Growing interest in industrial hemp crops

Interest in industrial hemp continues to grow as industry and consumer demand sees it used in a variety of ways, from health foods to 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 University of Sydney, Narrabri, recently held a field day event about its Industrial Hemp Varietal Field Trial, which is in its first year and underway thanks to funding from the AgriFutures Emerging Industries Program.

The trial is focussing on researching the performance of different varieties from around the world, with the aim of improving access to regionally suitable varieties to establish industrial hemp as a profitable industry in Australia.

Associate Professor Guy Roth, director of Northern Region Agriculture at The University of Sydney’s Narrabri base said, “We are trialling varieties from across the world in order to better understand the suitability of different varieties to climates across Australia.”

There is a very significant difference in the growth habits and timing of the varieties which have come from France, Canada, Poland and Australia.

Ed Chaplin is working alongside Dr Roth as a research assistant on the trial and he described industrial hemp as “an upcoming industry”.

Mr Chaplin said the good turnout of people at the field day, especially considering it was held during the week and in hot weather, reflected farmers’ growing interest in alternative crops.

“We have about 25 people, we’re really pleased that growers in the region came along with some growers travelling five or six hours to be here today,” he told The Courier.

“I think everyone is thinking about alternative crops these days, especially on a sustainability front.

“And so, I think it’s an upcoming industry and the legislation now means it can be grown in Australia, and also products such as health foods and cosmetics can contain it.

“There’s a range of uses for it and it’s becoming a much more environmentally friendly option for a lot of things like plastics and also wood, which is running out, a lot of biodegradable weed matting, hempcrete instead of concrete, and a lot of fibre products.

“Every part of the plant can be used for dual purpose crops – the seed is 30 per cent protein and 30 per cent oil and it’s got the fatty acids in the right proportions for human health.”

Mr Chaplin said there were different industrial hemp trial sites across the country, with The University of Sydney’s Narrabri base trialling nine different varieties.

“We’re growing the nine varieties here to find better regionally suited varieties of industrial hemp with low THC,” explained Mr Chaplin.

“I think there is still a lot to learn, and we have found this year that temperature plays a key part in the emergence, so we’ll do sowing at different times next year, and expand the trial,” said Mr Chaplin.