ABSTRACT
In the early 1980s, a group of farm ers in northeast Netherlands (the area of the Veenkolonien) and students of the Agricultural University Wageningen carried out a prefeasibility study on the possibilities to introduce a “ fourth crop.” In this area about 50 percent of the farm land is used for potatoes (for starch production), about 25 percent for wheat, and about 25 percent for sugar beets. A new crop should be profitable, broaden the rotation scheme, and reduce the need for pesti cides and herbicides. This study led to the rediscovery of fiber hemp in the Netherlands. It was selected as the most promising “ fourth crop,” as a nonfood, easy-growing crop for farmers, providing the pulp and paper industry with domestic fibers. A range of preliminary trials on growing, harvesting, ensilage, fiber cleaning and separation, and pulp and paper processing and economical viability were carried out. The promising results persuaded regional and national governments to sup port a larger research project. The Dutch hemp project was started in 1990 at a num ber of agricultural research institutes (DLO) and at the mentioned university in Wageningen. The Dutch paper and board industry showed some interest in the research results and offered ad-
textiles, sailing and fishing gear, and for strong, thin, durable spe cialty papers. The outer parts o f the hem p stem consist o f long bast fibers (5 to 50 m m , w ith an average fiber length o f 16 mm).
