Addressing the future of fibre B.linc workshop at Lincoln University, Greenlab director of research and commercialisation Parmjit Randhawa outlined the opportunity for New Zealand to be an international player in the hemp agriculture industry.
A leading researcher of the hemp and medicinal cannabis industry in Australia and NZ, Randhawa is also a team leader on hemp agronomic research at iHemp Victoria Inc, Melbourne.
His research interest is to develop open-field hemp crops into food, fibre and medicine.
Greenlab is a NZ-based biotechnology company built on a mission to fast-track research and create intellectual property for emerging Australasia and North American markets.
Randhawa says NZ can build an exciting fibre ecosystem that not only delivers for growers, but also along the supply chain to consumers and end-users.
Hemp can leverage new raw materials with innovative uses, it is a sustainable fibre that has been here for a long time.
“What can be done from a hemp crop? What can’t be done is more the question,” Randhawa said.
“This is an old crop undergoing revival, especially playing a role in sustainability and climate change.
“Hemp can produce fibre and its sequestering of carbon is fast. A lot of heavy metals in the soil are picked up by this crop.”
Modern hemp applications include high-value functional foods, the stalks are long-lasting fibre earning most of its value in textiles and the leaf produces good mulch.
“The whole plant can be used, there is no waste,” he said.
“Most importantly, it is a sustainable crop, its carbon footprint is low and it can be very successfully grown in NZ for niche fibres for high-end users.”
The transformation for NZ has been ongoing for 22 years, it is opportune time now to ramp it up and move forward.
“But, yes, there are a lot of things to be done along the way,” he said.
“There are challenges of reliability and consistent supply; it is baby steps now, getting the crop into farming rotations.
“The competition is real – substitutes are common international products, with markets already established.”
Randhawa says NZ needs more people, more farmers and more investors to join the conversation to see what a different fibre market can uncover in supporting and developing a sustainable hemp fibre industry, while maintaining a safe and sustainable ecosystem.
