ABOUT US
Our Focus
Hemp History
Hemp History
The next few decades are pivotal for mankind as climate change impacts are felt and food production and water usage are forced to become innovative.
iHemp Victoria Inc will lead by example with access to resources of innovation, sustainability and best practice that will reduce stakeholders carbon footprint by promoting the growth of Industrial Hemp
Hemp History
Hemp History
Hemp History
Industrial Hemp has been around for thousands of years. It has only been in the mid-1900s that it became demonised because of its botanical association with marijuana. Hemp is non-drug cannabis (low THC ). iHemp Victoria Inc is committed to education, industry development, and the accelerated expansion of the market for industrial hemp.
Our Mission
Hemp History
Our Mission
iHemp Victoria Inc is a not-for-profit organisation committed to representing Australian growers, processors, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and end users of industrial hemp. We aim to promote a sustainable and economically viable industry in Victoria and Australia wide.
uses for hemp
Hemp Hurd: Buildings
Hemp Seeds: Oil & Food
Hemp Seeds: Oil & Food
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.
Hemp Seeds: Oil & Food
Hemp Seeds: Oil & Food
Hemp Seeds: Oil & Food
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.
Supermarket isles and cafes increasingly populated with hemp products (sadly many inferior misleading products). Read the labels carefully to ensure the product is Australian grown.
Hemp fibre: Textiles
Hemp Seeds: Oil & Food
Hemp fibre: Textiles
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.
Click here to link to our corporate partners
2021/2022 Committee
President
Vice President
Vice President
Darren Christie,
Hemp Innovation Consultant
(Seed to Process).
CEO of The Australian Hemp Manufacturing Company.
Vice President
Vice President
Vice President
Colin Buckler Retailer/ Food /SkinCare
The Director and owner of Green Hemp Australia a highly respected and visible retail brand in Australia. Colin has been involved in the hemp industry for 30 years
Secretary
Vice President
Treasurer/ Team Leader Building & Construction
Andrew Little - Builder Andrew is a Registered Builder with extensive experience in building and construction and building codes. Andrew is also a hemp grower on the outskirts of Melbourne with strong skills contract management, business administration and IT systems.
We are looking for an experienced person to lead the job of secretary for the association. As Andrew will concentrate on his Treasurer and Building and Construction leading role we are in need of a replacement.
Treasurer/ Team Leader Building & Construction
Team Leader: R & D Food, Agronomy & Medical Cannabis Team
Treasurer/ Team Leader Building & Construction
.
Andrew Little - BuilderAndrew is a Registered Builder with extensive experience in building and construction and building codes. Andrew is also a hemp grower on the outskirts of Melbourne with strong skills contract management, business administration and IT systems.
Team Leader : R & D Engineering, Fibre Technology
Team Leader: R & D Food, Agronomy & Medical Cannabis Team
Team Leader: R & D Food, Agronomy & Medical Cannabis Team
Dr David Wilson PhD
Sessional Lecturer at the University of Melbourne . Engineering Department
Managing Director Master Research Australasia P/L Sean Dignum is Principal of SDA Strategic, a Melbourne based advisory firm with clients across Australia and New Zealand, and has provided advice to public and private companies, government enterprises, corporations and SMEs for 20+ years. As a strategist and stakeholder management professional, Sean’s skills, knowledge and experience greatly support iHemp’s role in the growth of the industrial hemp sector in Australia. In the primary industry sector, as well as being a registered primary producer and owner of a farm in Gippsland Victoria, Sean has advised diverse agricultural and horticultural businesses and their peak bodies. His assistance has included development of various projects to improve farm productivity and horticulture practices, inform retailers and exporters, motivate and upskill workers, improve farm-to-plate supply chains and educate consumers. His work across other sectors, such as energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, technology and retail, also allows him to bring a much more broadly informed perspective to the task of strategic thinking for primary industry.
Team Leader: R & D Food, Agronomy & Medical Cannabis Team
Team Leader: R & D Food, Agronomy & Medical Cannabis Team
Team Leader: R & D Food, Agronomy & Medical Cannabis Team
Dr Parmjit Randhawa PhD
Director ( Research & Commercialisation) at Greenlab Lincoln University NZ.
Parmjit Randhawa holds a PhD in Soil Science from Lincoln University, New Zealand. He is a leading researcher and advocate of Medicinal Cannabis and Hemp industry in Australia and New Zealand. Parmjit is the Project leader of The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFFF) 3-year grant for its Lincoln University-based innovative Medical Cannabis research programme. Parmjit is also a Team leader on Hemp Agronomic Research in iHemp Victoria, Australia. His research interest includes development of open field Hemp agronomy for Food, Fibre and Medicine.) Darren, happy to add if needed more later on . ParmjitRandhawa@greenlab.co.nz
Team Leader: Policy & Communications
Team Leader: Hemp Health - Housing, Food & Environ.
Team Leader: Hemp Health - Housing, Food & Environ.
Sean Dignum is Principal of SDA Strategic, a Melbourne based advisory firm with clients across Australia and New Zealand, and has provided advice to public and private companies, government enterprises, corporations and SMEs for 20+ years. As a strategist and stakeholder management professional, Sean’s skills, knowledge and experience greatly support iHemp’s role in the growth of the industrial hemp sector in Australia. In the primary industry sector, as well as being a registered primary producer and owner of a farm in Gippsland Victoria, Sean has advised diverse agricultural and horticultural businesses and their peak bodies. His assistance has included development of various projects to improve farm productivity and horticulture practices, inform retailers and exporters, motivate and upskill workers, improve farm-to-plate supply chains and educate consumers. His work across other sectors, such as energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, technology and retail, also allows him to bring a much more broadly informed perspective to the task of strategic thinking for primary industry.
Team Leader: Hemp Health - Housing, Food & Environ.
Team Leader: Hemp Health - Housing, Food & Environ.
Team Leader: Hemp Health - Housing, Food & Environ.
Michele Tardini BA Comm/Media
Michele has been a Natural Therapist since 2007 and promotes the benefits of hemp, on all levels be it food, living in a hemp house and promoting innovation. She tests and advises on aspects of toxic/healthy homes as she also studied Building Biology ( the science of healthy homes, like Sick Building Syndrome) . She has a mobile clinic and visits homes to test the home for EMFs and advises on how to live a healthy lifestyle due to environmental health issues." Frequencies can harm or heal depending on the level". Michele is also the Director of HempPages Directory and Hemp Living Magazine a digial magazine for all things hemp.
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