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Morris Beegle

Five novel crops that could help counter climate change
Five novel crops that could help counter climate change Article

Five novel crops that could help counter climate change

Arable growers looking to diversify their cropping could start by taking a look at novel and underused crops such as lentils, millet, lupins, hemp and sunflowers to give a good return, cope with climate change and try to improve soil structure. These crops often have low inputs and feed a potentially growing market, although those markets are small at the…
Morris Beegle
September 14, 2026
Federal Hemp Restrictions Put 0 Million Oregon Market and Thousands of Jobs in Economic Crosshairs
Federal Hemp Restrictions Put $830 Million Oregon Market and Thousands of Jobs in Economic Crosshairs Article

Federal Hemp Restrictions Put $830 Million Oregon Market and Thousands of Jobs in Economic Crosshairs

Oregon’s hemp  economy, already diminished by a collapse in cultivated acreage since its explosive expansion following federal legalization, is approaching another consequential shift as new federal restrictions threaten an estimated $830.5 million cannabinoid market supporting thousands of  jobs and hundreds of retailers across the state.
Morris Beegle
September 13, 2026
Oyster Mushroom Mycelium Turns Forestry Waste Into Biodegradable Packaging
Oyster Mushroom Mycelium Turns Forestry Waste Into Biodegradable Packaging Article

Oyster Mushroom Mycelium Turns Forestry Waste Into Biodegradable Packaging

Researchers in Mexico have shown that the root-like network of the oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus, can bind a range of forestry and farm by-products into lightweight, biodegradable materials strong enough for protective packaging. The study, published in Polymer Bulletin, systematically compared five composite formulations built from wood chips of Quercus castanea, sawdust, and corn cob, and revealed how the size…
Morris Beegle
September 12, 2026
Hemp factory expansion plotted in Mid Canterbury, despite lack of ‘patient’ overseas capital
Hemp factory expansion plotted in Mid Canterbury, despite lack of ‘patient’ overseas capital Article

Hemp factory expansion plotted in Mid Canterbury, despite lack of ‘patient’ overseas capital

An agribusiness leader in the heart of Canterbury’s farming country says a lack of “patient” capital investment is stopping New Zealand’s emerging food and fibre sectors, such as hemp fibre, reaching full potential. Over the past 50 years, the Carr family has established a raft of rural businesses, including Carrfields and Carrtura, spanning seeds, livestock, rural contracting, machinery and rural…
Morris Beegle
September 11, 2026
From Industrial Hemp to Technical Hemp: AIHF at Cinte Techtextil China 2026
From Industrial Hemp to Technical Hemp: AIHF at Cinte Techtextil China 2026 Article

From Industrial Hemp to Technical Hemp: AIHF at Cinte Techtextil China 2026

By: RootSource Media,  AIHF brought industrial hemp into the broader technical textile conversation in Shanghai, showing applications ranging from fiber and fabrics to composites, bioplastics, automotive components and furniture. Industrial hemp has spent plenty of time being discussed within its own industry. What matters now is getting it in front of the industries that can actually use it. That was…
Morris Beegle
September 10, 2026
Times Like These: Six Weeks Inside Latin America’s Emerging Hemp Economy
Times Like These: Six Weeks Inside Latin America’s Emerging Hemp Economy Article

Times Like These: Six Weeks Inside Latin America’s Emerging Hemp Economy

By: Morris Beegle There are probably easier places to think about the future of industrial hemp than standing in the middle of Rock in Rio waiting for the Foo Fighters. But after six weeks moving through Argentina, Peru, Uruguay and Brazil, meeting with farmers, entrepreneurs, researchers, regulators, textile companies, food companies and a collection of people stubborn enough to keep…
Morris Beegle
September 9, 2026
.75 million backs materials-maker’s project to scale hemp cellulose fiber in Canada
$2.75 million backs materials-maker’s project to scale hemp cellulose fiber in Canada Article

$2.75 million backs materials-maker’s project to scale hemp cellulose fiber in Canada

The Canadian province of Alberta is putting CA$3.75 million (US$2.75 million) into a project to scale up production of regenerated cellulose fiber from hemp, potentially creating another industrial market for the province’s crop. Edmonton-based Zylotex Inc. will use the funding from Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) toward a CA$20.4 million project to produce lower-emissions cellulose materials from agricultural residues, beginning with…
Morris Beegle
September 1, 2026
We Already Know How to Build the Future: The Civic Work of Regeneration Through Fiber and Textiles
We Already Know How to Build the Future: The Civic Work of Regeneration Through Fiber and Textiles Article

We Already Know How to Build the Future: The Civic Work of Regeneration Through Fiber and Textiles

In 1960, about 95 percent of all US clothing and bedding was manufactured in the United States; today it is closer to 2%. Likewise, clothing was once predominantly made from natural fibers such as cotton, linen, hemp, and wool, whereas today roughly two-thirds of garments are made from petroleum-based fibers like polyester, nylon, and acrylic.
Morris Beegle
August 31, 2026
Brainwaves: Growing the evidence for regenerative farming
Brainwaves: Growing the evidence for regenerative farming Article

Brainwaves: Growing the evidence for regenerative farming

In the world of agriculture, regenerative farming is much talked about. Yet in Aotearoa, we have more to do to fully understand its suitability and productivity within our environment. To help build a picture of what regenerative farming practices might look like here, Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University PhD student Kaitlin Watson has compared a regenerative pasture-based system…
Morris Beegle
August 30, 2026