NZ iHemp Summit & Expo 2021

Following on from the sell-out event in 2018, the New Zealand iHemp Summit is back, and it’s better than ever. An opportunity to bring the best and brightest in industrial hemp together for the Summit and Expo in Rotorua in May 2021.

iHemp 2021 is for everything and everyone – from producers, manufacturers, landowners, farmers and farm supply companies, to economic development agencies, agribankers, and scientists.

This event is made possible with the help of the following companies:

Platinum sponsor: Hemptastic New Zealand
Gold sponsor: NZHIA
Dinner sponsor: Midlands / New Hemisphere
Session sponsor: Ligar

Video Presentation Trailer:

Opening Address: Richard Barge – NZHIA

Welcome opening address from the NZHIA Chair

Key note speaker: Hadleigh Smith –
NZ Merino

What can we learn from other successful primary industries, driving high-value economies and moving from primary production up the value chain?

(Please be aware that this content is currently being reviewed by New Zealand Merino and will be made available once approved.)

Session 1: Setting the Scene
Michael Haynes – Manager Medicines Control, Medsafe

The Industrial Hemp Licensing Framework in New Zealand – An overview of the licensing framework and activities, including the application process and resources, tools and guidance available to licence holders.

Session 1: Setting the Scene
Manu Caddie – Medicinal Cannabis Council

The practical impact of the NZ regulations on growers, manufacturers and distributors – what we can and can’t do – industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis.

Session 1: Setting the Scene
Simon Yarrow – Callaghan Innovation

Vision and New Zealand Companies involved – an update from Callaghan Innovation on the work being done and the updatable hemp industry road maps.

Session 1: Setting the Scene
Tim Schmidt – Australian Hemp Council

The Canadian experience of breeding, agronomics, An update from Australia – Hemp food and fiber in Tasmania).

Session 1: Setting the Scene
Pat English – Taimona Consulting

Internationalisation and the integrated roles of government, regulator, research and commercialisation.

Session 1: Setting the Scene
Andi Lucas – AIHC, Tasmanian Hemp Association

An update on the Australian Industrial Hemp Conference.

Session 1: Setting the Scene
Q & A panel discussion

Vision and setting the scene panel:
Michael Haynes – Manager Medicines Control, Medsafe
Manu Caddie – Medicinal Cannabis Council
Simon Yarrow – Callaghan Innovation
Tim Schmidt – Australian Hemp Council
Pat English – Taimona Consulting
Andi Lucas – AIHC, Tasmanian Hemp Association

Session 2: Industry Experience
Mathew Johnson – Hemp Connect

Food – Issues related to growing hemp for seed in NZ, the organic experience and the need for innovation.

Session 2: Industry Experience
Leigh Kite, Cosmetics NZ Chair

An introduction on how to get started developing cosmetics and the benefits provided by Cosmetics NZ – the national industry body.

Session 2: Industry Experience
Jo Townshend – Midlands

How NZ fits into the international hemp industry, global Cultivar selection for food crops and what to look for when buying quality seed for sowing.

Session 2: Industry Experience
Owen Darby – Meraki Natural

Phytotechnology basics & hemp’s application.

Session 2: Industry Experience
Tanya Simmonds – Hempseed Holdings

NZ hemp food experience, vertical integration, what’s in place noHemp Seed Holdings Limited: From one man’s 33 year Hemp journey to our current place in the emerging industry.

Session 2: Industry Experience
Emma Kutia, Gina Kora, Marewa Titoko, TeRana Porter – Hinemaia Hemp o Te Waimana

Learning, making mistakes and loving the journey. Committed to our vision for Iwi hemp farming, tribally and across the nation

Session 2: Industry Experience
Q & A panel discussion

Industry experience panel:
Mathew Johnson – Hemp Connect
Leigh Kite, Cosmetics NZ Chair
Jo Townshend – Midlands
Owen Darby – Meraki Natural
Tanya Simmonds – Hempseed Holdings
Emma Kutia, Gina Kora, Marewa Titoko, TeRana Porter – Hinemaia Hemp o Te Waimana

Session 3: Strategy
Kirsty Harkness – Mount Base

Hemp in the vines, funding research and cosmetics from Hark and Zander.

Session 3: Strategy
Nigel Slaughter – Ligar Polymers

Direction of travel for extraction from hemp and the vast potential for product development. Looking past hemp as just a commodity.

Session 3: Strategy
Peta Fraser – NZTE

Introduction to NZTE, its international network, resources and what’s current.

Session 3: Strategy
Dr Nick Marsh – Next Corporation

Developing the strategic path for iHemp in NZ, successful sector strategy development and how the NZ hemp industry can collaborate to establish and achieve a vision for 2025.

Session 3: Strategy
Q & A panel discussion

Strategy panel:
Kirsty Harkness – Mount Base
Nigel Slaughter – Ligar Polymers
Peta Fraser – NZTE
Dr Nick Marsh – Next Corporation

Session 4: How do we do it
Jo Say – Hemp Building Association NZ

The use of hemp fibre in construction – Hempcrete buildings are healthy for their occupants and for our planet.

Session 4: How do we do it
Manu Rastogi – Kathmandu

A hemp fiber buyers perspective – meeting the specification, what can NZ do compared to China and some of the bigger opportunities for hemp fiber.

Session 4: How do we do it
Johanna Steyaert – Lincoln Agritech

The hemp holobiont: Building plant resilience through management of natural microbial systems.

Session 4: How do we do it
Brad Lake – Tapapa NZ

Vertical integration, of a group of iHemp companies in Canterbury.

Vertical integration, of a group of iHemp companies in Canterbury.

Session 4: How do we do it
Q & A panel discussion

How we do it panel:

Jo Say – Hemp Building Association of NZ
Manu Rastogi – Kathmandu
Johanna Steyaert – Lincoln Agritech
Brad Lake – Tapapa NZ

Session 5: What does it take
Samantha Gray – BioEquitas and Natural Health Products New Zealand

Creating a pathway for the development of nutrition and health-focused export companies using hemp – Functional foods, Dietary Supplements and Cosmetics

Session 5: What does it take
Mark Lucas – Cannasouth

The complexities of growing a medicinal product – indoor vs outdoor, GMP requirements, full transparency, potential markets, potential for a collaboration in NZ.

Session 5: What does it take
Florian Graichen – Scion

What are our ambitions – and the investment in science required, What capacity and capabilities do we have in NZ.

Session 5: What does it take
Dr Parmjit Randhawa – Greenlab

Hemp Cultivation Down Under:  Do we know enough? Learnings from Australian and New Zealand Hemp Field Trials.

Session 5: What does it take
Tanya Wilson – Callaghan Innovation

Callaghan research, who is involved and how to fund research.

Session 5: What does it take
Q & A Panel discussion

What does it take panel:
Samantha Gray – BioEquitas and Natural Health Products New Zealand
Mark Lucas – Cannasouth
Florian Graichen – Scion
Dr Parmjit Randhawa – Greenlab
Tanya Wilson – Callaghan Innovation

Session 6: Moon shot and the call to Action
Lightening talks

Hosted by Greg Ward

Igor Botelho

Regeneration and the new business paradigm.

Ryland Engelhart – Founder of Kiss the Ground

The regenerative agriculture business.

Richard Jones – Poutama Trust

Movers in Hemp Innovation “Mihi” Journey.

Richard Barge – NZHIA

Thank you and the close of Summit from the NZHIA Chair.