Jerzy Mańkowski is a researcher at Poland’s Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants (IWNiRZ), where he leads research on cultivation and processing of flax and hemp. He is also researching hemp as a solution for reclamation of land polluted by industry. Jerzy is a member of the Polish Chamber of Flax and Hemp, which supports farmers, producers and processors of these crops in Poland.
HempToday: What did the Polish hemp crop look like this year?
Jerzy Mańkowski: We estimate that about 1,000 ha was devoted to hemp this year, a considerable increase comparing to 2014 when the total was about 300 ha.