Estelle Delangle — Building a Whole-Plant Hemp Bioeconomy

Estelle Delangle — Building a Whole-Plant Hemp Bioeconomy

Author: Eric Hurlock, Digital Editor June 26, 2026 Duration: 22:53

This is part three of a ten-part podcast series documenting the European Industrial Hemp Association's 23rd Annual Conference in Poznan, Poland, at the Institute of Fiber Plants and Medicinal Medicine, June 10-12.


Estelle Delangle, director of the Hemp European Hub in Troyes, France, frames the hemp challenge differently than most: The material isn't the problem, the world is.

"The world is not ready for hemp. Today, when you use hemp in textile, for example, you have to make it look like something else. You have to make it look like cotton. You have to make it look like wool. You have to make it look like linen or flax," she said.

Delangle has spent six years building the Hemp European Hub — a cooperative company that coordinates complex, cross-sector projects across Europe and beyond. The Hub isn't a traditional industry cluster or a government agency. It's a working laboratory for what Delangle calls "cooperative bioeconomy applied to hemp."

The European hemp model, she explains, rests on three pillars: farmers who built their own markets and machines; price stability that makes the sector resilient; and whole-plant utilization — fiber for textiles, grain for food, hurd for bedding and leaves for extraction. No waste.

"We are trying to do at the hub is to act stone by stone on those socio-technical obstacles," Delangle said, describing her approach to regulatory change, consumer perception and cross-sector cooperation. "Time is key. You don't change the world overnight."

The Hub hosts the World Hemp Forum every two years in Troyes, drawing 300 participants from around the world. The next edition is November 24–26, 2026.

Learn More

Hemp European Hub (Pôle Européen du Chanvre)

https://www.pole-europeen-chanvre.eu

World Hemp Forum 2026

https://www.pole-europeen-chanvre.eu/world-hemp-forum

La Chanvrière — Hemp Cooperative

https://www.lachanvriere.com

InterChanvre — French Hemp Industry Organization

https://www.interchanvre.org

Institute of Natural Fibers and Medicinal Plants (IWNIRZ)

iwnirz.pl

European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA)

eiha.org/

EIHA Conference

eiha-conference.org/


Thanks to Our Sponsors

Condor Seed

condorseed.com

HEMI — The Hemp Education and Marketing Initiative

thegoodnessofhemp.org

Bish Enterprises — FiberCut Hemp Harvesting

bishenterprise.com/fibercut

1937 International

1937international.com


There’s a quiet revolution happening in fields and factories, and it’s centered on a single, versatile plant. Industrial Hemp Podcast, guided by Eric Hurlock, the Digital Editor at Lancaster Farming, moves beyond the headlines to explore what’s actually happening on the ground. This isn’t just theoretical discussion; it’s a direct line to the people driving the industry forward. Each episode features conversations with the farmers who are planting and harvesting these crops, facing very real agronomic challenges and opportunities. You’ll also hear from researchers, processors, and policy experts who are shaping the future of hemp for fiber, grain, and other industrial applications. The dialogue digs into the practicalities-from planting techniques and harvesting equipment to market trends, regulatory hurdles, and technological innovations that are changing the game. It’s a clear-eyed look at an agricultural sector finding its footing, reported by journalists with deep roots in farming communities. For anyone curious about the business, science, and sheer hard work behind industrial hemp, this podcast serves as an essential, grounded resource. Tune in for honest talk that cuts through the hype and gets to the root of this growing field.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Industrial Hemp Podcast
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