--- title: "1. Introduction - What you need to know about hemp" canonical: "https://wiki.groenkennisnet.nl/space/HNPE/294977565/1.%20Introduction%20-%20What%20you%20need%20to%20know%20about%20hemp" format: markdown --- In the Netherlands, hemp can in principle be grown by anyone, both companies and individuals. Today, hemp is not a commodity. Therefore, it is important for the farmer to have contact with the intended customer before scheduling its cultivation. If the hemp cultivation area increases substantially to meet the growing need for sustainable and circular textiles, insulation and other building products, hemp may get back to its commodity status and traded as any other agricultural product. In such a case, contacting the buyer prior to cultivation may become less important. This wiki discusses key aspects of hemp cultivation and processing into products. Starting point is the cultivation plan, for which early consultation with the customer is desirable ([Chapter 2](https://wiki-groenkennisnet.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/HNPE/pages/294977645)). It focuses particularly on how seed variety ([Ch3](https://wiki-groenkennisnet.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/HNPE/pages/295010305)), soil conditions ([Ch4](https://wiki-groenkennisnet.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/HNPE/pages/295010495)), cultivation, harvesting ([Ch5](https://wiki-groenkennisnet.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/HNPE/pages/295010597)) and processing practices ([Ch6](https://wiki-groenkennisnet.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/HNPE/pages/295010959) and [Ch7](https://wiki-groenkennisnet.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/HNPE/pages/295011200)).affect what such a versatile plant delivers. Special attention is paid to the processing of hemp into textiles ([Ch7](https://wiki-groenkennisnet.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/HNPE/pages/295011200)). The harvesting and processing techniques of long hemp fibres to produce high-quality textiles are somewhat similar to those used for flax and are currently being developed in Belgium and France. [§1.1 Structure and applications of the hemp plant](https://wiki-groenkennisnet.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/HNPE/pages/294977610) > ℹ️ Further information > ℹ️ > ℹ️ - Textile Exchange, 2023. ‘Growing Hemp for the Future - A global fiber guide’ > ℹ️ - Broad overview of information on the construction and structure of the fibre hemp plant, possible applications, figures of hemp cultivation worldwide in 2021, cultivation and processing of fibres into textiles. > ℹ️ - [http://textileexchange.org/app/uploads/2023/04/Growing-Hemp-for-the-Future-1.pdf](http://textileexchange.org/app/uploads/2023/04/Growing-Hemp-for-the-Future-1.pdf) > ℹ️ - 60 pages > ℹ️ - Zimniewska, 2022. ‘Hemp Fibre Properties and Processing Target Textile: A Review’ > ℹ️ - Comprehensive information on applications, structure of hemp stem and fibre, chemical composition, physical characteristics, different methods for separating bast fibres and shives, overview of process steps required for making textiles. > ℹ️ - [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8911747/pdf/materials-15-01901.pdf](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8911747/pdf/materials-15-01901.pdf) > ℹ️ - 29 pages > ℹ️ - UNCTAD, 2022. ‘Commodities at a glance – Special issue on industrial hemp’ > ℹ️ - Comprehensive information on botanical aspects, regulations, cultivation, processing, trade and prices of hemp. > ℹ️ - [https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/ditccom2022d1_en.pdf](https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/ditccom2022d1_en.pdf) > ℹ️ - 93 pages > ℹ️ - USDA, 2023. ‘Hemp Descriptor and Phenotyping Handbook’ > ℹ️ - Very comprehensive info on the hemp plant. > ℹ️ - [https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/geneva-ny/plant-genetic-resources-unit-pgru/docs/hemp-descriptors/](https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/geneva-ny/plant-genetic-resources-unit-pgru/docs/hemp-descriptors/) > ℹ️ - webpage, corresponding to ca. 40 pages