Hemp is a plant that has been around for thousands of years. Historically, hemp has
travelled the world – used for rope and rigging for the British Navy
In 1533, King Henry VIII passed a law (often cited as the Hemp Act) that mandated farmers
in England to set aside a portion of their land – one-quarter acre for every 60 acres under
tillage – to cultivate hemp or flax. The risk was felt that without hemp for ships, the expansion
of the British Empire would be under threat.
In recorded history, we know hemp has been grown for at least 4,000 years but there are
historical indications of the crop being grown even further back in history, well prior to
3,000BC.
Cambridge University Press noted that hemp was widely used in ancient China for oil, cloth
and paper, and that in some early Chinese lists of the “Five Grains”, hemp was included
among the foundational cultivated crops.
Major global civilizations from China to ancient Greece and Rome depended on hemp fibre
and it is estimated that from 500 BC to the 1800s that nearly all ships used hemp for ropes,
rigging, tackle and sails.
The canvases used by painters from ancient times through the Renaissance and beyond
were almost always made of woven hemp fibre.
And this is where things become interesting for those of us who love the origin of words. The
word canvas originates from the Latin cannapaceus (“made of hemp”) and the
Greek kannabis, with the word entering Middle English via Anglo-French canevas.
China also made paper from hemp for thousands of years, and hemp clothing and footwear
were common throughout Asia and Europe right up the early 20 th century, including hemp to
make military uniforms during WW2.
So what changed?
The industrial revolution also brought with it the rise in synthetic fibres and in the mid 1930s
a push against cannabis use, influenced by activities in the USA sounded a death knell for
the industry.
Unfortunately, industrial hemp became conflated with prohibited cannabis, and various
states in Australia added hemp into their state-based Poisons Act (Victoria was the first in
1928). In 1937 the sword fell – the Australian Government made hemp a prohibited
substance and criminalised its cultivation.
This prohibition halted the industrial use of hemp for fibre and it was over 60 years before
commercial cultivation was allowed again, beginning in 1998 in some Australian states.
Modern use of hemp
In some ways it feels like after such a long time, the world had forgotten what a versatile
crop hemp was, and it is fair to say that reading about its history is eye-opening (and a little
fascinating).
Which brings us back to present time. In Tasmania, industrial hemp (non-THC hemp) is
already part of a growing, practical industry built around food, fibre and construction. It’s not
a new industry – it’s an industry rediscovering opportunity.
Globally hemp’s current applications include building materials like hempcrete, sustainable
nutritious food products, medicinal and nutraceutical, and a range of new manufacturing
opportunities for the fibre, all from a single crop.
In today’s world where sustainability and environmental benefit is valued just as strongly,
industrial hemp is also playing a modern environmental role.
It is becoming increasingly recognised in climate science as a fast-growing crop that absorbs
significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and can store carbon long-term
when used in durable products like buildings or converted into biochar.
So, it is reimagining itself, but it’s fair to say that amongst consumers it still has a way to go.
It is not uncommon for anyone discussing industrial hemp to be asked if they grow it to get
high. Which indicates poor understanding of the commercial uses of hemp and the role that
it has played for more than 4,000 years as a food and fibre crop.
Through its work, the Tasmanian Hemp Association supports an industrial hemp industry of
growers, manufacturers, businesses and individuals to build a stronger business ecosystem,
and a deeper understanding and uptake of the deep nutritional benefits of its food products
(oil, seed, flour) and the versatility of its fibre for building and other uses.
The Association has, through work with its members and the Tasmanian Government,
already helped industry navigate regulation, build capability and create clear pathways for
industrial hemp to be used in real projects and products.
This is not a future idea, it is already happening in Tasmania, with local businesses
developing new materials, foods and applications that keep value in the state. You can see
many of these as Corporate Members of the THA.
There is no end of interesting articles on the empire-changing role of hemp through the
ages. And the new narrative for hemp also covers the value of its food products and carbon
storage opportunities.
It feels like the opportunity is available right now and you could say industrial hemp’s time
has come! Again!