Parkland Industrial Hemp Growers Co-op

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, a consulting firm was engaged to prepare a business plan to build a fibre processing facility in Dauphin to utilize the fibre that results from the harvesting of hemp for grain. The plan also included utilizing hemp as a crop produced only for the purpose of growing hemp for fibre processing.
PIHG has worked tirelessly within the industry revising their business plan and contacting Venture Capital sources to raise enough money to build the first hemp fibre processing plant. The vision is 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.

 
Market research has been comprehensive. 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. Another major market potential is the use of fibres in biocomposites to make biomaterials for consumer products and ultimately for the automobile, bus and aerospace industries. This would require millions of tonnes of fibre production.

 
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. 

 
PIHG Main Business
PIHG is a producer coop that is in the business of growing and producing industrial hemp for grain and fibre. Members are well experienced in growing hemp and have modified conventional equipment to efficiently and effectively grow and harvest hemp for grain and fibre.
PIHG sponsors a industrial hemp plant breeding program to supply locally adapted hemp varieties for Manitoba and other parts of Canada. The seed is available at a cost effective rate due to the local supply.

PIHG is a contact for commercial grain supplies as supplied by members for crushing and other processing for domestic and foreign sales. Bulk sales contracts can be put together and coordinated through the PIHG office.
PIHG is in the business of pedigreed seed sales for planting.

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS:

Chairman:
Joe Federowich

2nd Vice-President
Chris Dzisiak

1st Vice-President
Jim Pavlin