Introduction

Worldwide, there is a growing interest in hemp fibre for textile applications. It is in the economic and social interest of the EU to become self-supportive in that area. In the EU, there are no large-scale producers of hemp yarns and fabrics, because of poor fibre quality and poor fibre homogeneity. Those aspects and the uncertainty of a constant supply of hemp fibre limit the interest of EU industries. This project aims to solve these problems by providing decision support to primary producers, integrated quality control systems for raw and processed products, and dissemination of information to support the entire chain production systems with support tools for farmers, optimal processing methods, a prototype for integrated quality control, disseminated knowledge and high-value hemp textiles end products.

Objectives

To promote the development of a competitive and innovative hemp fibre textile industry in Europe by:

• Developing an improved, environmentally friendly production chain for high quality hemp fibre textiles including a prototype decision support tool for primary producers, new and innovative decorticating systems, integrated quality control through the whole production chain, and demonstrated end-use as high value, fashionable hemp textile based products.
• Preparing a comprehensive economic assessment of EU and international fibre markets, consumer requirements and EU-production costs and returns.
• Disseminating to the public knowledge generated in the project using the latest information technologies to inform primary producers, processors and end-users.

Description of the work

The expansion of the European hemp industry can make multiple contributions to rural development especially in future EU member states where a long tradition of hemp production exists. The economic perspectives for a European produced high-value natural fibre are favourable because of existing markets worldwide. However, the quality and homogeneity of raw fibres and the lack of constant supply are principal bottlenecks for a profitable European industrial exploitation of hemp. Therefore, this project aims at removing those limiting factors. To increase economic opportunities for farmers, processors and end-use industry, R&D18 carried out at four levels of the production chain:

• primary production
• processing of raw materials into fibre
• spinning of fibre into yarn, and weaving yarn into fabric
• Design and end-use.

At each level, distinct project results (such as a prototype Decision Support Tool for economically sound, environmentally friendly hemp production) will be generated, as will prototypes of yarns and fabrics, and high value hemp based textile products. Throughout the production chain, quality assessment will be made that will be integrated into a prototype of an integrated quality system (ISQ) for natural fibre. Such a system will facilitate commerce in hemp fibre by providing quality definition and information that assists marketing and purchasing. Finally, a dissemination program is developed and implemented to make information available on methodologies, grading and classification procedures and other relevant topics concerning the natural fibre industry.

Milestones and expected results

This project should generate:

• a prototype hemp fibre production system with minimum input-use, a sustainable economic return for primary producers and maximal rural employment/ economic multiplier effects
• optimal processing methods available for different quality classes of hemp
• a prototype integrated quality system facilitating commerce in hemp fibre by providing quality definition and information that assist marketing and purchasing.
• an internet site providing scientific, industrial and market information.

Contacts

• BC VAN DAM / Institute for Forestry and Nature Research (IBN-DLO) / NETHERLANDS

Coordinator

• Gianpietro VENTURI / University of Bologna (Di.S.T.A) Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agroambientali / ITALY

Particiapant

• Paolo RANALLI / Istituto Sperimentale Per Le Colture Industriali ITALY

Participant

• AGRO-HEMP LTD HUNGARY
• Katri PAHKALA / Agricultural Research Centre Finland, MTT Institute of Crop and Soil Science / FINLAND
• Agricultural Research Dept Agrotechnological Research Institute / NETHERLANDS
• Cooperativa Produttori Agricoli Valdiserchio ITALY
• Salvatore COSENTINO / Dipartimento di Scienze Agronomiche e Delle Produzioni Animali (DACP) / ITALY
• Giuseppe BOCCUZZI / Euro Runner srl ITALY
• Emiliano BASSI / F.lli Bassi snc ITALY
• FIBRE - Faserinstitut Bremen e.V GERMANY
• FIBRE - Faserinstitut Bremen e.V GERMANY
• Michele PRETI / GT Design srl ITALY
• Cesare TOFANI / Gruppo Fibranova srl ITALY
• Attila HOMONYIK / Hungarohemp Kenderipari es Logisztikai Rt HUNGARY
• INRA Rennes (UMR) / FRANCE
• LINIFICIO ITALY
• M MESSAGI / Linificio e Canapificio Nazionale S.p.A. ITALY
• Ildiko IVANYI / Tessedik Samuel College HUNGARY
• Universita Degli Studi Catania Agronomia & Coltivazioni Erbacee / ITALY
• Stefano AMADUCCI / University of Piacenza Institute of Agronomy / ITALY
• P C STRUIK / Wageningen University Crop and Weed Ecology / NETHERLANDS
• Franz Tiefenbacher / Waldviertler Flachshaus GmbH AUSTRIA

participant

• Institute of Natural Fibres POLAND