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-   -   Hamp for future and sustainability (http://projectavalon.net/forum/showthread.php?t=2056)

reZak 09-15-2008 05:31 PM

Hamp for future and sustainability
 
:Update:This topic is about HAMP. People say it can give us everything we need and I thing it is good idea to have it in communities. We will learn here how to grow it, what stuff can hamp give us (it is a big list) and what needs to be done to get it. Iam young in this realm. Could you learn us or point some good practical sources please?

EDIT: sorry, I mean HEMP of course :) thank you for good link...

Mike_Jetson 09-17-2008 03:09 PM

Re: Hamp for future and sustainability
 
Youre talking about Hemp right?

www.hempusa.org

Northboy 09-17-2008 06:20 PM

Re: Hamp for future and sustainability
 
Posted elsewhere as well;

Hemp stuff, its a matter of scale.

BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food – Sept. 1999

“ The future of the Canadian Hemp Industry depends upon the development of an economical processing infrastructure”

Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance

“ As a new crop, Hemp markets are under constant development. It is reasonable to assume any new crop can take 15 – 50 years for market to develop. “


Where are we in the development of processing infrastructure?


Seed oil and food production:


- Western Canadian producers have concentrated on Hemp grain growing.

- Seed production provides the maximum monetary return per acre and processors are established regionally to purchase farm harvests.

- Equipment is readily available for establishment of on farm and small scale seed pressing operations.

- All factors point to seed production as being the entry level start to a regional Industrial Hemp industry.


Fibre:

- An example of the emerging fibre processing component to the Industrial hemp industry is Parkland Industrial Hemp Growers Co-op Ltd. This group is planning to establish a fibre processing facility in Dauphin, Manitoba at a cost of $15 million. Their vision for the industry indicated a plant could be established every 100 to 200 miles.

- The processing plant will require approx. 20,000 to 25,000 acres ( 14,000 tons ) of industrial Hemp to be grown to supply the processing requirements of the facility.


- Currently Parkland Industrial Hemp Growers Co-op Ltd. has secured $ 6 million in government funding but needs to raise the remainder for their $ 15 million project through Bank loans and the public. Their plan calls for the development of a prospectus to make a public investment offering.


Fuels:

- Hemp hurds are considered a desirable feedstock for fuel production due to their high cellulose content however this product will have to compete with other field residues ( ie corn husks, etc. ) as a potential feedstock for both Ethanol and Methanol production.

Ethanol:

- Ethanol is blended with gasoline to reduce air emissions. Vehicles are presently available to operate on 85% Ethanol blends ( E85 fuel ). Currently there are 4 million flexible fuel vehicles on the road in the US.

- 2004 Ethanol production levels in Canada amounted to 200 million litres.

- A target has been set for Canada of 35 % of Canadian gasoline containing 10 % Ethanol by 2010 which requires 1.4 billion litres per year.

- Government assisted projects funded in Round 1 of the Ethanol Expansion Program amounted to 7 projects for $ 78 million that will increase production by 750 million litres per year.

- Target for the US as outlined in their Draft Security Action Plan dated February 2005 is to reduce US dependency on oil by 40 % in the transportation sector by 2030.

- USDA- “ Every BTU of petroleum fuel used to produce Ethanol generates 13.2 BTUs, thereby greatly enhancing US energy security. “

BioDiesel:

- Vegetable oil ( Canola, Rape Seed, Hemp Seed, etc ) plus 15 % Methanol plus Catalyst = Bio Diesel, a substitute for diesel fuel which burns 70 % cleaner than petro diesel. While Hemp Seed oil has higher value uses, Hemp hurds can be used for the production of Methanol.


Issues of Scale:


- Cost estimates for fibre processing facilities:

- Fibre processing facility - $ 15 million
- Cord fibre processing ( Textiles) $ 15 – 25 million
- Pulp and paper making $ 100 + million
- Charcoal / Methanol production $ 35 – 50 million



Other Considerations:

- The Hemp textile industry is currently dominated by China and India who have the benefit of relaxed environmental codes and low labour rates in what appears to be a labour intensive industry. Can we realistically compete globally or would an emerging Hemp based textile industry require trade protection similar to those being requested by the existing textile sector?

- Any fibre based industry model would have to take logistics and freight costs into consideration when locating. In British Columbia would enough acres be put into cultivation in any particular area close enough to the plant site to make a processing facility feasible?

- Is such an industry attractive enough to attract the levels of investment required?

- Will the players in the emerging Ethanol / BioFuel industry consider Hemp as an alternative to corn for their feedstock requirements given that such a change may cost them a capital outlay due to handling and processing differences?


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