International and domestic experts have joined the line up of speakers at the Global Hemp Summit Australia which takes place in rural Victoria next month.
Among those confirmed to address delegates is author, teacher and pioneer in hemp construction, Steve Allin.
Known as the ‘godfather of hempcrete’, Allin has been helping drive the Australian sector forward since 2012 and is currently director of the International Hemp Building Association.
Joining Allin at Lardner Park in Victoria’s Gippsland region is Melbourne-based architect and low-carbon building specialist Steffen Welsch, considered another pioneer of hemp construction.
Agronomy and genetics expert Omid Ansari, who heads HempGenTec, will also take to the podium to discuss the development of hemp varieties.
Other speakers include engineer and builder Johan Tijssen who has been a key figure in the development of Australia’s hemp building industry for more than 20 years.
His business, Hempblock International, is aiming to set up factories to supply sustainable and environmentally friendly homes around the world.
The president of iHemp Victoria, Darren Christie, will also present at the summit, as will one of Australia’s major hemp installers, David Brian, whose Southern Hemp business promotes the development and growth of the hemp industry to farmers, industry, researchers and end users.
In addition to the speakers taking centre stage during the summit will be a field full of plants.
While the two-day conference formally begins on December 11, attendees are invited to a pre-summit Field Day on December 10 for a half-day walk through a hemp crop, located within walking distance of the venue.
Organisers – iHemp Victoria, NSW Industrial Hemp Alliance and the Australian Industrial Hemp Alliance – said it will provide an opportunity to meet seed breeders, agronomists, soil scientists, farmers, and leading advocates in hemp agriculture and carbon measurement.
“This will be a rare opportunity to explore a living display of multiple leading Australian hemp cultivars,” they said. “This immersive field experience highlights the importance of genetics in building a thriving hemp industry.
Earlybird prices for the summit, of which Cannabiz is a media partner, are still available, with a two-day pass, together with the hemp field walk-through, available for $330.
To book tickets, click here.