| 7th International Conference of the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) (Kongress) |
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| Wann? | 26.05.2010 - 27.05.2010 | ||||||||
| Wo? | D-50389 Wesseling /Germany (near Cologne), Rheinforum, Kölner Straße 42 | ||||||||
| Was? |  The congress will focus on the latest developments concerning hemp and other natural fibres.
The spectrum of participants will range from - cultivation consultants, - primary and further processors, - traders, mechanical engineers, - investors to enterprises to - suppliers (for example: insulation material, pulp & paper, automotive). They all share common interest in the industrial utilisation of hemp fibres and shivs. Other topics are hemp seeds and hemp oil in nutrition. Why hemp is a crop of the future! Currently about 15,000 ha of hemp are being produced in the European Union. Following the decortication and fibre separation, the hemp can be divided into two main products: fibres and shivs. About 24,000 t of hemp fibres are being produced in the EU every year. Hemp fibres are most commonly used for speciality pulp and paper. New innovative applications include natural fibre composites used in the automobile industry (i.e. door panels) and many other applications (i.e. grinding discs), as insulation for the construction industry and agrotextiles for weed prevention and a renewable growing medium for cress and salad crops. About 48,000 t of hemp shivs were produced in the EU. Shivs are used for animal bedding, particle boards for construction, furniture and gardening, especially as a less acidic alternative to bark mulch The most important new application for hemp shivs mixed with Lime is for highly insulative wall construction in both domestic and industrial buildings. Hemp gives us the opportunity to lock up, sequestrate significant amounts of carbon in these constructions. Hemp seeds are a third product resulting out of hemp cultivation. They can be used for food, feed and cosmetics. Applications for hemp seeds are snacks, oil for human consumption as well as body care and detergent. The bulk of hemp seeds are used for bird and fish feed. Life cycle assessments (LCA) for different hemp products show significant environmental advantages. Hemp replaces fibre glass in composites and insulation materials and is used in the construction industry instead of conventional materials. The cumulated energy demand for producing hemp fibres is ten to 20 times lower than that for fibre glass. Hemp fibres and shivs belong to the "new biomaterials" which industry now demands. The use of hemp fibre will save finite resources, reduce CO2 emissions and will store Carbon. Hemp, an innovative material, is good for agriculture, the environment and enhances regional development! |
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