Time4Hemp: Data-Driven Decision Support for Optimal Harvesting, Turning, and Baling Times in Textile Hemp

Textile hemp has great potential as a sustainable fiber crop for the Flemish agricultural and textile sectors. However, the cultivation risk remains high due to uncertainty surrounding crucial plot-specific decisions, such as the optimal harvest window, the correct timing for turning during field curing, and the timing of baling. These choices significantly determine fiber quality and processability, but are currently often based on experience and visual assessment. This project aims to support farmers by making these decisions more objective through data-driven monitoring. In collaboration with farmers, researchers, a machinery manufacturer, and a digital partner, field data is collected from field measurements, satellite monitoring, and machine feedback. This data, combined with weather and plot information, is integrated into the WatchITGrow digital platform to develop practical tools for harvesting, turning, and baling. Through demonstration plots, grower working groups, and field demonstrations, the tools are tested and refined in collaboration with farmers. The project results in validated decision support and practical guidelines for the cultivation of textile hemp. In this way, it contributes to lower cultivation risks, more stable fiber quality, and the further scaling up of a sustainable fiber supply chain in Flanders, while strengthening digitization and collaboration within the sector.