INTERVIEW: Peter Düshop co-founded Forever Green, a family-run hemp company in Vanderhoof, British Columbia. With extensive experience in growing, harvesting, and processing industrial hemp, Düshop led Forever Green to become North America’s first dealer for the Laumetris’ KP-4 harvester, purpose-built equipment for large-scale hemp harvesting. He is now helping to introduce the KP-4 to farmers worldwide.
HempToday: How would you describe the current state of the industrial hemp fiber market, particularly in terms of production capacity and infrastructure?
Peter Düshop: I believe over the last two years the industry is finding its footing with the right investments coming online. There are a lot of willing and able people who I believe see the long-term vision of industrial hemp.
HT: With increasing interest in hemp fiber for textiles, bioplastics, and construction, what trends do you think will dominate the market in the next 5–10 years?
PD: I believe that as better harvesting tools, improved on-field crop management, and more advanced processing technologies come online, we’ll begin to see increased volume production with a clearer understanding of quality and standardized properties. This will build greater trust and certainty in the market, which I expect will drive the development of new product categories. Additionally, I foresee significant strides in the textile space, particularly with hemp making its way into apparel, marking a major shift in the industry.
HT: In your view, what needs to happen—technologically, economically, or politically—for the industrial hemp market to reach its full potential?
PD: I believe we’re heading in the right direction. On the technological front, the equipment already exists, and new innovations are continuously being explored. Economically, people are finding their niches within the market, and with the rising costs of many other goods, hemp has become more competitive than it has been in recent times. The collaboration within the industry has been impressive compared to where things were just five years ago. Politically, some countries have a clearer grasp of their regulations than others.
A key challenge, I think, lies in the reluctance of certain groups to fully recognize industrial hemp as a distinct sector. However, as the market matures and the true commercial and industrial applications of hemp become more evident, I believe it will eventually be regulated as casually as, say, your morning poppy seed bagel. But, of course, that takes time.
HT: The hemp fiber subsectors (hurd and hemp bast fiber) seem to be gaining in prominence. What innovations or advancements do you think are crucial for their growth?
PD: Sometimes, the most valuable lessons come the hard way. On the ground level, we’ve observed situations where groups have struggled to maintain relationships with farmers after equipment failures – whether it’s burning out machinery or assuming that conventional harvesting equipment would suffice. This has highlighted the need for specialized equipment, such as the KP4, an essential tool for farmers, helping mitigate those challenges by providing proper harvesting solutions. On the downstream side, the continued standardization and development of testing methods by organizations like CHTA, ASTM, and others are crucial. These efforts will help better characterize hemp off-takes and, ultimately, drive the growth of the market.
HT: What are the primary industrial hemp products derived from stalks that are driving demand at the moment?
PD: In North America we see the animal care, construction material and non-woven markets being the biggest drivers right now. Secondary processors and end users are finally starting to pull the demand for these products.
HT: What makes the KP-4 harvester stand out as the best investment for fiber hemp farmers?
PD: For early entrants into the industry, the KP4 offers the best opportunity to obtain a representative sample of the hemp crop in their region. This sample can then be sent to various processing and decortication manufacturers for testing, which is crucial before making the larger, more expensive investment in processing. As I mentioned earlier, the KP4 serves as a farmer mitigation tool, providing the necessary equipment to reduce risk to other machinery. For those already working with processing equipment, the KP4 enhances farm management, boosts efficiency, and improves both processing and the quality of their hemp off-takes.
HT: What specific features of the machine make it particularly suited for harvesting hemp stalks efficiently and consistently?
PD: The KP4 is a robust, heavy-duty piece of equipment designed to withstand the tough conditions that hemp crops impose. It was developed by farmers with a focus on ease of maintenance and reliability. Unlike many machines that use complicated hydraulic systems, the KP4 is built with simple, proven technology, ensuring dependability and long-term performance. This design allows the machine to handle the demands of harvesting hemp efficiently and consistently.
HT: Elaborate a bit on the KP-4’s capacity in terms of acreage or tonnage it can handle per day. How does this compare to other methods and technology that are being used to bring in hemp from the field?
PD: This is an excellent question because it highlights the variety of conditions we work under, including field sizes and terrain. In ideal, straight conditions at 10 mph (16 km/h) – though we’ve seen operators push the machine to higher speeds – you can cut roughly 11 acres (4.5 hectares) per hour. However, farming is full of variables, so we typically advise that operators plan for 50-75% efficiency when considering those numbers. Over the course of a season, we generally recommend the KP4 for about 1,000 acres, though we’ve seen operators push that to over 2,000 acres with a single machine.
The KP4 is a cost-effective solution for the industry to establish itself. Prior to this, the alternative was often large, self-propelled units, which are 7-10 times more expensive than our cutter. These machines also came with their own set of challenges, including cost inefficiencies that would be unsustainable for an industry in its growth phase.
HT: What lessons have you learned from the challenges you’ve faced in the hemp business, and what advice would you give to someone looking to enter the industry?
PD: One key lesson we’ve learned is the value of taking incremental steps toward our goals. When we first started, there was so much we had to learn on our own, and we were okay with taking a bit longer to avoid the risks of failure and financial loss. Essentially, we traded time for money and mitigated our potential financial exposure, so we were comfortable with things taking a little longer.
For those entering the industry now, my advice is to get involved with strong, hemp-centric organizations and groups that align with your area of interest. Don’t hesitate to ask plenty of questions, and take the time to validate and refine your ideas before diving in.
HT: And what would you tell potential investors?
PD: I would tell potential investors that the industrial hemp space offers a unique opportunity to get involved in an industry still in its early growth stages, but with a promising future. The world is actively seeking better alternatives to traditional resources, and regardless of one’s stance on environmental issues or climate change, we should always aim to do better.
Industrial hemp stands out because it offers a sustainable solution that not only does things better but can significantly reduce our reliance on resources that may not last forever or are increasingly needing to be managed more carefully—both regionally and globally. In addition, hemp can help strengthen sovereign reliance, offering countries more control over their own resources and reducing dependence on external suppliers. This creates value across markets and opens doors to new industries as the sector continues to grow.
I foresee significant strides in the textile space, particularly with hemp making its way into apparel, marking a major shift in the industry. Read More
