Wayne Hawthorne, Naracoorte Community News

Mick Anderson from Good Country Hemp at Bordertown created high interest as he outlined to Probus the benefits of industrial hemp and his processing company. Industrial hemp with its low THC (<0.3%) must never be confused with cannabis (25-40% THC) and its highs. Industrial hemp seed products tick most health “boxes”.

Mick, a qualified engineer, created his hemp business Good Country Hemp with wife Linda after industrial hemp production was legalised in SA November 2017. As well, in 2018 nationally the use of hemp as food was approved. Previously it was only able to be used as pet food. Mick’s warehouse was converted to a plant of food grade standards. Hence a hemp seed production and processing industry started. Focus was on seed not fibre.

Growers were initially hard to find. Seven were contracted in 2018/19 to produce hemp seed from 96ha. One crop failed and yields were not fantastic. Crops were at Maaoupe, Tantanoola and Bordertown. It was in year two that production really got going. Five growers now produce with yields of 0.8 to 2.5t/ha.

Hemp seed is quickly dried from between 15 and 25% moisture to 12% in 24 hours and then to 8% for storage and later processing. The plant has two lines, one to dehull seed and the other to cold press the kernel for oil. Products from seed are the only interest. The plant produces: cold pressed premium hemp seed oil; hulled hemp seed; protein powder; hemp flour; hemp oil capsules and pet foods. It produces 1,000L of oil in 5 days, processing seed at 1t/24hrs recovering 25% as oil. Quality control is under Codex HACCP system protocols, with microbiological testing of each batch and annual nutritional testing. All outgoing bulk consignments have a Certificate of Analysis. Shelf-life testing verifies “best before” dates. There is traceability recording. Customers want a healthy product that has been sustainably grown.

Hemp seed is high in protein (32 to 35%, but 48% when processed) and contains more essential fatty acids (EFA’s) than any other food source. It is very high in Omega 3 and Omega 6 EFA’s, high in antioxidants, folate, calcium, iron, zinc and magnesium. Hemp seed is the only known plant food source of vitamin D3 (“sunlight” vitamin). It is a natural anti-inflammatory (Gamma Linolenic Acids), is high in fibre, gluten free, low in carbohydrates, has no trans fats and is low in sugar.

Agronomy of hemp as an irrigated annual crop was outlined. It is sown mid-November, harvested March (100 to 120 days). Varieties are being produced in Australia, avoiding complications of importing seed through quarantine. Stubble is ploughed in, and subsequent crops get a boost. Hemp fibre is strong and binding, hence harvest and stubble management can be hard on machinery.

It was also pointed out that potential for hemp and its fibre use is huge, given its numerous and increasing industrial and food uses.

In a lively question time, it became apparent that:

• Hemp seed oil is different to the medicinal hemp oil which is extracted from hemp foliage.
• Hemp oil has a grassy taste. Dosage is a spoonful per day. Hemp seed has a nutty, almond like flavour.
• Don’t cook with hemp seed as proteins denature at 165 degrees C.
• Hemp products are available in Foodland stores and local chemist shops
• Adelaide University research shows that only 7% of people accept hemp as a food, so potential is enormous to change this.
• Hemp grown for seed requires a cooler climate, with well drained soils and irrigation.
• Warmer areas like SA Riverland are more suited to fibre production with taller crops than grown for seed.
• Hemp plants are daylength sensitive, so variety selection is important. SARDI trials are at Loxton and Maaoupe.
• Hemp is a 100-120 day crop. A narrow sowing and harvest window is important locally for crop rotations.
• Hemp can only be produced in two consecutive summers, with a legume sown in between. Subsequent crops seem to benefit from hemp stubble that is disced in.
• Hemp, is self-pollinated, and clouds of white pollen can be seen during flowering.

This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.