Sustainable, green, plant-based biomass materials are gradually replacing thepetrochemical and timber equivalents. Farmers and consumers want these newindustries, but are they a realistic proposition for development in northern Australia?
Biomass crops have huge potential – commercial yields of iHemp and kenaf average over 15 tonnesof dry matter per hectare. Harvesting, processing and transport logistics have been proven and arecost-effective.
Harvested stems are decorticated with increasingly more efficient methods and machinery toproduce fibres and hurd. The uses of these natural materials are expanding in line with consumerdemands for sustainable, industrial materials in areas such as building, textiles, plastics, and wood.
There is an opportunity to invest in fibre processing technologies and to co-locate materialmanufacturing industries. Hemp and kenaf fibres are of high quality and strong, but also light andfluffy, this makes it expensive to transport. These developments could use existing infrastructure,such as cotton gins during the off-season or sugar cane mills.