Minutes From the Preliminary Meeting
NORTH COAST HEMP NETWORK PRELIMINARY MEETING
Held: Saturday 21 June – 2pm
At: Ecotechnology Australia offices, Ewing St, Lismore
Attendance: (As per Attendance Book)
Chairs: Dr Keith Bolton & Klara Marosszeky
Minutes taken by: Kenrick Riley
INTRODUCTION:
Dr Bolton welcomed all guests and explained the purpose of the meeting was to gauge:
• who was interested in entering the industry locally
• what type of industry organisation should be formed to foster the industry, and
• who would serve on a steering committee to progress the meeting’s decisions.
Guests then identified themselves and their particular interests.
BACKGROUND:
Dr Bolton gave a power-point presentation outlining the history of agricultural hemp and its many uses as a fibre, food, building material and paper source. He summarised the agronomy of the crop and the machinery required to grow it. With a six-month growing period, it was possible to grow both early and late crops in the one year.
Ms Marosszeky outlined the progress of the NSW Industrial Hemp Bill currently before Parliament which will allow farmers to grow the crop under licence for clothing, textiles, building materials and dog food. The Bill does not allow for human food use and Ms Marosszeky encouraged guests to lobby State Government to amend that fact – considering all food safety research had been successfully conducted. The Bill should be passed and regulations formalised by September.
Ms Marosszeky explained the benefits of hemp for manufacturing building products – blocks, flooring, insulation etc which require a simple process but lock up a lot of carbon at the same time.
ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE:
Ms Marosszeky summarised the options of forming an incorporated association or a cooperative – or both (one for membership and education and the other for trading and marketing).
SEED SOURCES:
Dr Bolton explained farmers could source two types of seed – one from established breeders which would probably be covered by Plant Variety Rights (PVR); or ‘unencumbered’ seed (non-patented) which farmers could grow and harvest for their own subsequent plantings. He already had a small quantity of seed which could be vested in a local organisation from which farmers could begin breeding local varieties suited for fibre production or food sources. Dr Bolton said a Griffith grower, Patrick Calabria, would soon harvest a seed crop which would be available to local co-ops – but which would be restricted from re-planting.
OPEN FORUM:
Kathleen Green, Industrial Hemp Association of Queensland (IHAQ), outlined the formation of her organisation and the potential for hemp use.
Ian Murray, Gold Coast, discussed his company’s manufacture of renders and walls with high insulation and aesthetics. He said one major building block company was now interested in hemp masonry which, if successful, would require a large amount of hemp fibre from growers. He predicted Lismore would become the “hemp headquarters of the world” and believed Dr Bolton and Ms Marosszeky were the most experienced hemp industry people he had been associated with.
Kenrick Riley, Georgica, described the potential for organic hemp production due to its past organic nature and its innate resistance to pest and disease. He said hemp would be an important diversity crop for farmers which would fit in with organic crop rotations while enhancing local ecosystems.
STEERING COMMITTEE:
Guests then nominated people to form a steering committee to investigate the formation of a regional hemp organisation. This group was to meet again within two weeks. Progress reports would be emailed/distributed to all interested parties.
The group comprised:
Dr Keith Bolton (research and manufacturing)
Klara Marosszeky (research and manufacturing)
Guy Stewart (communication and networking)
Kenrick Riley (farming)
Bryon Burke (marketing)
Andrew Kavasilas (seed breeding and production)
Ian Plant (building)
Norman Parker (farming).
MEETING CLOSED 4.30pm