CC Summer 1995: Poland's participation in Bioresource Hemp 1995
 
BIORESOURCE nice pic
HEMP
1995
 
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Two papers were presented by representatives of the Polish Institute of Natural Fibres which demonstrated the current state of Polish hemp cultivation.


Cultivating Cannabis in Poland
The first of these was from Ryszard Kozlowski, who presented results from the cultivation of two domestic varieties, and explained that their fibre yields per hectare have almost doubled since the 1950's.

Russian equipment is used for harvesting, followed by dew-retting in the field. Subsequent processing involves equipment manufactured domestically. Approximately 3000 hectares are under commercial cultivation in Poland, with plans for an additional 2500 hectares for the production of cellulose.


Cannabis Cleans Contamination
Przemyslaw Baraniecki presented a paper which outlined a very different use for cannabis hemp. He has concluded from four years of cultivation that hemp can help in the reclamation of soils contaminated with heavy metals.

His tests suggest that high levels of heavy metals in soil do not impair plant growth, and that yield and fibre quality do not differ from those obtained on regular soils.

However, Przemyslaw didn't address the issues surrounding the use of potentially contaminated hemp fibres in clothing or industry. Although his initial research suggests the potential for gradual and inexpensive remediation of heavy metal contaminated soils by hemp, these other issues must also be discussed.

 
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