A draft Hemp Industry Development Plan has been released in the Australian state of New South Wales for public comment.
The state’s Hemp Industry Act 2008 was enacted on 1 July 2008 to kickstart growth of low-THC hemp production. Only cannabis varieties with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels of no more than 1% can be grown as hemp in NSW.
It’s a highly regulated sector – perhaps too much so. Even after nearly 17 years, the maximum collective cultivation area in New South Wales during that time was 1,800 hectares.
In 2023/24, there was just 1,350 hectares of crop production; even though 33,000+ hectares were approved for harvest. The NSW Hemp Industry Development Plan seeks to change that, establishing hemp as a mainstream crop in the state.
The draft plan has been informed by the work of the NSW Hemp Industry Taskforce, which was established by the State Government in February last year with members drawn from across the industrial hemp industry. The taskforce was charged with exploring barriers and opportunities for the local industry. Setting up the taskforce was a result of a NSW Hemp Industry Roundtable in 2023.
“With the global hemp market projected to grow, the proposed plan identifies where government, industry and stakeholders can concentrate efforts to capitalise on opportunities for the local hemp industry,” says the NSW Government.
The draft plan includes an industry vision statement, four development objectives and actions for industry development. The development objectives summarised are:
Farmers having access to hemp varieties suited to their production environment.Processing and value adding infrastructure accessibility across production areas.Building consumer confidence in and awareness of hemp productsThe NSW regulatory environment continues to support hemp industry
Among the proposed actions are amendment to the Hemp Industry Act 2008 and the Hemp Industry Regulation 2016.
According to the plan, it has been estimated under the right conditions Australia’s industrial hemp industry could become a $100 million-dollar concern by 2032
The draft NSW Hemp Industry Development Plan is open for feedback via the Have Your Say website. Submissions close Monday 19 May 2025, and the government is aiming to finalise the plan by mid-2025, which will then be made available on the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development website.
A draft Hemp Industry Development Plan has been released in the Australian state of New South Wales for public comment. Read More
