The Hemp Report

(Saskatoon, SK) The Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission (SFDC) wants the world to know that we re ready to develop a fiber industry in Canada.

SFDC has been selected to host the 2008 International Conference on Flax and Other Bast Plants, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on July 21 to 23, 2008. It will be the first time the event has ever been held in North America. Organizers are expecting scientists, producers and industry representatives from around the world to discuss agronomy, processing and end uses of flax, hemp and other fiber plants.

We re excited to bring the world s top fiber experts to Saskatchewan, says Allen Kuhlmann, Chairman of the Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission, which represents almost 15,000 flax growers in the province. It offers a chance to showcase Canada while sharing cutting-edge research on the fiber trade, processing methods, biotechnology, and new applications for fiber products.

The current and future potential for the natural fiber industries is significant textiles alone represent the fourth-largest sector in the world, says Dr. Ryszard Kozlowski, Director of the Institute for Natural Fibres in Poznan, Poland, and one of the international collaborators on the conference.

The conference will include topics such as breeding initiatives in hemp and flax; nanotechnology applications; and green buildings made with natural fibers, as well as post-conference tours offering delegates the chance to see flax and hemp fields in the land of living skies.

We ve launched a new website to communicate conference details with delegates here and in other parts of the world, says Kulmann. People are encouraged to visit http://www.flaxbast2008.com/. A Call For Papers also went out today fiber specialists around the world are encouraged to submit abstracts in their area of expertise.

The conference is being coordinated by representatives across Canada with expertise in fiber, agriculture, research and industry development. Partnering with SFDC to host the event are the Saskatchewan Council for Community Development, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, National Research Council of Canada and the governments of Saskatchewan and Alberta.

For more information:

Linda Braun
Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission
Tel. 306-664-1901
Email: saskflax@saskflax.com

Penny Eaton
Conference Coordinator
Tel. 306-652-1299
Email: penny@eatonassociates.ca

FlaxBast 2008 Call for Papers
(PDF file 60K)