NSW Hemp Industry Taskforce | The Farmer

The NSW Government has established a Hemp Industry Taskforce to support producers and growers in this steadily expanding industry.

The taskforce, made up of ten representatives from growers and industry groups, will play an important role in developing legislation and industrial regulation to aid the growth of this sector.

Lean, green machine

Aside from its significant economic impact, hemp also contributes to environmental efforts.

According to Jeremy Buckingham, Member of the NSW Legislative Council, “this is a plant which is up to 25 times more effective at capturing carbon than forestry, and which offers almost unlimited potential in a wide range of areas including clothing, construction, foodstuffs, paper, medication and more.”

Due to the modest water requirements, growing hemp is seen as an environmentally friendly process. The plant is also known to sequester four times as much carbon as a standard pine tree.

According to the National Institute of Health, growing hemp can help farmers replenish their soil by killing small crops and weeds. It also serves as a botanical insecticide, and reduces wastage as almost all of the hemp plant can be used in some form.

Hemp is known as a superfood, offering a high amount of fibre, essential fatty acids and omega three. It also helps to lower blood pressure and reduce triglyceride levels, leading to better cardiovascular health.

Endless opportunity

The new Hemp Industry Taskforce will expand on current regulations and methods to encourage future growth. The ten representatives will discuss how to best support the development of the industry, including the expansion of rural jobs.

The taskforce will meet once a month to identify the short and long-term goals of the industry including;

The role of hemp in assisting NSW to reach a net zero, circular economy
Barriers to production including supply and value chains
Opportunities for expansion of the hemp industry through legislation and industrial regulation

All discussions surrounding legal uses for hemp will fall under the NSW Industrial Hemp Act 2008.

Additionally, the taskforce will not be able to examine the use of hemp as a therapeutic product, as this requires a licence from the Office of Drug Control and the Therapeutic Goods Administration.