By: RootSource Media,
The second World Hemp Forum returns to Troyes, France, November 24–26, bringing together producers, researchers, policymakers and industry leaders to examine international trade, agricultural development and industrial applications.
The global industrial hemp industry will gather in Troyes, France, November 24–26, 2026, for the second World Hemp Forum, organized by the Hemp European Hub (Pôle européen du chanvre).
Held at the Aube Congress Centre in one of Europe’s most established hemp-producing regions, the three-day event will examine the industry from cultivation and processing to research, manufacturing and international trade.
The program features four major panel discussions, scientific presentations, workshops, business meetings and guided visits to French hemp production and processing facilities. Two newly announced sessions will focus on establishing an international hemp research network and reviewing Europe’s hemp sector following the 2026 harvest.
Industry representatives from France, Canada, China, the United States, Brazil, India and other countries will participate, offering perspectives from both established and developing hemp markets.
Comparing the World’s Leading Hemp Industries
The forum opens November 24 with remarks from Benoit Savourat, president of the Hemp European Hub, followed by a panel examining three of the world’s leading industrial hemp industries: France, Canada and China.
The discussion will feature Hongliang Ding representing China, Ted Haney of the Canadian Trade Alliance and Jérôme Gallois of the French Federation of Hemp Producers. Francesco Mirizzi of the European Industrial Hemp Association will moderate.
Panelists will compare how these industries developed, organized agricultural production, established processing capacity and built commercial markets.
A second panel, Industrial Hemp in International Trade: Standards, Nomenclature, and Visions for the Future, will address barriers to international commerce.
Speakers include Laurie Coutelot of La Chanvrière, Kiko Thebaud of ASTM and a representative of the Alliance for Flax and Hemp. Rick Fox of the Federation of International Hemp Organisations will moderate.
Inconsistent product standards, trade classifications and quality requirements continue to complicate international transactions. Common specifications are becoming increasingly important as manufacturers seek reliable sources of hemp fiber, hurd and other industrial materials.
Policy, Seed Supply and Agricultural Development
The November 25 program turns to public policy and agricultural issues affecting hemp production.
A panel examining hemp’s role as both a commercial commodity and a contributor to sustainability will compare regulatory approaches, government support and public procurement policies.
Speakers include Amanda Martin-Behrendtsen of Renewal Revolution in the United States, Paul Sarton du Jonchay of France’s Grand Est Region and Witold Czeszak of the Polish Hemp Programme. Nathalie Fichaux of InterChanvre will moderate.
Another discussion will examine seed availability, genetics and variety selection, all important factors in establishing reliable agricultural supply chains.
Marjorie Saindon of Hemp-it ADN in France, Jeff Kostuik of Verve Seeds in Canada and Hana Gabrielova of Hempoint in the Czech Republic will discuss the global seed market and challenges surrounding variety development and access. Emmanuel Sterlin of ASUR Plant Breeding will moderate.
Seed selection affects crop yields, regional adaptability, fiber quality, harvesting and processing performance. For growers and processors, consistent genetics and dependable seed supplies are essential to meeting commercial specifications.
New Workshop Aims to Establish Global Hemp Research Network
A newly announced session, Hemp Research Workshop: Shaping a Global Network, will take place Wednesday, November 25, from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Co-organized by the Hemp European Hub and the Federation of International Hemp Organisations (FIHO), the workshop will bring together researchers interested in establishing an international, multidisciplinary hemp research network.
Open to researchers attending the forum, the session will cover disciplines ranging from agronomy and crop science to industrial processing, materials development and finished products.
Participants will help determine the network’s structure, priorities and future operations, with an emphasis on strengthening connections among research institutions and industry.
The workshop complements the November 24 Researchers’ Forum, which will feature presentations on fiber processing, retting, genetics, hemp-based construction materials, textiles, food applications and other technologies.
A Young Researchers Award, supported by FRD-CODEM, will recognize emerging scientific talent during the gala dinner at Troyes City Hall.
European Hemp Sector to Review 2026 Harvest
Another newly added session, The Hemp Sector After 2026: State of Play and Solutions, is scheduled for Wednesday, November 25, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Organized by InterChanvre, the French hemp trade association, the meeting will bring together European partners to review the 2026 harvest and address issues affecting production and market supply.
Topics include seed availability, ongoing negotiations and measures needed to ensure that European processors and manufacturers have access to sufficient raw materials.
Coordinating agricultural production with industrial demand remains a challenge, particularly as processing capacity and end-use markets expand. The session will give industry representatives an opportunity to assess current conditions and discuss priorities for the coming seasons.
Research, Processing and Commercial Applications
Beyond the conference panels, the World Hemp Forum will feature scientific presentations and workshops addressing challenges throughout the hemp value chain.
Research topics include fiber quality, retting, crop genetics, plant-based composites, construction materials, seed protein and industrial processing methods.
Workshops will cover hemp cultivation, agricultural practices and oil extraction, while exhibitor presentations and a dedicated showroom will feature commercial products and technologies.
Scheduled business meetings on November 24 and 25 will connect growers, processors, researchers, manufacturers and other industry participants.
Presentations representing emerging hemp markets, including Brazil and India, will offer additional perspectives on industrial development outside Europe’s established production centers.
Inside France’s Industrial Hemp Industry
Troyes provides a fitting setting for the forum. Located in France’s Grand Est region, the area is home to agricultural cooperatives, processing facilities and research organizations that have helped establish the country as a leading industrial hemp producer.
Six guided tour routes on November 25 and 26 will take participants to agricultural operations, processing plants, research facilities and buildings incorporating hemp-based materials.
One destination is La Chanvrière, one of Europe’s leading hemp cooperatives and processors. According to the event program, the organization works with approximately 750 farmers cultivating more than 13,000 hectares of hemp within a 120-kilometer radius of Troyes.
Visitors will observe primary hemp processing and learn how agricultural production supplies commercial fiber and hurd markets.
Additional visits include the Buzio Farm, where participants can examine cooperative farming practices and shared agricultural equipment systems, and the FRD-CODEM Technology Resource Centre, which develops industrial applications for natural fibers.
FRD-CODEM’s work includes materials for automotive manufacturing, construction, textiles and other industrial uses.
A separate tour will highlight buildings constructed or renovated with hemp-based materials, including applications involving insulation, acoustics and fire performance.
The visits offer a firsthand look at the agricultural and industrial infrastructure supporting France’s hemp economy.
Connecting Global Hemp Markets
Industrial hemp development continues at different speeds around the world.
Established markets such as France, Canada and China have built substantial production and processing capabilities. Elsewhere, growers and manufacturers are working to secure reliable seed supplies, establish processing operations and develop consistent markets for their products.
Many challenges are shared across borders. Producers need dependable buyers, processors need consistent raw materials, and manufacturers need products that meet recognized quality standards.
International trade introduces further complications when countries use different classifications, testing protocols and product specifications.
The World Hemp Forum will bring these issues into focus, giving participants an opportunity to compare operating models, examine technologies and develop commercial relationships.
The inaugural World Hemp Forum in 2024 welcomed more than 260 participants from 26 countries, along with expert speakers, research presentations, an exhibition and organized business meetings.
The 2026 edition builds on that foundation with expanded scientific programming, additional industry discussions and opportunities to visit established French hemp operations.
As the industrial hemp sector matures, increased acreage alone will not determine its success. Reliable processing, consistent quality, workable trade standards and dependable markets will be equally important.
Those are among the central issues on the agenda in Troyes this November.
World Hemp Forum 2026
Dates: November 24–26, 2026
Location: Aube Congress Centre, Troyes, France
Organizer: Hemp European Hub (Pôle européen du chanvre)
Program: International panels, scientific presentations, workshops, business meetings and industrial site visits
For registration and additional information, visit the official World Hemp Forum website:
