Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
Canterbury growers have struck another roadblock for growing hemp seed as authorities remain uneasy about its closeness to its drug cousin.
Health ministers from New Zealand and Australia met in Auckland last month to consider a recommendation from Food Standards Australia New Zealand that governments change the food law to enable hemp seed to be grown for human consumption.
Grower hopes hemp growing would be made more freely available to them were dashed when this was rejected because of transport concerns.
At this stage hemp can only be grown as an agricultural crop under license by the Ministry of Health.
New Zealand Grain and Seed Trade Association manager Thomas Chin said seed growers remained hopeful the case for opening up hemp growing would be revisited.
"Seed growers are disappointed because there is a loss of opportunity to open up a new agriculture crop. We are hoping the New Zealand government would revisit this or consider modifying the rules as the seed industry stands ready to take on board this opportunity."
The retail value of hemp seed is five times that of the high value crop of linseed oil worth $25 a kilogram.
Chin said seed growers were told concerns remained about how authorities might deal with roadside drug enforcement because of a perceived level of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol content making cannabis users high) in hemp even though there was virtually no trace of it in industrial hemp - at least none for recreational purposes.
Australia holds saliva tests for drivers to detect if they are under the influence of cannabis and the concern is drivers could put the blame on hemp if their levels were up. Officials were also concerned that some hemp products had marketing with graphics suggesting it was cannabis.
Chin said countries such as the United States and Canada had allowed hemp seed production for human consumption and had roadside drug testing without the problems concerning Australian officials.
"The upshot is there is potential for the New Zealand seed industry to have another crop option, but right now that option is not there. On one hand the government is encouraging us to diversify and export and here is an opportunity going missing."
The health ministries from both countries have asked transport officials to look at the US system and see if there is a way of removing concerns. He said New Zealand growers were world leaders in producing specialist crops of radish and carrot seed and could be expected to do the same for hemp seed. "It wouldn't be much of a stretch to say we could be world leaders in seed production for hemp because there is world demand and we have the agronomy skills, technology, know-how and temperate climate and soils in Canterbury."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Farmers denied high-value hemp crop | Stuff.co.nz
Author: Web Staff
Contact: patrick.crewdson@fairfaxmedia.co.nz
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Stuff homepage News | Stuff.co.nz
Health ministers from New Zealand and Australia met in Auckland last month to consider a recommendation from Food Standards Australia New Zealand that governments change the food law to enable hemp seed to be grown for human consumption.
Grower hopes hemp growing would be made more freely available to them were dashed when this was rejected because of transport concerns.
At this stage hemp can only be grown as an agricultural crop under license by the Ministry of Health.
New Zealand Grain and Seed Trade Association manager Thomas Chin said seed growers remained hopeful the case for opening up hemp growing would be revisited.
"Seed growers are disappointed because there is a loss of opportunity to open up a new agriculture crop. We are hoping the New Zealand government would revisit this or consider modifying the rules as the seed industry stands ready to take on board this opportunity."
The retail value of hemp seed is five times that of the high value crop of linseed oil worth $25 a kilogram.
Chin said seed growers were told concerns remained about how authorities might deal with roadside drug enforcement because of a perceived level of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol content making cannabis users high) in hemp even though there was virtually no trace of it in industrial hemp - at least none for recreational purposes.
Australia holds saliva tests for drivers to detect if they are under the influence of cannabis and the concern is drivers could put the blame on hemp if their levels were up. Officials were also concerned that some hemp products had marketing with graphics suggesting it was cannabis.
Chin said countries such as the United States and Canada had allowed hemp seed production for human consumption and had roadside drug testing without the problems concerning Australian officials.
"The upshot is there is potential for the New Zealand seed industry to have another crop option, but right now that option is not there. On one hand the government is encouraging us to diversify and export and here is an opportunity going missing."
The health ministries from both countries have asked transport officials to look at the US system and see if there is a way of removing concerns. He said New Zealand growers were world leaders in producing specialist crops of radish and carrot seed and could be expected to do the same for hemp seed. "It wouldn't be much of a stretch to say we could be world leaders in seed production for hemp because there is world demand and we have the agronomy skills, technology, know-how and temperate climate and soils in Canterbury."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Farmers denied high-value hemp crop | Stuff.co.nz
Author: Web Staff
Contact: patrick.crewdson@fairfaxmedia.co.nz
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Stuff homepage News | Stuff.co.nz
