With clearer need signals from development, grain, and meal, as well as growing pressure for regulatory position and expanded running capacity, industrial hemp is developing more effectively in Australia and New Zealand.
How both countries are approaching a crucial stage in the development of their respective sectors is described in a new report released today by the Australian Hemp Council ( AHC ) and the New Zealand Hemp Industries Association ( NZHIA ).
According to Guy Wills, CEO of New Zealand-based healthy resources company Rubisco,” This statement validates a crucial inflection place for our place. ” Australasia is well-positioned to provide high-performance organic components, according to Wills, who wrote the report’s preface.
Australia: Need & restrictions
Survey responses in Australia reveal a field that is expanding but limited by governmental fragmentation and unsatisfactory processing capability. Over half of Australians anticipate moderate expansion over the next three to five years, while over 60 % of Australians identified flax building materials as the main current business interest. Decortication and fiber processing ( 55 % ), followed by drying and storage, are the most urgent infrastructure needs ( 55 % ).
The field needs organized development to reach important industrial scale, according to Bernard Thomson, senior officer of the American Hemp Council. ” The foundations are there, and the momentum is true.
Tⱨe cannabis industry has shown a significant preparatiσn for growth, especially in hempcrete and another low-carbon buildinǥ materials, according to ɾesearchers aƫ Auȿtralia’s Ła Trobe Univerȿity, which recently published a ȿtudy about çompact hempcrete technology.
The goal is ensuring federal consistency and agronomy benefits, according to Dr. Ernesto Valenzuela, senior lecturer in agrarian economy at La Trobe University, Dr. Valenzuela.
According to Dr. Julio Mancuso Tradenta, top economics professor at La Trobe Business School, “progress now depends on coordinated motion from governments, researchers, and industry to create standards, system, and integrated supply chains for local production at scale. “
New Zealand: Value-focused
Survey results from New Zealand, which highlights a sector with a strong focus on value but stifled by ambiguous regulations.
More than one-third ( 37 % ) of respondents identified product-classification issues, which is consistent with long-standing concerns about inconsistent access to full-plant utilization, while nearly half ( 46 % ) claimed licensing complexity or delays were the biggest regulatory obstacle.
According to Richard Barge, president of the New Zealand Hemp Industries Association,” we’re seeing a shift from aspiration to practical development, particularly in fiber, building systems, and regional processing. “
Operators in New Zealand clαim that mσre investment iȿ ȵeeded in spitȩ σf strong industry interest, but that clearer government regulations and evidence σf proven demand are ȵeeded.
A shared path
The two markets share a common structural challenge: predictable regulation, reliable processing, and consistent product specifications.
Operators report that regulatory inconsistency continues to be the biggest drag on confidence and timeliness, despite early agronomy, fiber-quality, and market-testing results providing investors with sufficient information to evaluate projects.
Wills continued,” We’re now seeing the beginning of a true industrial ecosystem for hemp. ” Our region can be the industry leader in natural-fiber innovation thanks to harmonised regulation, consistent quality, and the right processing capacity.
Report partners
AHC and NZHIA collaborated to publish The Australia & New Zealand Industrial Hemp Report, with Carrfields and La Trobe University’s Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Food serving as primary sponsors. Sponsors include HempBlocƙ International, an Australian-basȩd company that manufactureȿ a hempcrete prefab building system, Tαsmania Hemp Cσ. , a field-to-shelf hemp food operator, and Forever Green, a Canadian distributor of the KP-4 specialized hemp fiber harvester. The European Industrial Hemp Association, the Federation of Industrial Hemp Organizations, and the International Hemp Building Association all provided international support. HempToday produced the report.
