What if hemp became a strategic lever for ecological transition in Alsace? That is the challenge taken up by an ambitious project led by the Alsace-Moselle Water and Sanitation Authority, in partnership with the Strasbourg European Metropolis, with the support of FRD-CODEM, CREASPACE and the Alsace Chamber of Agriculture.
The project brings together around 60 partners, including the European Hemp Cluster, around a common ambition: to structure a regional, sustainable, and innovative hemp industry that benefits the soil, water, construction, and the local economy.
A collective effort to assess the feasibility of the project
Funded by Rhine-Meuse Water Agency, this project is being rolled out in several stages The first stage was devoted to multi-partner meetings to study the conditions for its implementation and operationality This led to a feasibility study carried out by FRD–CODEM, in partnership with CREASPACE and the Alsace Chamber of Agriculture. This collective effort laid the foundations for the project: sharing a common vision, clarifying the outlines of the approach, and defining the main lines of action to be taken.
Inspiration for action: immersion in the hemp ecosystem
Two days of immersion, learning, and inspiration at the heart of the hemp ecosystem were organized on March 25 and 26, including a visit by an Alsatian delegation to the Aube and Seine-et-Marne departments. The aim was to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms and challenges involved in developing a regional hemp ecosystem and to find inspiration. Full details of this event are available in this article: Two days of immersion in the heart of a hemp ecosystem!
Focus on collective commitment and prospects
This momentum continued during a recent multi-partner plenary meeting held on June 30 at the Alsace Chamber of Agriculture, where stakeholders once again gathered around the project’s main themes: hemp, water, and eco-construction.
This multi-stakeholder meeting provided an opportunity to take stock of several major elements:
- Presentation of a concerted action plan resulting from the workshops
- Feedback on the visit to Aube and Seine-et-Marne last March
- Recent advances in the sector
- Signing of the Charter of Commitment for the development of a hemp sector in the Bas-Rhin region to protect water resources and promote eco-construction.
- Testimonials from local and national stakeholders in the sector, including:
Joël Lagneau (InterChanvre), Franck Barbier (PLANETE CHANVRE), Philippe Lamarque (Wallup Préfa & Construire en Chanvre), Olivier Brenet (KS Groupe), and Armelle Kerampran (Chambre des Métiers d’Alsace) and Patrick Kormann (Bio en Grand Est et agriculteur).
What now? Time for action
An ambitious action plan has been adopted with a view to its implementation in the region. It will involve:
- Launching pilot projects for public buildings (schools insulated with hemp in the Citadelle district of Strasbourg and the Haguenau urban community)
- Create a training school for welcoming and teaching “bio-based” techniques (municipality of Weiterwiller)
- Develop a dedicated training course for craftsmen and train Ma Prime Rénov advisors on bio-based materials (Chambre des métiers et de l’artisanat)
- Conduct a market study to assess the current and future opportunities for hemp (complementary to construction) through local businesses – ADIRA
The European Hemp Cluster is proud to be part of this collective initiative and will continue to work alongside its partners to support the development of an innovative and sustainable hemp industry in Alsace.
