The Hemp European Hub is coming to the end of the GO PEI project, supported by the European Union via the EAFRD. The time has come to establish a long-term structure in order to provide the resources needed to support the development of hemp production, processing, and uses in the Grand Est region and beyond. This ambition will be achieved thanks to an expert, high-performance ecosystem, all within a cooperative environment.
On February 2, a preliminary association will be created with the aim of becoming a cooperative society of collective interest by fall 2023.
Constitutive General Assembly of the Hemp European Hub
If you would like to join the Association for the Pre-Establishment of the SCIC Hemp European Hub and participate in the Constituent General Assembly to be held on February 2 at 5:30 p.m. at the Centre de Congrès de l’Aube, please fill out the membership form. For further information, please contact Estelle Delangle – edelangle@polechanvre.eu.
Membership of the Hemp European Hub will be open to any person or organization wishing to work collectively on issues related to hemp, by subscribing to the following fundamentals: cooperation as a lever for development, the need for balanced value sharing, an ecosystemic, multi-stakeholder and multi-sector approach, and the concept of territorial anchoring combined with openness, outreach and knowledge transfer.
What is the Hemp European Hub?
The Hemp European Hub aims to make the Grand Est region a regional showcase for economic, ecological, and social transition through hemp. In addition, its mission is to accelerate collective actions to develop the production, processing, and uses of hemp.
Its main purpose is therefore to define, organize, and implement cooperative actions to develop supply and demand for hemp while meeting the needs of local communities and society.
This involves the following actions:
- Support for collective and experimental projects: these will provide opportunities for economic development while helping to resolve or highlight the obstacles that remain to the use of hemp at various levels.
- Support for regional diagnosis: how hemp-based solutions can be integrated into a region’s ambitions for ecological, economic, and social transition.
- Establishment of shared workspaces to foster innovation and project opportunities.
- Training and awareness-raising activities
- Interventions outside the Grand Est region and organization of international events, ensuring the influence of the regional ecosystem in France, Europe, and internationally.
Themes and actions of the Hemp European Hub
Thinking about and promoting the hemp of tomorrow
- A biennial international event dedicated to the evolution of hemp markets in Europe and around the world.
- Ongoing cooperative monitoring and establishment of a dedicated forward-looking and strategic committee: to create the conditions for developing hemp-based solutions by coordinating stakeholders and conducting cross-disciplinary research into markets and technical innovations.
- Creation of innovation circles, enabling mutual understanding, collective ideation, and the emergence of opportunities. These circles belong to you and will be dedicated to questions you may have about using hemp in your products or solutions you can offer. Thanks to their cross-disciplinary nature and openness, the spaces offered by the Hemp European Hub allow you to both contribute and refine your solutions and find answers to your own questions.
- Raise awareness, train, and support farmers, construction professionals, textile professionals, and professionals in other sectors on the use of hemp. Work on initial training will also be carried out through the implementation of intervention programs in vocational high schools and specialized higher education institutions.
- Listing your hemp-related activities and promoting your products to professionals, contractors, and the general public.
- Reporting regulatory or normative brake issues to partners and competent authorities.
Linking agro-industrial innovation with regional innovation
The wide variety of stakeholders involved in the company (local authorities, industry, craft businesses, networks, centers of expertise, laboratories and universities, educational institutions, chambers of commerce) covers all stages of the hemp value chain, from upstream agriculture to the marketing of hemp-based products.
- Cross-learning visits to other regions: the PEC’s ability to bring these stakeholders together around joint projects will be demonstrated in particular through these visits. They will sometimes be dedicated to a specific sector of activity, but will often be devoted to exploring more global approaches. They will cover various aspects of the hemp ecosystem and provide inspiration and opportunities for everyone. The company’s cooperative learning approach will provide time for preparation and reflection on these visits.
- Strategic and forward-looking committee: this diversity will be the strength of its strategic and forward-looking committee, which will bring together members of the PEC and external figures from the academic, economic, and political spheres. It will enable analysis of major economic and societal trends, thereby advising the cluster’s governance on key issues for the future.
- Support for the development of hemp-related activities in their area, offered to local authorities or groups of stakeholders who request it. It will be ensured thanks to the proven expertise of its members and partners. It is also an opportunity for member companies to share their expertise and explore new markets.
Initiate demonstrations or implement collective projects
This wealth allows us to consider setting up collective projects that address common issues while providing you with economic opportunities around shared assets such as:
- The widespread adoption of energy-efficient renovations thanks to hemp concrete
- Establishing the conditions and introducing the tools necessary for the emergence of a 100% French hemp textile industry
- The (re)appropriation of the resource and its benefits by a region and its inhabitants through the educational and tourist project Route du Chanvre (Hemp Route).
Thanks to this place for development, coordination, and support, you will be able to initiate or participate in collective and experimental projects that will bring you economic opportunities while helping to overcome the obstacles that remain to the growth of hemp.
