Skip to Content Skip to Navigation

Australian Industrial Hemp Program of Research (AIHPR)

Broadacre hemp for seed and/or fiber production has the potential to become a sustainable and profitable crop in Australia. It grows quickly and sequesters carbon at twice the rate of trees, supports a diversity of high-value end-products across food, feed and fiber markets, and is able to remediate soils contaminated with heavy metals. Hemp can be grown in traditional rotations with other crops in Australia, providing an additional diversification option to build regional resilience. However, information addressing hemp cultivation, processing and end-use in Australia is scarce, largely owing to an 85-year moratorium on hemp use, research and development. 
Under the AHPR hemp varieties, sourced from overseas and locally, will be tested under different Australian target environment and characterized for their potential to deliver into priority value chains. Baseline information on sowing rates, fertilizer use, weed control and integrated pest and disease management will be established. They will inform place-based agronomic packages for the optimal cultivation of hemp to satisfy the needs of local producers and manufacturers. The utility of hemp primary products to value-add highly refined end products will be substantiated, including the fermentation of hemp protein for functional foods, the value-add of beef production through hempseed feeds, the safe use of hempseed oil for companion animals and pathways to market for fiber products.  Additionally, sustainability claims around hemp production will be substantiated through life cycle assessments and comparisons to related crops and products. 
Collectively the AHPR will i) build confidence in hemp as a profitable cropping alternative for growers, strengthening supply; ii) demonstrate the value-add of hemp in advanced manufacturing, strengthening demand and iii) establish a sustainability framework for hemp that positions it strongly for net-zero markets and marketing.

Project date

31 May 2023-30 May 2028
Visit website

Principal investigator

Tobias Kretzschmar

Research organisations

Project funded by

Multiple industries
Alternative protein Aquaculture Cereal grains Cross industry Essential oils Fruits Game Honey bees Nuts Other rural industries Pasture, fodder & feed Poultry Pulse grains

AgriFutures Australia

AgriFutures Australia proudly focuses on building a rich future for Australian agriculture. We live and work in the regions and …

Multiple industries
Alternative protein Aquaculture Cereal grains Cross industry Essential oils Fruits Game Honey bees Nuts Other rural industries Pasture, fodder & feed Poultry Pulse grains
  • Location

    Australia

  • Organisation type

    Research funding body

Logo for AgriFutures Australia

Related research projects

Search all research projects
Logo for Validation and kit development of LAMP test for C. psittaci and EHV1
Other rural industries

Validation and kit development of LAMP test for C. psittaci and EHV1

The Agrifutures Thoroughbred Horses Program has previously invested in project PRJ-011628 - Diagnostic investigations into Chlamydia psittaci pathology in equine …
  • Funded by

    AgriFutures Australia

  • Project date

    31 Jul 2023 - 29 Apr 2024

  • Research organisation

    The University of Queensland (UQ)

Logo for Value of Pollination in the Australian Economy
Honey bees

Value of Pollination in the Australian Economy

There have been a number of previous studies that have examined the value of honey bee pollination to the Australian …
  • Funded by

    AgriFutures Australia

  • Project date

    27 Jul 2023 - 16 May 2024

  • Research organisation

    Gillespie Economics

Have questions?

Find out how we can help you.

Find answers to our most frequently asked questions on research projects, commercial opportunities, organisations and more. 

Still have questions or have feedback on the site? Please get in touch by completing our enquiry form.