Let’s meet in the exhibition of agricultural technologies Agrovision 2019

On 26–28 June, Natūralus Pluoštas (Natural Fiber) will participate in Agrovision, one of the largest exhibitions of agricultural technologies in Lithuania. There different varieties of agricultural crops are cultivated outdoors in open-air conditions, it will also include agricultural machinery exposition.

In the exhibition, the Natūralus Pluoštas company will present the fiber hemp outlook, possibilities for growing it in Lithuania, operations of the factory that was opened this year, and together with its partners from Canaba introduce Austa SK, a Lithuanian variety of fiber hemp.

‘Last year 1,500 hectares of fiber hemp were sown in Lithuania, and this year we have around 1,800 hectares of sown area. In the exhibition, we will discuss our experience from this season with farmers who already cultivate hemp, also meet those who are just getting interested and contemplating the possibilities of growing fiber hemp. The first Lithuania variety of fiber hemp Austa SK will also be presented here. We hope that after this first-hand introduction to the culture and advantages of fiber hemp farmers will even more seriously consider growing it,’ told Raimondas Petreikis, CEO of Natūralus Pluoštas UAB.

Fiber hemp is a universal agricultural crop that preserves soil and environment, overcomes weeds and is suitable for crop rotation. Natūralus Pluoštas partner Canaba created the Austa SK variety taking into account the climate and average soil fertility conditions in the Baltic states. Therefore, this variety is especially suitable for cultivating in Lithuania. This variety is unique in its low amount of THC and is highly fibrous. The vegetation period of the Austa SK seeds is around 80 days, it is usually harvested at the end of July. Visitors will be able to see the crops of this fiber hemp variety and evaluate their features and advantages in the outdoor area of the exhibition.

Natūralus Pluoštas offers farmers a collaboration model – the company supplies the farms with fiber hemp seeds and later helps to harvest the crops and purchases them. At the end of April the company opened a hemp-stalk processing factory in Kėdainiai, while this year it supplied farmers with some 195 tonnes of fiber hemp seeds. The company expects to grow around 18,000 tonnes of fiber hemp suitable for processing in the area of 1,800 hectares, which will enable Natūralus Pluoštas to produce hemp fiber used in the textile, paper and construction industries, pellets for household heating, and shives for construction and animal litter.