Here’s the intro to the SMH report……One of WA’s largest ever industrial hemp crops was harvested this week and the company behind is now eyeing off exports.
This week Hemp Processors WA harvested 15 hectares just south of Margaret River to supply the wholesale food market in Perth.
State and national regulations are relaxing, allowing the use of industrial hemp in foods and medical-grade cannabis in pharmaceuticals, which is opening up markets for WA producers.
There are now potentially more than 90 licensed growers in WA.
Hemp Processors WA expects their production to increase 5000 per cent in the next 12 months.
Hemp Processors WA founder Stephen Thomas said this year’s crop was also being used to trial different hemp varieties before planting next year’s crop.
“We are expecting to sow between 500 to 1000 hectares,” he said.
In a WA first will be setting up a processing plant with specialist hemp machinery.
The company will take delivery of WA’s first ever seed sorting and seed de-hulling machine next week. Usually WA companies have to send their seeds to the east coast for processing or use more labour intensive methods.
