Hemp Crop at Farm World March 2025

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Building with hemp is an environmental solution to other building materials, fast growing and more product per tonne than forest timbers creating sustainable and recyclable building materials such as: concrete, composite wood alternatives and natural fibre insulation.

Hemp buildings are: 

–  Energy efficient with a high R-Value depending on wall thickness

– Termite, mould and pest resistant

– Excellent acoustic performance

– Breathable, healthy and carbon neutral

– Fire resistant 

Hemp buildings use standard frames with hemp placed within formwork within the frame. The walls are lime rendered on the outside to protect from weather and finished as desired internally – although only breathable coatings are recommended internally and externally. As the walls dry they calcify and absorb CO2 from the atmosphere.

Using hemp alleviates the pressure on logging forests, reduces constructions impact on the environment, and reduces the reliance on petro-chemical products.

The humble hemp seed packs a punch of health benefits. In medieval times, monks would eat hemp seed gruel every day. It was also used as a famine food during  World War 2 for China, Australia and across Europe.

 Hemp seed is now regarded as a ‘superfood’, one of the highest plant-based protein sources, containing all essential amino acids, Omega 3, 6 &9 in the right ratio optimal for human uptake, Vitamins B1, B2, B6, D, E, calcium, magnesium, potassium and is easily digested, absorbed and utilised in the body. This is very  impressive considering it was peasant food for centuries!

When the seed is pressed for oil all the essential fatty acids go into the oil while the proteins and many nutrients are left in the meal. The high protein high fibre meal goes into many products like hemp protein powder and hemp flour.

Hemp is great for adding to breakfast cereals, salads, smoothies  and baking or just enjoy straight.

 It is not recommended to use hemp for high heat cooking as you lose the benefit of the fatty acids.

Historically hemp was predominantly used as an industrial fibre due to its strength for sails, rope and paper.

Until development in the 1980’s made it possible to remove lignin from the hemp fibre without compromising its strength, hemp’s use for clothing and other non-industry uses wasn’t possible as it was too course for comfort.

Now there’s increasing interest from consumers as its superior strength and ability to wear-in and not wear out is second to none.

 Hemp is anti-microbial, UV resistant, naturally mold, mildew and rot resistant and breathable.

Processing hemp for fibre here in Australia is still in its infancy but with changing consumer attitudes and an interest in ethical clothing and how they’re made – there’s a niche here that is open for business.