Let's rediscover
the power of hemp!

For thousands of years, the hemp plant has been an important resource for various populations around the world. The plant is often referred to as ‘the fuel of pre-industrial societies’. It is known, for instance, that in Siberia hemp was used 5000 years ago for food and for textile. In China, the power of hemp was used in tradicional medicine.

In the Netherlands hemp was particularly important in the 17th century. At that time, over 2000 Duch ships sailed the seas, each using between 50 and 100 tonnes of hemp. The plant’s fibers were not only used to make strong ropes, but also to weave the sails. However, the rise of steam navigation, as well as the labour-intensive production process of hemp, heralded a decline in hemp at the end of the 18th century.

In the 1930s, hemp seemed to be making a comeback. A new machine was developed, that would ease the production process.

Expectantly, the newspapers described hemp as ‘the billion dollar crop’.

Then, however, an active lobby from the plastics industry, the timper trade and the cheap textiles trade arose in the United States.

By associating hemp with the ‘marijuana’ cigarettes smoked by jazz musicians, they were able to label the crop as a ‘dangerous drug’. As a result, the government banned all uses of hemp. Nowadays, a clear distinction is being made between ‘fibre hemp’ and ‘recreational hemp’ or marijuana, and farmers in most countries are once again allowed to cultivate hemp.

Hemp grows faster than cotton, it doesn’t need any pesticides and it can be grown locally. Hemp fibres are incredibly strong, water absorbend

and hypoallergenic. Wouldn’t it be great if more clothing brands used hemp? Clarent Savi has already discovered the power of hemp. With his clothing brand ‘Hempje’, he is already setting a great example.

• Hemp doesn’t need any pesticides or herbicides. It easily outgrows the weeds.
• Also, hemp can do with litte water. The occasional Dutch rain shower is enough. Because the plants have deep roots, they can gather water from deep down the soil.
• Hemp is an extremely fast growing crop. It grows over 3 meters in 100 days.
• Hemp absorbs a lot of CO2 per hectare.
• Finally, hemp improve the structure of the soil due to its deep an finely branched roots.

A plant with such an important place in history, which is so good for the earth ánd that can offer resources for so many materials, could be of great use in times when we’re struggling with climate issues.

Hemp can help us make the transition from a fossil based to a bio-based economy. An economy in which we make clever use of what natures is offering us. In the Netherlands, there are currently two major hemp growers. However, the actual use of hemp raw materials still falls far short of its potential. For this reason, the Foundation Hemp Collective was founded: to get hemp back in business! Dutch Harvest is an active part of the Hemp Collective.

More info at www.hempcollective.nl (sorry, only in Dutch!)