Consortium Formed to Pursue Purdue’s Hemp Innovation Project
Last week, Purdue University launched the Hemp Products Utilization Consortium to help advance development and research of hemp-based products. Hemp farmers in Indiana, industry stakeholders, academic researchers, and others were present for this launch. The consortium’s primary objectives are to develop marketing strategies to reach prospective consumers, optimize and fine-tune technology, and advance agricultural experimental trials. Its initial focus will be superabsorbent biodegradable materials made from hemp bast and hemp hurd developed by Prof. Senay Simsek, in collaboration with Marguerite Bolt of the institution’s Agronomy department and Laila Hossain, a former Purdue researcher. Bast and hurd are parts of the…