A new-look hemp making a come-back

The 'Multipurpose hemp for industrial bioproducts and biomass' (MULTIHEMP) project is an international consortium including high-profile academic institutes and 13 small business partners working in relevant areas of the biorenewables supply chain. MULTIHEMP is developing hemp genotypes that will fit into diverse cultivation environments to provide improved feedstock for production of a wide range of products dictated by market forces from an integrated biorefinery.

The range of innovative products is dictated by demand and market forces. They include fibres for technical textiles, moulded biocomposites and insulation products, low-carbon construction materials, oil for health and personal care applications, protein for food and feed, and high value chemicals such as phytosterols, waxes and essential oils.

Innovative use of by-products include dust from fibre processing, retting liquor from fibre degumming, flour (or cake) from oil extraction and threshing residues from seed harvesting. In particular, residual biomass will be used to produce bioethanol, adding further value to the crop.

Breeding initiatives have focused on CAD genes, key in lignin biosynthesis and mutations involving oleic and high gamma linoleic acid. Genome-wide association mapping has made available more than 100 lines for field trials.

Field trials are central to fulfilment of project objectives and 5 sites throughout Europe are host to comparison of 14 commercial varieties and effects of nitrogen and plant density on yield and quality. Data from field trials is providing improved genotypes and evaluating the effect of genotype, environment and management (G x E x M) on yield and main quality traits. MULTIHEMP are developing a crop growth model using field trial data to optimise G x E x M, particularly in improvement of quality traits.

The biorefinery element will ensure maximum use of all plant components. The researchers have therefore developed a prototype harvester that gathers both seeds and threshing residues in one common procedure. MULTIHEMP has already tested the machine.

MULTIHEMP project activities have been planned to maximise potential benefits to the environment and rural economy. This includes examining the impact of displacing petrochemical and cotton-derived materials. Overall, the project is designed to maximise economic return to increase environmental sustainability and to foster rural development.