It’s a source of animal bedding, fire-proof floorboards and mats to soak up spilled oil. Over in America, they’re gearing up to produce a range of products from industrial hemp, but can’t get enough of the high-fibre crop.
“They aren’t producing enough plant fibre to supply those manufacturers. It’s a great opportunity for Australian growers,’ said the CEO of Australia’s largest privately owned industrial hemp seed breeder.
Lauchlan Grout has just returned from a tour of Texas, Tennessee and Kentucky to study export possibilities.
“US agriculture policy makers are incentivising growers of industrial hemp,” he said. “Kentucky farmers get a US$200/acre (A$755 per ha) subsidy and the Texas looks like it will be offering something similar.”
Mr Grout, CEO of Hemp Farms Australia and vice-chair of the Australian Hemp Council, said US companies are substituting fast-growing hemp for timber.
“There are plenty of hempwood products; fine timbers for veneers and furniture or construction-grade,” he said. “For example, Nike is using hempwood for its shop fit-outs.”
Non-THC fibre is performing well as a geofabric to prevent sediment run-off while another version absorbs spilled oil from the surface of water within 36 hours, he added.
“The opportunities are mind-blowing. The Americans have all these excellent technologies – but they lack the amount of fibre needed for manufacture,” Mr Grout said.
Hemp Farms Australia’s genetic catalogue is particularly suitable to the southern US states, he said. “For example, our Ruby, Wongarra and King Gee 2.0 varieties are versatile, dependable and high-yielding.
“Hemp is Australia’s most exciting renewable resource,” he said. “While public interest is focused on medicinal use, low-THC hemp’s industrial applications are possibly even more promising.
“This tough, fast-growing plant has multiple uses in food/nutraceuticals, as animal fodder and for renewable building materials.
“It captures atmospheric carbon, stores it in the soil and then recycles it within its cells – making it structurally stronger than steel. It’s a powerhouse of a plant.
“And for growers, it’s the perfect crop for a rotation model, it’s an all-season break crop depending on your location, with the benefit of dollar return and excellent for seed bed preparation. And it’s a superb weed suppressant,” he said.
