Industrial hemp is being harvested again on Dutch fields during this period. The crop is grown primarily in Groningen and Drenthe. The hemp is not intended for coffee shops, but finds applications in insulation material and other bio-based products, among other things.
Industrial hemp contains only very small amounts of THC and is cultivated specifically for its fibers and other parts of the plant.
From hemp to insulation material
An important player in the Netherlands is HempFlax from Oude Pekela. The company processes hemp grown by farmers in Groningen and Drenthe, among others.
A portion of it ultimately ends up in sustainable insulation material. To this end, HempFlax collaborates with construction company Van Wijnen and insulation manufacturer Kingspan, among others. After harvesting, the hemp is processed into a semi-finished product that can be used as a raw material for insulation.
In addition, hemp has many more applications. The fibers can be processed into building materials, textiles, paper, and composites, while other parts of the plant can also serve as raw materials.
Interesting for more sustainable construction
Interest in biobased materials is increasing, particularly from the construction sector. Plants absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere during their growth. When the harvested hemp is subsequently used for an extended period in a building, for example, a portion of that carbon remains stored.
The Dutch government encourages the use of biobased building materials. For farmers, this can simultaneously create a new market.
Cultivation is, however, subject to regulations. Certified varieties are used for permitted industrial hemp, and under European regulations, a THC limit of a maximum of 0,3 percent applies.
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The Dutch hemp harvest shows that cannabis plants have many more applications than recreational or medicinal use. From a field in Groningen or Drenthe, the plant can eventually end up as insulation material in Dutch homes. With the growing attention to bio-based construction, industrial hemp can therefore become an increasingly interesting agricultural crop.
Source: hempflax.com
