HEMP SEED OF NEW INDUSTRY

Australian farmers are being urged to grow hemp with a new strain of the
plant that can be used as food and plastic.

The strain, tested in the northern hemisphere, is being touted as the way
ahead for creating new industries in Australia.

The Queensland-based hemp industry development company Australian Hemp
Resource and Manufacturer and the London-based Hemp Food Industries
Association consider Tasmania the perfect breeding location for the seed.

The Department of Corporate Affairs in Tasmania is processing the
registration of Hemp Tasmania, a cooperative, to engage farmers in its
production.

Mr Paul Benhaim, of HFIA, said: "(Throughout Europe) health food stores,
petrol stations and large chain stores now stock a wide variety of hemp
food products, which have a wonderful nutty taste and a fantastic
nutritional profile." Hemp also produced partly bio-degradable plastic, he
said.