MANITOBA, LARGEST CDN. INDUSTRIAL HEMP PRODUCER, WELCOMES DELEGATES
TO CONFERENCE

Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Rosann Wowchuk
welcomed delegates to the national Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance
conference in Winnipeg today.

"Our province is proud to support this conference that highlights
industrial hemp as an emerging crop that reaches across industries
like health and functional food production," said Wowchuk. "This
product is also creating value-added opportunities in bio-composite
materials such as counter tops and bio-fibre production."

Manitoba is the largest producer of hemp in Canada, with more than
28,000 acres dedicated to the crop. Two of the three major hemp
processing plants are located in the province. Canada grows
approximately 48,000 acres of hemp.