Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
A hemp manufacturing company is establishing a farmer cooperative in eastern Victoria and plans to grow its first crop in September. This comes after Australian and New Zealand food ministers gave approval for hemp seeds to be consumed as a food source.
The Australian Hemp Manufacturing Company has chosen Gippsland as the region for its first cooperative because of the quality of soil and high rainfall.
Chief executive Darren Christie said recent news that it would soon be legal to consume hemp food products meant more opportunities for farmers.
"The food side gives us more scope and I think it opens up the industry to giving us a future in another alternative farming commodity," he said.
"We've been trying to get this through the system for 20 years; I think it's fantastic, it's taken a long time but that's what we need."
The change in legislation, allowing hemp seeds to be consumed as foods, should come into effect in about six months, and states and territories will need to amend their own food regulations. It means Australia and NZ will now fall in line with the standards adopt by the rest of the world.
Mr Christie said it was not the first time hemp would be grown in Gippsland.
"Going back 20 years they actually started a few crops down here and it grew perfectly but they were too far ahead of their time, it was more into the clothing," he said.
"As time's gone by we've got to a stage with research where the hemp itself, the stalk and the fiber projects into the building industry perfectly.
"The reason why I've come [to Gippsland] is it's a great farming area, great farming practices, we've got a better rainfall so the yield as a return will come back a lot stronger for the farmers down here."
Mr Christie said compared to 20 years ago people's attitude towards hemp was changing.
"Changing the mindset is hard but it's not hard anymore because of social media and the way things are produced right through the whole industry," he said.
"People are starting to understand the differences between the hemp and medical marijuana."
The Gippsland hemp co-operative has signed seven farmers so far.
"It's another commodity for farmers. The milkers, they can use it as a rotation crop which will be great for them in the future," Mr Christie said.
"No pesticides, better PH levels in their soil, a bit more humus in the ground; that's why I believe down this way it'll be perfect for farmers to get on board.
"We're going to try and start growing in September, and we're always looking for more farmers that are looking for that alternative income in the future.
"What we're [also] trying to do is put an intellectual property in there. We're trying to change a hay band in the system, we'd like to do a hemp hay band."
Mr Christie said the company was also expanding a processing factory in Morwell that supplies the building industry with hemp products.
"If we set up a co-op in Gippsland within a couple hundred kilometer radius, we can share that load with everybody and it makes the commodity cheaper," he said.
"We're trying to keep the pricing down so the farmer gets a good price. We can take it to the production plant, strip it and send it out into the products we need to.
"We'll probably set up co-ops [elsewhere], say Colac way, [and] set up small co-ops and integrate the whole lot eventually," Mr Christie said.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Eastern Victorian farmers plan new hemp cooperative as hemp seeds become legal to eat - ABC Rural - ABC News
Author: Isabella Pittaway
Contact: Contact Us - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Photo Credit: Hemp Foods Australia
Website: ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
The Australian Hemp Manufacturing Company has chosen Gippsland as the region for its first cooperative because of the quality of soil and high rainfall.
Chief executive Darren Christie said recent news that it would soon be legal to consume hemp food products meant more opportunities for farmers.
"The food side gives us more scope and I think it opens up the industry to giving us a future in another alternative farming commodity," he said.
"We've been trying to get this through the system for 20 years; I think it's fantastic, it's taken a long time but that's what we need."
The change in legislation, allowing hemp seeds to be consumed as foods, should come into effect in about six months, and states and territories will need to amend their own food regulations. It means Australia and NZ will now fall in line with the standards adopt by the rest of the world.
Mr Christie said it was not the first time hemp would be grown in Gippsland.
"Going back 20 years they actually started a few crops down here and it grew perfectly but they were too far ahead of their time, it was more into the clothing," he said.
"As time's gone by we've got to a stage with research where the hemp itself, the stalk and the fiber projects into the building industry perfectly.
"The reason why I've come [to Gippsland] is it's a great farming area, great farming practices, we've got a better rainfall so the yield as a return will come back a lot stronger for the farmers down here."
Mr Christie said compared to 20 years ago people's attitude towards hemp was changing.
"Changing the mindset is hard but it's not hard anymore because of social media and the way things are produced right through the whole industry," he said.
"People are starting to understand the differences between the hemp and medical marijuana."
The Gippsland hemp co-operative has signed seven farmers so far.
"It's another commodity for farmers. The milkers, they can use it as a rotation crop which will be great for them in the future," Mr Christie said.
"No pesticides, better PH levels in their soil, a bit more humus in the ground; that's why I believe down this way it'll be perfect for farmers to get on board.
"We're going to try and start growing in September, and we're always looking for more farmers that are looking for that alternative income in the future.
"What we're [also] trying to do is put an intellectual property in there. We're trying to change a hay band in the system, we'd like to do a hemp hay band."
Mr Christie said the company was also expanding a processing factory in Morwell that supplies the building industry with hemp products.
"If we set up a co-op in Gippsland within a couple hundred kilometer radius, we can share that load with everybody and it makes the commodity cheaper," he said.
"We're trying to keep the pricing down so the farmer gets a good price. We can take it to the production plant, strip it and send it out into the products we need to.
"We'll probably set up co-ops [elsewhere], say Colac way, [and] set up small co-ops and integrate the whole lot eventually," Mr Christie said.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Eastern Victorian farmers plan new hemp cooperative as hemp seeds become legal to eat - ABC Rural - ABC News
Author: Isabella Pittaway
Contact: Contact Us - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Photo Credit: Hemp Foods Australia
Website: ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
