Hope grows for hemp crops

For many years now, the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association has been behind the push to demystify the growing of hemp for industrial and food use.
We want to enable those growers who have become pioneers of this industry to realise their considerable potential for what we know is a safe and extremely useful crop.

At last, a Tasmanian Government has got behind us.

First, let’s get the picture straight. This is not marijuana. The term “hemp” refers to the industrial use of the cannabis stalk and seed for textiles, foods, papers, body care products, detergents, plastics and building materials.

“Marijuana” refers to the medicinal or recreational use of smoking cannabis flowers. Industrial hemp contains between 0.3 and 1.5 per cent of tetrahydrocannabinoids (THCs). Marijuana contains between five and 10 per cent. Hemp is one of the most durable of all natural fibres. The seed and seed-oil are high in protein, essential fatty and amino acids, and vitamins.

Hemp is cultivated in Australia and New Zealand under strict licensing arrangements. Industrially, it is used for fibre, textiles, paper and building materials.

Hemp seeds and oil are used in health bars, salad oils, non-soy tofu, non-dairy cheeses and as an additive to baked goods as well as being used as the whole seed, raw or roasted.

New Zealand permits hemp seed oil to be sold as a food, but, unbelievably, Australia does not. Yet both countries take their guidance from the same organisation, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). In 2012, it recommended for a second time that Australia lift its restrictions on the use of hemp for food.

The stumbling block in Australia appears to be that its use has to be approved by all states and the national government under Council of Australian Government (COAG) arrangements. It may be that that approval is at hand. We hope so.

Meanwhile, the state government is doing its share to remove a lot of the red tape that has blocked the development of this industry. Firstly, it will change the allowable THC content in hemp to one per cent (from 0.35 per cent). That will bring Tasmanian growers in line with those in other states.

There was never any scientific reason for the difference, it was just one of many commercial disadvantages placed on our growers. Now they can compete on a level playing field.

Five-year licences instead of one-year should help the industry to expand commercially. Only a year or so ago we had about 60 ha growing hemp. Now we have 116 ha under 11 licences.

Our farmers, who have proven themselves to be consistently good and safe growers of poppies are doing the same with hemp. The hemp we grow for fibre has a consistently high quality. It is in great demand. We need more investment. We need more crops in the ground. We need more markets for its wider uses.

Perhaps the key reform for us in Tasmania is the streamlining of approvals. Special industrial hemp legislation will mean that the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) will be sole managers. Instead of dealing with three government departments – Health, Justice and DPIPWE – growers can deal directly with just one. It’s a real win in the battle against red tape.

It has been a constant mantra of ours that the agricultural industry in Tasmania could run more effectively if only the cold hand of bureaucracy could be lifted in so many areas of our activities. Red tape and green tape have bound us for too long.

Reforms in the hemp area are a good sign that change is on the way.
TFGA president Wayne Johnston