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Parkland Industrial Hemp Growers Co-op
Parkland BioFibre

Background Information

In 1999, Parkland Industrial Hemp Growers Coop (PIHG) was formed by a group of farmers to supply a proposed processing facility.  The facility failed to materialize and the farmers were left with the yields of grain and fibre from approximately 12000 acres. The membership decided to try to market the grain collectively and research whether there would be a future for the hemp industry. This research led them to Wales and the BioComposite Centre at the University at Bangor. It was agreed that the future was in fibre production as the grain market was limited. 

In 2002, P.M. Associates a Winnipeg consulting firm was engaged to prepare a business plan to build a small fibre processing facility in Dauphin to both utilize the existing fibre (some of which remains and is usable) and create a market for new fibre. This facility has been named Parkland BioFibre. The vision was created to use the Dauphin facility as a pilot, to assemble and perfect the technology and provide proof of concept, at the same time be economically sustainable. To this end letters of intent have been obtained to sell both raw fibre and hurds. The raw fibre would be used in the recycling industry and the hurds for animal bedding. The facility would have a non-woven matting machine to add value as erosion matting or horticulture mulch. This machine would also be the basis for manufacturing an insulation product similar in properties to fibreglass insulation. The major market potential is the use of fibres in biocomposites to make biomaterials for consumer products and ultimately for the automobile and aerospace industries. This would require millions of tonnes of fibre production. This pilot plant will produce 14000 tonnes of fibre annually at maximum capacity. 

The Parkland Industrial Hemp Growers sought out strategic partners to bring expertise to the pilot processing plant. These are: Transfeeders Inc.(Alberta), Plant Fibre Technology (Wales), PIHG (Dauphin), North American Natural Fibers (South Carolina), Ukal Canada (Quebec) and McMunn and Yates Building Supplies (Dauphin) have recently joined the consortium.  

Once the processing technology is perfected, and the fibre market defined, the technology could then be replicated across Canada in any region adaptable to industrial hemp production. The production capacity will expand, by adding facilities at different locations, as the fibre market grows. It is hoped to use local investment to build these facilities, and allow the local region to benefit from the wealth generated by the economic activity and profits associated with the industry.  

This is the first for Canada and North America, hence the risk is high. The business plan includes financing from both the Federal and Provincial governments of $6million of the total cost of $24.4million. The balance would be debt financing and private capital. Parkland BioFibre is developing a prospectus to raise the private capital.

Activities we are currently involved in include:

Plant Breeding Program

Business Plan Completed for Fibre processing Facility.

Fibre Processing - Bast Fiber, Hurd, Matting, Insulation

Test Marketing

Pedigreed Seed Sales

Grain Sales

• Crushing
• Domestic Crushers
• Bulk Sales Contacts
• Birdseed Market (Sterilized - USA, UK, Europe)

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PIHG CO-OP INVENTORY AVAILABLE
Grain for sale on contract basis.
Updated: February 2003

SOLD 1 Million Pounds of grain

SOLD 1.5 Million pounds of Pedigreed Seed -Ukrainian Varieties(USO), Low THC

SOLD 18,000 Tonnes of Fibre (bales)

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CAN WE PRODUCE FIBRE?
(The chart below represents a one year trial in 2001.)

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PIHG IN THE FUTURE

Pedigreed Seed Industry

Dauphin, Manitoba Primary Fiber Processing Plant Construction

 

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EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS:

Chairman: Joe Federowich

2nd Vice-President Chris Dzisiak

1st Vice-President Jim Pavlin

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PIHG Office Manager:

Canda Chafe
Office Phone: (204) 629-HEMP (629-4367)
Office Fax: (204) 629-4368
Email: pihg@mts.net