access to regionally suitable varieties, better understanding of the agronomy and more efficient mechanisation for harvesting and processing.

The current trial is focussing on researching the performance of different varieties from around the world.

This aims to improve access to regionally suitable varieties in order to establish industrial hemp as a profitable industry in Australia.

Associate Professor Guy Roth, Director of Northern Region Agriculture at the University of Sydney, says “we are trialling varieties from across the world in order to better understand the suitability of different varieties to climates across Australia.”

For more information about the field day event and to register your interest, call Ed Chaplin from the University of Sydney on 0435 577 722.