- $200,000 available in grants for hemp research and development, and to drive processing opportunities
The McGowan Government is backing the Western Australian industrial hemp industry by investing $200,000 in expansion and growth opportunities.
The Industrial Hemp Grants Scheme will provide individual grants for research into new varieties suitable for WA conditions and opportunities for processing industrial hemp.
Grants can also be used for the development of major infrastructure and to explore market opportunities for industrial hemp products. All projects will need to deliver industry-wide benefits.
The grant scheme follows the McGowan Government’s amendments to legislation to allow hemp to be grown with a higher tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content, providing more flexibility and certainty for growers.
The Industrial Hemp Grants Scheme will be administered by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, and successful applicants will be required to match the grant dollar for dollar.
Applications close at 5pm on November 30, 2018. Information on how to apply is available on the department’s website at https://www.agric.wa.gov.au
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
“Big opportunities exist for hemp as a high-protein grain for food and beverage production, and as a fibre for textiles and building products.
“The feedback we are getting from growers, processors, manufacturers and businesses is that they need support to establish processing facilities, develop markets and to identify varieties suitable for WA conditions.
“This grants scheme will support the industry’s activation and development, and follows our Government’s move to increase permissible THC content in industrial hemp.
“Any expansion of the industry will not only deliver economic benefits but will provide more jobs in regional WA.”
