Increasing demand for European hemp fibres.

Abstract

This chapter highlights the different industrial applications of hemp, including in the automotive industry and as insulation materials. It then examines recent developments in supply and prices of natural fibres and the demand growth potential of European hemp.

Optimizing Hemp Fiber Production for High Performance Composite Applications

“…Delaying stem harvesting until seed maturity poses issues related to stem processability and fiber quality ( Keller et al, 2001 ; Amaducci et al, 2008a ). Hemp fiber, obtained at seed maturity, is generally destined to lower value applications such as paper and pulp production ( Berbert et al, 2001 ; Prade et al, 2012 ; Carus et al, 2013 ) or in fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites ( Wötzel et al, 1999 ; Shahzad, 2011 ) using needle felts or fleeces as technical textiles ( Carus et al, 2013 ). To sustain high-value fiber applications from multipurpose hemp, genotypes that can maintain superior fiber quality throughout the seed ripening phase are needed.…”

“…Hemp is a high yielding, sustainable, and environmental friendly crop that can provide valuable raw materials to a large number of applications ( Carus et al, 2013 ). Hemp has been grown for centuries in Europe for the high quality of its fiber that was used to produce ropes, clothing, and paper ( Ranalli and Venturi, 2004 ).…”

“…Hemp processability, or improved decorticability, was a breeding target for yellow stemmed varieties, as Chamaeleon ( Toonen et al, 2004 ; Bennett et al, 2006 ) and Carmaleonte ( Grassi and McPartland, 2017 ). In Europe, hemp stems are processed mostly in the “disordered line” ( Amaducci and Gusovious, 2010 ) producing not aligned fiber bundles (often not systematically and incorrectly identified as “technical fiber") ( Carus et al, 2013 ) used in the automotive industry ( Taylor et al, 2005 ; Pecenka et al, 2009 ; Müssig, 2010 ) and for the production of paper ( Angelova et al, 2004 ; González-García et al, 2010 ) and bio-based composites ( Saleem et al, 2008 ; Yan et al, 2013 ). Several authors have investigated the production of long hemp (Figure 1 ) processed with flax scutching and hackling machines, the so-called “longitudinal line" ( Amaducci and Gusovious, 2010 ), for textile and high-added value applications ( Amaducci, 2005a ; Turunen and van der Werf, 2006 ; Amaducci et al, 2008b ; Müssig, 2010 ).…”

Antioxidant Activity of Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Seed Oil in Drosophila melanogaster Larvae under Non-Stress and H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress Conditions

“…Hemp ( Cannabis sativa L.) is an annual plant of the Cannabaceae family that is cultivated for a range of purposes, including the production of fiber, shives, secondary metabolites (including cannabinoids), and the nutritionally valuable seeds [ 1 ]. The hemp plant contains a rich profile of bioactive phytochemicals, including cannabinoids, terpenes, sugars, steroids, phenols, flavonoids, and nitrogenous compounds [ 2 , 3 , 4 ].…”

Effect of Colonization of Trichoderma harzianum on Growth Development and CBD Content of Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.)

“…Restrictions around the cultivation of this crop resulted in a scientific gap; consequently, there is a deficiency of agronomical information about hemp cultivation, including genotype choice and cultivation practices [ 16 , 17 , 18 ]. In several European countries, the selection of monoecious dual-purpose varieties over dioecious is a common practice to accomplish mutual fiber and seed production [ 19 ]. According to the literature, improved varieties are suitable for multiple exploitations of the crop [ 20 , 21 ], as they form high inflorescences, secure the maximization of CBD production, and have low THC content [ 22 ].…”