Wide Open Agriculture Ltd (ASX:WOA) has been granted an industrial hemp licence to cultivate and harvest industrial hemp by the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
Work will begin immediately on sourcing suitable varieties for a research and development program to trial industrial hemp production under protected cropping and open field conditions.
Rigorous assessment of crop options
Wide Open Agriculture managing director Ben Cole said: “Following a rigorous assessment of different crop options for the pilot shade-house, industrial hemp was identified as an ideal opportunity as it matches our growing conditions and does not require cold storage.”
The research and development program will measure seed yield, growth rates and root penetration outputs at Wide Open’s automated shade house and in open field conditions.
Cole added: “This information will allow us to pinpoint the industrial hemp varieties that respond best to various growing conditions and will be vital to developing a business case for large scale production.
Capacity to improve soil health
“Not only is industrial hemp an exciting crop with great potential for production in the Wheatbelt it has the capacity to play a role in improving soil health.
“The Wheatbelt has some of the world’s most efficient and innovative broadacre farmers, so there is a real opportunity to scale-up if open field trials are successful.”
- Jessica Cummins