Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
organization is, as its name suggests, special-
ized in the rural economy in its widest sense. It
advises more than half of the farmers in the
Aube. While respecting the anonymity of its
clients, it produces a number of reports on the
rural economy and agricultural production. It is
recognized as a source of specialist advice by
the authorities on the one hand and by farmers
on the other. The results presented on the sub-
ject of hemp production are significant as this
département
is an important hemp producer,
with 6000 ha under cultivation (of a total of
9000 ha under cultivation in France).
Experts
Having consulted with national and interna-
tional experts, the authors have regrouped and
reorganized a large amount of data that allow
us to produce an overview of the economic
realities of hemp production which, while not
exhaustive, is certainly well informed.
8.4.2
Designated production zones
Using the collected data, organized into territo-
rial groups, we can compare the production of
different regions.
Holland
The Dutch data are produced by the LEI. This is
the main Dutch organization with an interest in
economic and social research in the field of agri-
culture. The organization is part of the University
of Wageningen and its role is to provide solu-
tions to the various problems arising from the
integration of agriculture and the agroindustries
into the economic and social environment. It is
therefore a source of advice for farmers, dis-
tributors, consumers and public authorities.
France
The
Barrois
is a region of hills and plains in the
south of the
département
of the Aube.
A number of cereal crops typically are grown
here, together with Champagne wine.
The
Champagne crayeuse
is a chalky
plain located to the north of the town of Troyes.
Polyculture is also practised here, although,
despite the name, there is no champagne pro-
duction. In its place we find sugarbeet, lucerne
and potatoes.
Germany
The source of the figures presented here is the
nova-Institut GmbH, which, as far as hemp
and other natural fibres are concerned, is a
first-class source of data.
The work of the institute has ranged across
the whole hemp economy, with a particular
focus on certain markets for the fibre produced.
It is in recognition of this that Chapters 11 and
12 of this topic have been contributed by the
Director General of the institute, Michael
Carus, co-editor of the text
Der Hanfanbrau
with Bocsa and Lohmeyer. The institute's
experts have studied both the industrial and the
agricultural hemp economy.
Holland
The provinces of Groningen and Drenthe are
in the north-east of Holland and are regions
where cereals, sugarbeet and potatoes are
grown along with hemp.
Germany
The data collected by the nova-Institut are aver-
ages for the entire German production.
Australia
The data collected are derived from interviews
with Australian experts working in the produc-
tion and processing of hemp, both in Tasmania
and in Queensland.
UK
Data are taken from the ADAS report men-
tioned earlier.
Australia
8.4.3 The situation in France
Data are from the work undertaken by the
Ecofibre team, who have been responsible for
the reintroduction of hemp in Australia.
We will present the situation in France as seen
in two different, but neighbouring, regions.
