Hemp buildings have lower energy costs compared to conventional houses and are significantly cheaper to build. Jordan hopes to turn his bumper crop into some dream homes built with modern hemp-crete techniques. He has received some high-level assistance for his research from the University of Waikato. “Waikato Hemp Project are collaborating with Waikato University’s Materials and Engineering faculty to begin designing the future,” Jordan said. Asscociate Professor Dr Kim Pickering is working with PhD students to develop advanced polymers from the Waikato hemp. “It makes sense to incorporate these fibres within other materials to produce a composite material. This enables fibres to 10
be used in structures, and modification of mechanical and physical properties can be made,” Dr Pickering said. “Composites will increasingly replace conventional engineering materials to give improved performance. Technology learnt with advanced composites like carbon fibre, can be applied to natural fibre composites.” Pickering said hemp could also be a natural resource used to make plastics. “Waikato University research has been involved in development of polymer matrices from bioderivable materials,” she said. “With New Zealand’s natural fibres resources, there is a great potential to tap into composite design and technology to produce improved structural materials that are cost efficient.”
Waikato Hemp Project have also been researching the potential use of hemp as a source of bio-fuel. The New Zealand Biogas company has been working with them to extract hemp fuels in the form of Bio-Ethanol, BioCharcoal and Bio-Diesel. Jordan said he was able to grow hemp thanks to legislation introduced by former Norml News editor and MP Nandor Tanczos. In 2001 Tanczos’ Bill was adopted by the Labour Government. “This bill is an elegant piece of legislation,” then Greens leader Rod Donald said. “This initiative is long overdue recognition of the fact that industrial hemp is not a drug. It is a potentially lucrative crop that should be treated alongside other arable farming revenue streams.”