Focus on Fiber Symposium
Abstract Summaries

Rutgers University – New Brunswick, NJ

January 11 & 12, 2024

 

Joy Beckerman – The promise of hemp and how we will get there from here! (Morning Keynote)

Are you hearing the call to add hemp to your crop rotation or invigorate your community with hemp economy infrastructure? The spectrum of industries served by the versatile hemp crop is extraordinary — from paper, textiles, building materials, energy and fuel, biocomposites and plastics, sealants and coatings, air, space, and nanotechnology, to human and animal nutrition, skincare, and more! Hemp not only serves, but also improves and revolutionizes these industries. Renowned hemp industry leader Joy Beckerman will provide straight talk on why this is so, and how America is rising to the challenge of delivering on the promise as hemp reemerges and reestablishes itself as a valuable agricultural commodity.

Joy Beckerman is an internationally renowned hemp industries pioneer and advocate who has been involved with the hemp movement for over 30 years, and her extraordinary passion for this versatile, valuable crop is contagious! Among a world-class list of roles, Joy is the Founder and Principal at Hemp Ace International, a consulting, legal support, and expert witness firm serving the global hemp industries. Joy’s extensive contributions to the hemp and cannabis movements encompass grassroots organizing, advocacy, and legal support, with a focus on advancing legalization and practical regulation. She has been instrumental in educating various stakeholders, from the public and farmers to business owners, academia, lawmakers, and regulators.

 

Morris Beegle – Hemp fiber from the Americas to Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe (Session Six)

To kick off our conversation, join Morris Beegle, President/Founder of WAFBA – We Are for Better Alternatives, and Joy Beckerman, Principal at Hemp Ace International, as they delve into the world of hemp fiber and its vast applications. Morris Beegle, a prominent figure in agriculture and hemp industries, will discuss the global reach of hemp, from the Americas to Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe. This engaging conversation will explore the potential of hemp as a versatile and sustainable crop, shedding light on the exciting opportunities it presents worldwide.

Trends in Hemp Decortication and Processing: A National Overview (Session Seven)

Morris Beegle, President of the We Are for Better Alternatives (WAFBA) family of brands, is a leading expert in hemp fiber. With a global presence, Beegle engages audiences through podcasts, events, and publishes the LetsTalkHemp.com media platform and the recently launched Experiencehemp.com platform that services international markets.  He produces celebrated hemp-centric events, including NoCo Hemp Expo and Southern Hemp Expo, and oversees hemp product brands like Silver Mountain Hemp Guitars and Tree Free Hemp Paper. Beegle’s deep commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly solutions underscores his influence in promoting hemp fiber as a versatile and transformative resource worldwide

 

Rachel Berry – Field Notes: A Farmer’s Insight into the Hemp Economy (Session One)

Rachel Berry shares personal experiences and insights, offering an in-depth look at the economic realities and opportunities in the hemp industry. This presentation provides a unique blend of firsthand narratives and professional analysis, invaluable for anyone interested in understanding or engaging with the evolving hemp market.

Rachel Berry is Founder and CEO of the Illinois Hemp Growers Association, an Illinois hemp farmer, and a hemp industry journalist with experience in market analysis. She is a dedicated community organizer and educator, actively contributing to the development and knowledge-sharing within the hemp industry. Her broad experience combines on-the-ground farming practices with educational leadership and market insight, driving forward the growth and understanding of hemp’s potential.

 

Andrew Bish – Commoditization: Where the hemp are we going? (Session Two)

Andrew Bish, CEO/COO of BISH Enterprises will delve into the future of hemp commoditization, offering insights into where the industry is headed. With a focus on innovation, sustainability, and hemp feed products, Andrew’s expertise will provide valuable perspectives on the evolving landscape of hemp as a commodity.  More specifically, Andrew’s presentation will cover the following items:  Hemp Market Size, Hemp Market Pricing, Usage, Agronomic Practices, and Varietal Trial Results from throughout the United States.

 Andrew Bish, from Giltner, Nebraska, is a prominent figure in agriculture, especially in agricultural manufacturing and the hemp industry. As the COO of BISH Enterprises, he is driven operational excellence in agricultural engineering. Andrew also founded Hemp Harvest Works and became a Founding Partner of Global Fiber Processing, innovating in hemp stalk processing and market development. His leadership roles extend to the Hemp Feed Coalition as President, co-founding the Nebraska Hemp Industries Association, and serving as a Director at the Colorado Hemp Association. Additionally, he’s Treasurer and Director on the National Hemp Association’s SCOHO Board. Andrew’s work exemplifies his commitment to agricultural innovation and sustainability, notably in hemp feed products and industry advancement.

Alyssa Collins – A trip around the country: Research updates from the world of fiber (Session Two)

We kill plants so you do not have to!  Agronomists across the nation have joined forces over the last 5 years to tackle the questions of best management for production of this crop.  What can we learn from their successes and failures?

What is worth the worry: Diseases and their management in fiber hemp crops (Session Three)

Cannabis has no shortage of pathogens that can infect it.  But different cropping systems and end uses mean different priorities for IPM.  We will discuss which diseases are no big deal for fiber and how to protect against the ones that are.

Dr. Collins is the director of Penn State’s State Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Lancaster County. She is a member of the PA Department of Agriculture Industrial Hemp Steering Committee and leads the Penn State Extension hemp education and outreach team. She has been participating in hemp production research in Pennsylvania since 2017 and her research focuses on disease management and fiber and grain crop production to build a successful hemp value chain.

Alex Escher – Optimizing Hemp Hurd for Building: ASTM Standards and Protocols (Session Seven)

The presentation will explore hemp-hurd construction applications, and the specifications used to define optimum consistency protocols for building with hemp-lime materials.

Alex is the Northeast Regional Leader of the US Hemp Building Association (USHBA), Director of Hemp Fiber Applications at Escher Design, and a member of ASTM International. He is also the founder of Hemp Hollow Processing, a mobile bucking and trimming service for CBD and cannabis cultivators. His efforts in cost-effective hemp bio-composites led to Escher Design receiving the “First Permitted Hempcrete Structure” designation in Denver, Colorado, in 2017. Currently, Alex is collaborating with ASTM to define hemp hurd standards for building applications and working with ASTM and the National Institute for Occupation Safety and Health (NIOSH) on establishing safety protocols for inhalation exposure to toxic levels of cannabis dust.

 

Katharine Jaworski – The Endangered Species Act and the future of pesticide regulations (Session Three)

Katharine will discuss the implications of the Endangered Species Act on pesticide regulations in the hemp industry. With her expertise in pest management and federal research, Katharine will explore how recent developments in pesticide regulations, particularly for herbicides, are affecting the hemp industry. This presentation will shed light on the opportunities and challenges in pest regulation for hemp and the importance of integrated pest management and research collaboration.

Katharine holds a master’s degree from Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and was SEBS’ first graduate of the Plant Biology program with expertise and thesis work in hemp. She focused on Integrative Pest Management for indoor cultivated hemp and provided observations and insights from her time spent cultivating medical cannabis and consulting to farmers. For the last two and a half years, she was the IR-4 Projects Research Assistant, and today provides insight on pesticide regulations and federal research.

 

John Kerr – Brief introduction to the New Jersey Hemp Program (Welcome)

As Hemp Program Manager at New Jersey Department of Agriculture and a key figure in the program’s development and management, John will share insights into its inception, progress, and objectives, and a concise overview of the NJ Hemp Program. This introduction will offer valuable information for those interested in the hemp industry in New Jersey.

John graduated from Rutgers University in 2018 with a B.S. in Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources w/ a Certificate in Environmental Geomatics. He began his position as the NJ Hemp Program Manager with the NJ Department of Agriculture in 2022.  As the State of NJ’s Hemp Plant Inspector, John is responsible for collecting hemp samples and compliance oversite related to the Hemp Program.

 

Stephen Komar – Insights from NJ’s 2023 Fiber Hemp Cultivar Trial (Session Four)

In 2022, the State of NJ, through the Department of Agriculture, allocated funds to explore the development of hemp for fiber as a potential new market for industrial use while providing a potential new crop to enhance the viability of the New jersey agricultural industry. Field experiments were conducted during the 2023 growing season at the Clifford and Melda Snyder Research and Extension Farm, Pittstown, New Jersey to evaluate sixteen hemp Cannabis sativa L. fiber and dual-use cultivars.  The study consisted of two key components: 1) the development of agronomic practices and production practices for fiber hemp production, 2) laboratory evaluation of the quality parameters for industrial uses of fiber hemp.  This presentation will report the results of the variety trial with specific focus on the agronomic performance of the varieties evaluated.

Stephen Komar is an Associate Professor and Agricultural Agent with Rutgers Cooperative Extension. As an agronomist, Komar is responsible for developing the recommendations and best management practices for hemp production.  Prior to working with Rutgers, Komar was a cotton and peanut agronomist at the University of Georgia.

 

John McLaughlin – Hemp fiber biology and characterization (Session Four)

One goal of the Rutgers Hemp program is to characterize a range of different fiber varieties for potential use in New Jersey.  This includes evaluating fiber properties and cataloging the differences between varieties.  Fiber development will be reviewed along with the genetic, environmental, and processing factors that impact fiber qualities.  This information will be useful for farmers and producers as they make decisions as to which varieties and management practices best suit their needs.

John McLaughlin is an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Plant Biology at Rutgers University.  His background includes cytogenetics and quantitative genetics work at the University of Minnesota (MS and PhD), drought stress physiology at the University of Delaware, and his current work at Rutgers includes hemp fiber analysis and the identification and characterization of plant genes to improve resistance to Fusarium graminearum in small grain cereals.

 

Michael Marchuk – Seed to shelf: Hemp’s sustainable journey (Session Eight)

Michael will explore the transformative role of hemp in sustainable packaging solutions. Drawing from his extensive experience with Ukrainian Hemp® and PAPACKS®, Michael will discuss the journey of hemp materials from seed to shelf and how they are revolutionizing eco-friendly packaging solutions and more.

Michael Marchuk is a renowned entrepreneur with expertise in renewable energy, sustainable packaging, and agritech. He holds key positions at PAPACKS®, Ukrainian Hemp®, and EMBA European Material Bank, focusing on eco-friendly solutions. Michael’s educational background includes a Business Administration degree from Webster University and a Diploma in Organizational Management from Stanford. His career is marked by a commitment to sustainability and innovation in environmental stewardship.

 

Michael Rassweiler – Hemp Cultivation Journey: Viability, Challenges, and Local Impact” (Session Two)

In this presentation, Mike will explore his two-year journey into hemp cultivation, where he aimed to gain experience and address local ordinance concerns.  His trials with hemp have shown hemp’s viability on his farm.  Mike will discuss potential uses for hemp among small-scale farmers, including seed/feed, bedding, and wholesale applications.  He will outline what challenges lie in establishing efficient processing methods for valuable products. He will touch on the prospect of purchasing NJ Hemp products and the potential competition from larger-scale growers. Lastly, he will share photos of his farm and his experience using hemp as chicken feed, highlighting its resilience with minimal soil amendments or irrigation

Michael Rassweiler is the founder of North Slope Farm, located in Western Central New Jersey’ South Hunterdon County. His farm has been certified organic since 1997, primarily focusing on the cultivation of organic vegetables, flowers, specialty herbs, and hay across approximately 16 acres of land. Michael’s dedication to exploring specialty crops and prioritizing crops that align with market demand or farm needs underscores his commitment to sustainable agriculture and innovation.  Michael is also the current president of the Northeast Organic Farmers Association (NOFA).

 

Cameron McIntosh – Bringing sustainable hemp processing to Pennsylvania: Building with standards (Session Seven)

Cameron will share insights into Pennsylvania’s role in bring hemp processing and how the adoption of building standards is pivotal for sustainable growth in the region’s hemp industry.

Americhanvre and the Ereasy Spray Applied Hempcrete System (Session 8)

In this presentation, Cameron will outline Americhanvre’s success in licensing and deploying the Ereasy Spray Applied Hempcrete system in the United States with thirty plus original installations and a series of owner-operator led projects by teams around the country who were trained and equipped by Americhanvre.

Cameron is the founder and principal owner of Americhanvre Cast Hemp, along with his wife and partner Melissa – principal owner and CFO.  Based out of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Americhanvre is a raw material/equipment supplier and hempcrete installation firm focused on spray applied hempcrete via the Ereasy system.  To date, Cameron and Melissa have imported well over one million pounds of hemp hurd and have installed thirty thousand cubic feet of hempcrete with the Ereasy system around the country.  Americhanvre has also successfully trained and equipped eight Ereasy system owner/operators positioned across the United States including insulation sub-contractors, first nation partners and property developers.  The Ereasy system has become the single most demonstrated, documented, studied and implemented hempcrete solution available in the United States construction industry as a result of Americhanvre’s success in commercializing the material and process.

Cameron is a former member of the Board of Directors for the US Hemp Building Association, during which time he participated in writing the International Residential Building code appendix for hempcrete construction and is listed as an official proponent on the document which is now active in the IRC.  He is also a current member and Treasurer on the board of directors for the Pennsylvania Hemp Industry Council – an organization that works closely with the National Hemp Association and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to attract investment in growing, processing, and subsequent end-uses for fiber industrial commodity hemp.

Tyler Mark – Is hemp fiber finding its economic footing? (Session One)

This brief talk delves into the economic prospects of hemp fiber in 2024, examining its profit potential, the infrastructure supporting its growth, and a quick overview of trading opportunities.

Tyler Mark is an associate professor of production economics in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Kentucky. His applied research interests include hemp economics, specialty crop production costs, precision agriculture, precision dairy, and renewable energy. Current projects include the economic impact of hemp production, hemp cost of production, factors that impact the profitability of Kentucky farmers, broadband internet’s impact on precision agriculture data transmission, and the impact of wind and solar installations on land value and use.

 

Guido Schmitz – Hemp Fiber in Packaging (Session Eight)

Guido Schmitz, an Adjunct Professor of Packaging Engineering at Rutgers University and General Manager at PAPACKS US, is a distinguished figure in the consumer healthcare industry. With over 40 years of international experience, gained from roles at Bayer Health Care, Bayer HealthCare, InnCreReal, LLC, and Rutgers University–New Brunswick, he specializes in packaging and process technology innovation. Guido is renowned for his expertise in core packaging areas, emerging technologies, and the development of novel packaging platforms. His extensive career also includes international project management and advisory roles. Additionally, Guido is an agile professor at Rutgers, an advisory board member of the Rutgers Packaging Engineering Program, and a board member of the Active & Intelligent Packaging Industry Association. He holds several process technology and packaging patents, underscoring his impact on the industry.

 

Anthony Sorantino – Defending the hemp crop:  The ongoing battle against pests and disease (Session Three)

Anthony Sorantino will describe his experience in managing pests, including, insects, vertebrates, weeds, and diseases that continue to threaten his hemp fiber and hemp CBD crops. With a background deeply rooted in farming, Anthony will discuss how his experience and passion have shaped his pest management strategies and the struggle to ensure the health and vitality of his hemp crops.

Anthony Sorantino is the founder of Twin Bridges Hemp LLC.  He has Farmed Hemp since the Nj Hemp program began in 2019.   His company grows premium sun grown outdoor CBD flower and over the last two years he has grown 70 acres of Industrial hemp for fiber. Anthony began farming in his early teens when his family owned a greenhouse/nursery farm in southern Nj.  He has grown many cultivars over the   years of farming from poinsettias, petunias, tomatoes, and watermelon to mango and lemon trees, both indoor and outdoor, but his passion is farming hemp.

Ekaterina Sedia – Using electrospinning for cellulosic nanofiber production (Session Four)

Ekaterina will provide an update on the NJDA Fiber Grant and its focus on using electrospinning for cellulosic nanofiber production from hemp. This presentation will shed light on the cutting-edge research and advancements in hemp-based materials, specifically in the production of cellulose nanofibers, with potential applications in various industries.

Ekaterina (Kat) Sedia is a professor of biology at Stockton University, where she teaches classes in ecology, plant science, genetics, and professional writing. Her current research is focused on developing novel hemp-based materials, cellulose nanofibers, and honeybee ecology.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you to all the speakers for your time, expertise, and valuable service at the conference. Your contributions were instrumental in making the event a success

~The Rutgers Hemp Program