Pubdate: Tue, 20 Mar 2001
Source: Timaru Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2001 Timaru Herald
Contact:  PO Box 46 Timaru New Zealand
Fax: 64 3 688 1042
Author: Helen Pickering

HEMP: SUPPORT URGED FOR INDUSTRY

Hemp farming could boost the South Canterbury and New Zealand economy 
if trials, expected to get the go-ahead next month, are successful, 
Woodbury organic farmer David Musgrave said on Monday.

He is calling on regional leaders and farmers to get behind the hemp 
industry to ensure that local opportunities are harnessed.

Growing hemp has been illegal in New Zealand because of its 
relationship with cannabis, but the Government is next month expected 
to give the all-clear for the trials to go ahead.

If that is the case, Mr Musgrave said he would have his first crop 
planted at his Woodbury farm in spring.

He is also trying to arrange trials at other venues around Canterbury.

"You can virtually trial as big an area as you can justify and I 
would be looking at, probably, one to two hectares.

"We would be cold pressing the seeds for hemp oil, which has great 
health benefits. It contains a lot of essential fatty acids that 
other vegetable oils do not."

Mr Musgrave said he was in the unique position that pressing hemp oil 
would complement his existing business, organic flax seed oil.

He said the hemp seed cake - the part of the seed left when most of 
the oil had been removed - would be used to make hemp seed butter.

"It is yummier than peanut butter and has more health benefits. It is 
full of quality protein as well as fibre.

"And there is a Nelson manufacturer who has the international patent 
for hemp fibre insulation. He uses everything that is left after we 
take the seeds, which gives farmers a double whammy.

"I think regional leaders need to get to work to ensure these 
benefits are kept in the region.

"Leaders in Motueka and Taihape are already lobbying to get the 
business there."

Mr Musgrave's said his flax oil business was growing and he was 
always looking for other organic farmers to grow for him.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe