On this week's hemp show we're headed out to Colorado for the Industrial Hemp International Conference where hempsters from all across the value chain gathered to share ideas, make deals and be in community with one another.
As a hemp podcaster, I had the unique opportunity to work in community with a couple of storytellers while I was there — Blaire Johnson and Jordan Berger — two independent filmmakers who teamed up for this special event.
And what you'll hear on this episode is the result of that collaboration.
First we talk about their respective work — including Berger's long awaited documentary film One Plant, which will premier this spring.
Then we hear an audio essay — a sound collage of voices from the industry, including Winona LaDuke, Nick Furlong, Micaela Machado, Jeremy Klettke, Morris Beegle and more.
This is a critical time not only for the hemp industry but for the world. As Winona LaDuke puts it, "You have a choice between a scorched path and a green path."
The people building the hemp industry are choosing the green path, but it takes longer than you might think. Hemp industry veteran Joe Hickey compares it to a dance, "two step forward and then one step back."
1937 International's Nick Furlong brings new energy to the dance of hemp this year. Furlong is a multi-platinum songwriter and producer whose work spans global hits and major-label rock records. He said he has been bitten by the "hemp bug" and has focused his energy on building out the supply chain and developing opportunities for business.
He said he wants to help shape the story of hemp so it intersects with pop culture — and intersects with culture in general.
We also hear from Larry Serbin from Pure Fiber Innovations who talks about his much anticipated green decorticator, which he says will increase farmer's per acre income on hemp.
"Currently they're earning about $800 per acre. With our machine, they're going to earn about $2,000 per acre," said Serbin.
Listen to the whole show for maximum goodness.
This episode features the reporting work of Blaire Johnson and Jordan Berger.
Learn More
One Plant
oneplant.film
Industrial Hemp International Conference
industrialhempinternational.com
Blaire Johnson
blairejohnson.com
Sunflower Films (Jordan Berger)
sunflower.film
Old Pueblo Hemp Co.
oldpueblohemp.com
1937 International
1937international.com
Pure Fiber Innovations
purefiberinnovations.com
Sponsors
IND Hemp
indhemp.com
King's Agriseeds
kingsagriseeds.com
Forever Green (KP4 Hemp Cutter)
hempcutter.com
This episode of the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast features an on-the-ground audio collage from the Industrial Hemp International Conference (IHI) in Aurora, Colorado, bringing together voices from across the global hemp industry. Through interviews with farmers, builders, supply chain developers, and advocates, the episode explores the current state of industrial hemp, with a focus on fiber, grain, construction materials, and scalable infrastructure.
Key themes include the challenge of building reliable supply chains, the need for processing infrastructure such as decortication, and the importance of aligning farmers, manufacturers, and markets. Speakers discuss innovations in hemp-based construction, textile production, and biocomposites, alongside emerging global supply chain efforts in regions like Pakistan. The episode highlights both optimism and realism, with industry leaders acknowledging slow but steady progress.
The episode also emphasizes the role of storytelling and collaboration in advancing the hemp industry. Filmmakers Blaire Johnson and Jordan Berger contributed field interviews and visual documentation as part of their broader documentary project, One Plant. Their work captures the cultural and economic momentum behind hemp as a regenerative agricultural commodity and industrial material.
Overall, the episode positions industrial hemp as a critical component of future sustainable materials systems, with applications in housing, textiles, and manufacturing. It underscores the need for policy clarity, investment in infrastructure, and coordinated industry efforts to move hemp from niche crop to mainstream agricultural and industrial commodity.
