A UNIQUE partnership which could open up an industrial hemp production industry is hugely exciting for the Mildura region.

Member for Mildura Ali Cupper has hailed an industrial hemp-growing trial at SuniTAFE’s SMART Farm in Cardross as “sowing the seed for a burgeoning industry in our region”.

SuniTAFE has partnered with Australian Primary Hemp for the trial over the next 2-3 years which will assess Sunraysia’s suitability for growing industrial hemp by collecting data on low-THC hemp varieties for the purposes of food, cannabinoid profile, fibre and building material products.

The partnership was born out of the Victorian Government’s Industrial Hemp Taskforce, of which Ms Cupper is co-founder and co-chair alongside Minister for Agriculture and Regional Development, Jaclyn Symes, and Member for Northern Metropolitan Region, Fiona Patten.

“I am a huge advocate for hemp and believe Sunraysia is ripe for the picking when it comes to hemp production,” Ms Cupper said.

“There is huge potential for growers in our region to benefit financially from a supplementary crop, which has proven to be highly versatile and water-efficient.

“We are also hopeful that this trial could pave the way for Sunraysia to be home to a production facility, which would have huge economic benefits and create jobs for the region.”

Ms Cupper said the hemp taskforce was continuing to explore ways to open up avenues for growth.

“Hemp has proven to be a hugely effective for a wide range of fibre and building materials including hempcrete which is a terrific insulator,” she said.

“We have also seen hemp grown in Sunraysia for the growing domestic and international food market.”