July 18, 2011 – In British Columbia — the word is now out, thanks to Bill Finley of Hemp & Company, in Victoria, where I got this magnificent bead on the story.

Sanctioned by all three levels of government, the successful results from BC’s Caribou Region ‘pilot’ plantation sites has allowed for 3 impressive scientific studies to be produced which have confirmed/demonstrated the viability of en-masse industrial hemp production in 100 Mile House district-region and vicinity.

Not only that — there are clear plans for a manufacturing facility.

100 Mile House is a unique name — which many may not have heard — of a district municipality in the South Cariboo Region with a population of about 2,000, a few hours out of Vancouver as you drive North up BC on Highway 97 headed toward Prince George.

May seem like a little place, but if you read the (3) aforementioned report-studies: by visiting 100milehouse.com, you’ll understand the extraordinary significance of what this community has done with industrial hemp crop.

The local government, known as District of 100 Mile House, has a 10 person Industrial Hemp Steering Committee chaired by Mayor Mitch Campsall and includes the participation of community members, hemp producers, and representatives from local government, First Nations, and provincial government staff.

Since 2003, the committee has worked toward the goal (which they’ve achieved) to have industrial hemp specifically produced in the region of South Cariboo British Columbia.

In my view, the South Cariboo region of BC is to be officially credited by the fan-public: for bringing forth ‘the template’ for a new emergent economy in British Columbia. But it’s all thanks to the vision and tenacity of a handful of community-minded people, a few of whom fortunately we’ve been able to interview below:

Joanne Doddridge, Planner of the District of 100 Mile House:

“As a small community which has been impacted by the Mountain Pine Beetle, local government has expended considerable effort to diversify the local and regional economy. Allocating staffing resources is one of the best ways that Mayor and Council can support the initiative.”

“Back in 2003, local resident Jack Witty approached Mayor and Council with the concept that industrial hemp was a very versatile product, which once established, could help offset some of the local economic dependence on forestry. A town hall meeting was organized to gauge public interest and a steering committee formed and grant applications made to explore possibilities. Since then, continued public interest, grant opportunities, and Council’s support have enabled funding resources necessary to carry out this exploration and many partnerships created.”

The mayor of 100 Mile House, Mitch Campsall expresses his support to grow industrial hemp:

“Having been part of the Industrial Hemp Steering Committee from the beginning as a Councillor, I continue to be 100% behind this venture. Together with Council we are committed to actively working with the Steering Committee and staff to look at all opportunities to move this industry forward in our region. We certainly appreciate the support we’ve received from the provincial and federal government in exploring how industrial hemp production and processing might become a fully commercialized reality in 100 Mile House.”

The Industrial Hemp Steering committee stands out — really stands out — because both in-power federal and provincial government officials sit on the committee itself. Including Conservative Member of Parliament Cathy McLeod at the federal level — and — at the provincial level, BC Liberal Member of Legislative Assembly Donna Barnett for Cariboo Chilcotin.

Barnett’s been there since project-outset having been mayor of 100 Mile House and she’s Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Economic Development.

“At present, the agriculture community and the District of 100 Mile House are working together doing research with the University in Manitoba. Much work has been done over the past few years and as the demand for the product grows, over time, the agriculture community will be independent of local government. The District has also been working with investors from different countries and much interest in investing in a processing plant is occurring.”

“Let me explain how this all began and where it is today. Approximately 8 years ago I was Mayor of the District of 100 Mile House. As you are no doubt aware the Mountain Pine Beetle went through our forests and created an environmental disaster. Thus we as a community had to start to look outside the box for new economic ventures. As we are a land and resource based economy we looked to many ventures.

An interested and very knowledgeable citizen by the name of Jack Witty contacted me regarding the possibility of investigating industrial hemp.

After being very persistent and convincing myself that this was a possibility, we formed a committee with the approval (but reluctantly) of my council. And thus we started to investigate.

With the help of the Provincial Government and a partnership with our local First Nations Canim Lake Band we accrued staff of the First Nations Provincial Government Agriculture component of government.

A gentleman by the name of Jamie Kumar was designated to help us investigate this project. We carried on…It was a struggle with little steps at a time and very little financial assistance. We had a few growers who stuck with the project and the Canim Lake Band were also growers. As time went on the interest continued to grow and we had many sessions with our agriculture community and possible investors. The hardest part was finding funding.

As a small community we could not use tax payers money to research this project. For two years, the Province assisted us with a small amount of funding but we were fortunate enough to obtain students from the University to work with us to help the research and assist the growers. For approximately 6 years we struggled but refused to give in.

In 2008 the Federal Governments stimulus funding gave us the opportunity to obtain funding to hire a professional in the industrial hemp field and to have funding for one year to assist the growers to get the research done to see whether or not this was going to be a viable industry for them.

In December of 2008 my term as Mayor was finished and I became an MLA for the Provincial Government. The local government has carried on with this project. I have continued to support and do what I can to assist.

The Federal Government is the licensing agent for the growers through Health Canada. It is a very restricted license and we have been working to have some changes made. Our local MP has been very supportive of the project.

As past chair of this project and now an MLA I feel very fortunate to have been a part of this project that I believe over time will become a commodity on the World Market with many opportunities for growth in the agriculture and processing industries in the future.

Time and patience is always a challenge. But nothing ventured, nothing gained. As a local government, we were, and the local government today is the facilitator; and, once the project is on its own, the local government will see the citizens reap the benefits.”

The farmer and the role of government

It’s clear that a lot of thought by interested parties has gone into which [hemp] end-product, to push. Given that hemp has so many useful applications, it’s understandable this would have been a difficult decision for the committee as a whole. It took some major research to deciding which way to go, the committee found.

A community member expounds on the committee’s rationale in choosing the construction industry:

“There are so many industrial hemp products, from food products to beauty products, clothing, construction materials, and more. That has been one of the biggest challenges for our group – namely, which product to focus energy on? While the whole plant can be utilized for processing, the processing technology is very specialized.”

“We have invested considerable research into exploring various industrial hemp product lines and the manufacturing associated with them. Early on, the project focus was on food and oil production, while later research focused on the green construction industry and the bio-composites industry. These latter two are expected to offer the best economic fit for our region.”

Today where hemp production in the South Cariboo sits — according to committee spokesperson:

“Yes, we have moved beyond the experimental stage and are now actively seeking industrial investment. The role of the District of 100 Mile House has been to facilitate industry expansion into the South Cariboo. Not only have we worked hard to prove that industrial hemp is a viable commercial crop for our region, but also to create the economic climate necessary to attract investor interest in primary and secondary processing of industrial hemp. Thanks to public funding and strong regional support, including support from all levels of government, 100 Mile House has become an Industrial Hemp Fibre Knowledge Centre. We have made particular strides in advancing this industry within the region, starting from a conceptual stage in 2003 to a pre-commercial stage in 2010. 2011 – 2012 holds promise for full scale private investment into industrial hemp processing.”

The committee describes the ‘Producer Group’:

“Another significant achievement of the project has been the development of a Producer Group. This group was established by local and regional industrial hemp producers to work together, share lessons learned, and support each other and new producers with crop production technology. Our agronomic trials and on-farm research projects have enabled Cariboo ranchers to become knowledgeable in producing a sustainable natural fibre crop.”

Adding, “As part of the Industrial Hemp Project, we have completed a Feasibility Study for a manufacturing facility. In addition, we are working with private investors interested in establishing a processing facility in 100 Mile House.”

What comes next? Investment, says the committee:

“Now that the foundations of research and feasibility of this industry have been established, and local producers have indicated their interest and readiness, private investment is needed to drive this industry forward in the South Cariboo.”

Have the committee received any stick by any outside group?

“On the contrary, we have received overwhelming support. In addition, we regularly receive calls from people all over the world who are interested in what we’re doing here.”

Jack Witty, a key Steering Committee Member, shares his knowledge about government over-sight, where the focus is now, for the farmer:

“A major benefit of this new industry is the role of the grower and the enhanced income stream they will gain. This in turn will spread through the whole local economy. The Municipal government has been the spearhead for advancing this project. The dedication and work of the Municipal Council has made this effort go ahead, despite most things happening outside the municipal boundaries.”

“The BC Government Agriculture Department have been a great support, especially in the early days when experiments were moving into areas where there was no experience to draw on. The interaction with the federal government has been reasonably smooth as the production of the industrial hemp plant is heavily regulated through the Department of Health. We are working with our MP to have some of the regulations modified to improve the growers’ ability to produce economically profitable varieties and crops.”

What might manufacturing look like down the line?

Witty says “Down the line we plan to have manufacturing of a variety of building products from the fibre. In addition there are some industrial applications that are being worked on that lend themselves to international trade.”

He goes on to say. “The industrial hemp plant is so versatile that more than 25,000 products are known to be made from the plant. Everything from food, to pharmaceuticals to construction material to fuel can come from this resource. In our case we are concentrating on products for the construction industry. It is worth noting that in a time when governments are looking for ways to reduce our human carbon footprint this plant is a very good carbon sink.”

Conclusion

It’s worth mentioning that NDP politicians in the area are not opposed to this project by any means, either. Let’s hope other districts follow suit.

That’s what I call, good BC. Needless to say: The chosen ‘market’ direction i.e. producing [for] the construction-industry does in no way formally preclude plantation industrial-hemp growth designated for food or textile, especially so, in due course, as interest and investment is likely to increase as word travels.

It’s win-win all around. Why, because — it’s the science i.e. the phenomenal growing-success of the industrial-hemp plant growth, which is able, to tell the story. Work, which luckily, thus far, has been able-to-be transmitted into a report-form for the inquisitive to be able to view – by means of a partnership agreement between levels of government and being funded by the same. That’s key but also; importantly, the South Cariboo region wants to become independent. And they will.

No doubt the industry will take off and boom. The development of a manufacturing facility which would then bring more jobs, boost the economy and move BC in a new innovative direction using ‘green’ technology and ideas is the best thing is have happen to BC. Next — clothing facility; food facility… Let’s go. We have Bill Finley of Hemp & Company to thank for getting the word out!More reading: 100milehouse.com

This article originally appeared in Canna-Digest, Summer edition 2011

By Diane Walsh. Diane Walsh, MA, is an investigative journalist based in the Pacific Northwest. She contributes to new media outlets, newspapers which by some miracle haven’t gone under, and magazines in the US, Canada and Europe.

Diane became acquainted with the Salem-News.com team during a recent speaking tour that included Canada. She is a welcome addition to our lineup of truth-bound thoughtful and extremely talented writers.

For more information on specific publications and to reach Diane directly, please visit: indydianewalsh.wordpress.com

July 11, 2011 – Hemp is fast becoming a staple of daytime TV as Oprah, Dr. Oz and others extol the health virtues of hemp oil, protein powders and pasta. At the same time, industrial interests tout it as a potential base for products ranging from textiles to car parts. As a result, demand is surging in the United States, Germany and Japan.

But American farmers are prohibited from growing hemp. That leaves farmers in Canada – where it’s been a legal crop since 1998 – free to tap the growing U.S. interest in hemp-based products.

First, though, they must navigate the shifting sands of public opinion – or, as one Alberta report called it, “the snicker factor.”

According to an Alberta Agriculture Department report on industrial hemp production in Canada, the plant’s cultivation evokes chuckles “largely because of its hippy-dippy image and close association with marijuana, its consciousness-altering cousin.”

Nevertheless, this is serious stuff. The North American market for industrial hemp – which has only a minuscule amount of the chemical that gives marijuana its punch – is booming.

For centuries, hemp had been ubiquitous in global commerce – from paper making to the rope used on sailing vessels – until synthetic fibres usurped its naval role and global anti-drug sentiment put paid to the rest.

Now the market, while still small, is growing by about 10 per cent a year, with annual sales estimated between $350-million and $400-million, according to some estimates.

Mike Fata, co-founder and chief executive officer of Winnipeg-based Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods & Oils, believes Canada’s hemp industry has a golden opportunity to turn lingering taboos on their heads – especially south of the border. Hemp-based foods, he notes, are rich sources of protein and essential fatty acids like Omega-3 and Omega-6.

“The great thing about marketing hemp is that hemp is in everyone’s psyche – whether they think that hemp is marijuana or they think that hemp is clothing or rope or they already know that hemp is a food product …” Mr. Fata said. “It is easy when you have their attention to educate them about what hemp really is and all the great things that it can offer.”

Canadian hemp exports have increased by 500 per cent over the past four years. Even so, total exports were worth just $10.38-million in 2010.

The industry’s goal is to generate more than $100-million for the Canadian economy by 2015, partly by boosting production from 10,855 hectares to 40,000 hectares over that time.

Eager to capitalize on that burgeoning potential, the federal government recently boosted its investment in the industry. In December, 2010, Agriculture Canada announced an investment of more than $728,000 to help the industry boost production capacity and to increase exports to the United States. That amount was split among three funding streams – including some repayable contributions. Ottawa is also handing out more licences to grow the value-added crop and has increased the number of approved varieties for the 2011 growing season.

Canada’s hemp industry, though, is also grappling with some serious growing pains after years of boom-and-bust production. The high Canadian dollar is eroding the value of exports, and celebrity endorsements notwithstanding, hemp has yet to fully shake its “ditch weed” image with U.S. consumers and regulators.

Toward that end, Canadian hemp food products have yet to overcome a key regulatory hurdle with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by achieving “GRAS” status, an acronym for Generally Recognized As Safe.

Without that certification, Canadian companies are prevented from selling hemp to big multinationals like General Mills and Kellogg’s, and another three years’ worth of costly study is required before the Canadian industry can even apply, says the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance.

Mr. Fata of Manitoba Harvest says he recognizes those obstacles but is optimistic about the industry’s long-term potential.

Manitoba Harvest is now one of the world’s largest hemp food manufacturers. Its sales growth has averaged about 50 per cent every year since 1998. It currently makes 68 per cent of its sales in the United States, 30 per cent in Canada and 2 per cent in Europe and Asia.

In addition to health food stores, it is penetrating mainstream grocery chains in the United States and collaborating with Maple Leaf Foods Inc. on hemp-based research and development in Canada. Manitoba Harvest has provided product and technical support to Maple Leaf’s majority-owned subsidiary Canada Bread as it experiments with hemp bakery products, Mr. Fata said.

While hemp foods continue to represent the bulk of the Canadian industry’s exports, there is also a growing appetite for hemp fibre for industrial uses. German auto maker Mercedes-Benz, for instance, has been using natural fibre such as hemp, flax, sisal and abaca for many years in various components. One example is the Mercedes-Benz CLS, where hemp is used in the door panels.

“A typical example is the application as a base for car interior lining parts. In these parts, the natural fibres replace mineral fibres such as fibreglass,” said Matthias Brock, spokesman for parent company Daimler AG. “As reinforcing material, natural fibres have the same characteristics like mineral fibres but they are much lighter.”

With the price of cotton still high, albeit down from its peak, garment makers are also eyeing hemp as a substitute textile as manufacturers increasingly experiment with new blended fabrics to contain costs.

Vancouver-based Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc., established in 1998 as Hemptown Clothing Inc., is developing alternative fibres made out of flax and hemp. Its Crailar technology uses an enzyme process to remove lignin, which is the natural glue that binds fibres like flax and hemp. Doing so gives those fibres a smoother texture and allows them to be processed in new blended fabrics that can result in savings for clothing makers because they require less cotton and are less prone to shrinkage.

Earlier this year, Naturally Advanced signed purchasing and development agreements for its Crailar flax fibre product with apparel giants Hanes and Levi Strauss & Co., along with pulp-and-paper manufacturer Georgia-Pacific LLC and specialized-products manufacturer Cintas Corp.

Flax is currently much cheaper for Naturally Advanced to process than hemp partly because it contains less lignin and also because it can be grown in the United States, where both its pilot facility and major partners are based.

“We’re not giving up on hemp. Hemp is just going to follow in or feed in after we lead off with flax,” chief executive officer Ken Barker said. “None of our agreements preclude us from having hemp being part of them.”

Moreover, the company is also fielding enquires about its hemp fibre product from a range of other industries, including mattress makers and the medical sector.

Still, Mr. Barker recognizes that there remains a marketing challenge for hemp: “That’s just the reality of the U.S. consumer.” By RITA TRICHUR . Source.