Hemp Match: Preparing a unified hemp ecosystem in Flanders
Industrial hemp offers strong opportunities for sustainable materials and agriculture. This project explores how collaboration between farmers, companies and researchers can unlock a viable hemp value chain in Flanders, inspired by successful cooperation models in France.
In short
Industrial hemp is a versatile and sustainable crop with applications in textiles, construction materials and other bio-based products. Interest in hemp cultivation is growing in Flanders, but the value chain remains fragmented, which limits market opportunities and large-scale adoption.
This research brings together farmers, processors, companies and researchers to explore how stronger collaboration within the Flemish hemp sector can be developed. The project focuses on connecting two key application areas: hemp for textiles and hemp for technical uses such as construction materials.
To gain inspiration, the research team organises an exploratory visit to France, where the hemp sector is well established and farmers cooperate in structured value chains. Insights from this exploration will help identify opportunities and barriers for the Flemish context and support the development of new collaboration models.
Need and relevance
The demand for sustainable and bio-based materials is rapidly increasing in sectors such as textiles, construction and manufacturing. Industrial hemp has strong potential to contribute to this transition. The crop requires limited fertilisation, no pesticides and can contribute to carbon storage in long-lasting products.
Despite these advantages, hemp cultivation in Flanders remains limited. One of the main barriers is the lack of a well-developed value chain. Farmers need security regarding market access and prices, while processors and investors only invest when a stable supply of raw materials is available. This creates a typical chicken-and-egg dilemma.
In addition, value chains for textile hemp and technical hemp applications currently operate largely separately. As a result, valuable side streams are not always used efficiently. Connecting these value chains could increase the overall value of the crop and improve the economic viability of hemp cultivation.
This research therefore focuses on understanding how collaboration between stakeholders in the value chain can be strengthened.
From approach to impact
The project starts by bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders from the Flemish hemp sector, including farmers, companies, researchers and sector organisations. Through a co-creation process, they explore key challenges and opportunities for the sector.
A central activity in the project is an exploratory study visit to France. During company visits and discussions with French stakeholders, the research team collects insights on cooperation models, contractual arrangements, logistics and business models within the hemp value chain.
The insights gathered during the visit are analysed and translated into a SWOT analysis of the Flemish hemp sector. During a follow-up workshop with stakeholders, these findings are further discussed and translated into potential collaboration models for Flanders.
The research will generate practical insights on how a stronger hemp ecosystem can be developed. These insights will form the foundation for a follow-up collaboration project in which concrete partnership models and value chain structures can be implemented.
In this way, the project contributes to the development of a viable and sustainable hemp value chain in Flanders, creating new opportunities for farmers, industry and the circular bioeconomy.
