Keith’s Notes from the Preliminary Meeting
Thursday, 3 July 2008
Dear hemp forum recipients,
I am delighted to report that this week the Governor assented to The Hemp Industry Bill 2008, which vests authority over industrial hemp licensing from NSW Health to NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSWDPI). In a nutshell, industrial hemp is now a legitimate agricultural crop in NSW, which removes the fundamental barrier that the NSW hemp industry has faced until now. I recently spoke with Bev Zurbo from NSWDPI who confirmed that applications for licenses and an AgFact publication shall be available soon. She requested that we use our mailing list to disseminate information.
An interim committee consisting of eight members was formed during the meeting. I propose that the committee convenes for a meeting on Saturday 12 July at 2 pm at 43 Ewing Street in Lismore. Can these members please contact me to confirm whether this is a suitable time and place.
One of the first items that we must deal with is the name of our Association. Some of the potential names we came up with during the previous meeting were:
• Northern Rivers Hemp Association
• Northern NSW Hemp Association
• North Coast Hemp Association
• Northern Hemp Association (NSW)
• Northern Industrial Hemp Association (NSW)
• New South Wales Hemp Association
If anyone has any strong preferences, please let us know before the next meeting.
I am very much hoping that NSWDPI will be able to issue licenses within the next two months because early crops of hemp can be planted in the North Coast by mid September. I envisage that the first growing season will be a trial period (which will nonetheless provide economic quantities of fibre and seed) and I am hoping that our hemp committee will assist in coordinating these hemp growing trials.
One of the most critical components for the establishment of the local hemp industry is the supply of suitable seed (i.e. vigorous low THC varieties). We have identified two seed sources so far:
• Existing North Coast germplasm. Klara Marosszeky and I hold a small amount of seed. We would like to vest this seed with the Association when it is formalized. My aim is that farmers can access unencumbered seed (i.e. seed that doesn’t come with plant varietal rights or some form of intellectual ownership that prevents farmers from freely growing successive generations from the original seed stock). We will need to work with farmers who will grow this precious stock to bulk up the seed.
• Griffith seeds. Klara and I have been speaking with Patrick Calabria, who is able to supply some encumbered seed – probably around 1.5 tonnes, which is enough for about 30 hectares. This seed will come with non-propagation agreements i.e. farmers cannot use the seed to grow successive generations, and are at risk of prosecution if this agreement is contravened. The seed has not yet been tested in the North Coast. Patrick has requested that Klara and I manage this seedstock and distribute it to farmers who will honour the non-propagation agreement.
Please contact Klara or I (email is preferable) if you are interested in obtaining seed, and being involved in regional hemp trials.
On a final note….I believe that we have everything we need in our Region to support a sustainable hemp industry. We know that hemp grows here, and our earlier processing trials with Peter and Rodney Rose (who were at the hemp meeting and are local tea tree farmers and harvesting contractors) have been very positive. There will be a big demand for the product from several industries, particularly the building industry, which will require bulk fibre. But I believe that our greatest asset is our Community, which has always been supportive of hemp and embraces the principles of sustainability.
We have a very rare opportunity to create a new industry in the North Coast that will build our collective economic, social and environmental wealth.
Well that’s all from me for now.
In sustainability,
Dr Keith Bolton
Founding Director, Ecotechnology Australia.
office (02) 66-215-123
keith@ecotechnologyaustralia.com