Industrial Hemp Trials Underway
Scottish Borders farms assess re-growing industrial hemp as a break crop for the first time in the area in decades, helping activate the net zero supply chain.
Stepping up to demonstrate what could be possible - Iain Fullerton leads a tour of the first trial crop.
60 local farmers and stakeholders from across the South of Scotland and North England were able to assess the first few weeks of crop growth this month in trials led by SAC Consulting, part of Scotlands Rural Collge. The trials are a crucial step in realising a vision, re-establishing local supply chain for net zero renewable resources.
A traditional crop in Scotland and the UK, after a 100 year ‘oil age’ blip, industrial hemp is making a come back around the world and is a core material to make breathable natural fibre insulation and other products at the IndiNature Mill.
Industrial hemp has an incredible range of benefits, including sequestering carbon that can then be locked into buildings and other applications, improving soil health for future crops and supporting biodiversity gain.
Re-learning how to farm this excellent ‘break crop’ or ‘cover crop’ that captures carbon is a significant step in decarbonising the supply chain for construction and other markets turning to bio-based, circular materials.
When manufactured into insulation, biogenic carbon sequesterd into the industrial hemp crop as it grows is combined with low energy inputs in processing and IndiNature manufacturing, which means the final insulation products have a net carbon capture cradle-to-gate in life cyle analysis, locking carbon into buildings for the life of the building.
IndiNature products also have a low whole life carbon footprint, and are circular by design - reprocessable at the end of life. This provides an important carbon buffer and efficienct renewable resource use to help mitigate climate change.
Standing room only and signficant interest at the recent engagement events is an encouraging sign, including tours with local members of the Agricultre and Horticultre Development Board and Scottish Agronomy.
Upcoming changes in legislation and licensing of industrial hemp in the UK are also very welcome - recognising the usefulness of industrial hemp as a resource that has been neglected, and making it easier for farms to add the crop back into their rotation.
The current research and trials build on the 2022 SAC feasiblity study commissioned by IndiNature with contributions from SAOS and Nick Voase East Yorkshire Hemp. The 2024 SAC study is funded by Scottish Enterprise and the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC), supported by Hadden Farm, East Yorkshire Hemp, Elsoms Seeds and IndiNature.