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Hemp has been legal for less than a week, but the Tasmanian industry is already growing significantly in anticipation of an increased demand.
"There's been up to about $2 million invested in the last 18 months in Tasmania, as a result of the development of the hemp industry and I guestimate around about 12 jobs," said Tim Schmidt, president of the Industrial Hemp Association of Tasmania.
Local food processor Forager Foods is expanding to put in a dehuller to separate the hemp seeds, which are used in food.
"For our business, we've probably invested about a quarter of a million dollars by the time the whole thing is completed," John Ranicar from Forager Foods said.
"We've gone out on a bit of a limb but we think there's definitely going to be potential to grow significantly in the future."
Brisbane-based company Fair Foods is getting its hemp grown in Tasmania and will soon have its products packaged at Forager Foods.
"We could see [the industry] potentially doubling year on year for the next five years," Fair Foods' Nathan McNiece said.
"We're looking to begin talks with the larger supermarket chains, because one of the things that gets us really excited is taking these really good quality superfoods and making them accessible to the masses."
Hemp business booming
The amount of hemp grown in Tasmania is expected to double this year to about 600 hectares.
Southern Tasmanian company 13 Seeds is planting three times as much hemp as it did last year, but it could have planted more.
The small business is being inundated with requests for hemp.
"There's been a huge amount of enquires, people from everything from brewers to bakers to candle stick makers. Everyone has got their hemp idea that they want to try," said one of the founders, Terry Memory.
"For us it's really about seeing what we can produce, what we can produce well and then trying to make sure that we can fulfil the enquires that we're taking on."
13 seeds is rolling out more than a dozen food products, but is cautious of predicting what demand there may be.
"There's been some things touted through other industry people of 400 per cent growth in the next two years, the reality is it's an untested product in the market," Mr Memory said.
"It is an incredibly good nutritional source to be eating and I think people are more and more looking for that wellness angle in their diet."
Hemp in everything from ice cream to cereal
The hemp seed has a slightly nutty flavour and is being marketed by many as the new superfood.
The seed is being trialled in a hugs variety of foods including ice cream, with Tasmanian company Van Diemens Land Creamery trialling two hemp flavours.
Joel Feren from the Dietitians Association of Australia said there was a lot to like about hemp seeds.
"Hemp seeds are high in protein, high in fibre, as well as omega-3 fats ... that are great for our heart, they help to improve our heart rate, reduce the risk of blood clotting and increase our good levels of cholesterol."
But Mr Feren cautioned against the term superfoods.
"No food can claim that title. Superfood really is a marketing title."
Nathan McNiece said the crop's sustainability was also a big appeal.
"At present the world's population stands at around 7.5 billion people and by the end of the century that's going to be up around 11 to 11.5 billion people," Mr McNeice said.
"So we really consider this challenge of nourishing the world's rapidly growing population to be the greatest of our time and if we can play even a minor role in that then we would be absolutely humbled."
Industry group has eyes to the future
The Industrial Hemp Association of Tasmania said it was conscious of ensuring the industry's growth is sustainable.
"Given the potential for exponential growth in the development of the markets, infrastructure development is a pretty important issue to deal with," Tim Schmidt said.
"It will need to be developed carefully to make sure the production systems and marketing systems can cope."
Mr Schmidt said the Industrial Hemp Association of Tasmania would be looking for Tasmanian Government support.
"We'd love to see $150,000 over three years."
Topics: agribusiness, agricultural-crops, health, food-and-beverage, tas
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