Speakers

Speakers at the Hemp & Industry conference

Hana Gabrielová

Hana Gabrielová
Czechemp

BIO
Hana Gabrielová is a 20+year veteran within the hemp industry. Her company Hempoint, established in 2010, is heavily engaged in distribution of EU registered hemp seed varieties internationally and provides consulting for farmers, companies and stakeholders. Hempoint also distributes organic hemp food and other hemp product from hemp manufacturing as fiber and shives. From 2023 she become partner of Ukrainian hemp company working on hemp cultivation and become distributor of their machine for hemp straw processing. Since 2018 Hana works as president of the CzecHemp cluster, association involved in the development of hemp and cannabis policy in the Czech Republic, industry capacity building and introducing hemp products into bioeconomy.

ABSTRACT
Introduction Czechemp cluster work in topic of Bioeconomy and what's the role of industrial hemp production in European strategies as Green deal or Fork to farm. Actual project overview and partners relations towards Czechemp mission.

Florian Pichlmaier

Florian Pichlmaier
Signature Products GmbH / EIHA

BIO
I'm Florian Pichlmaier, CEO and Co-Founder of Signature Products. As a board member of the EIHA, I'm committed to advancing the hemp industry in Europe. My company leads in hemp raw materials and research. We're currently pioneering innovative hemp food products. I'm particularly excited about the upcoming legalization of cannabis in Germany.

ABSTRACT
In this talk, Florian Pichlmaier delves into the multifaceted applications of hemp seeds beyond food. Focusing on their role in cosmetics, animal feed, and similar sectors, he sheds light on how this underutilized resource can be a game-changer in multiple industries, enriching both consumer products and sustainability

František Švejda

František Švejda
CzecHemp/Hemp Factory s.r.o.

BIO
In hemp industry from January 2015. He feels confident in the field of hemp processing, hemp as food and realated regulations, especially in area of CBD, to which he has devoted the majority of his career. He is co-author of the hemp cookbook, writer of Konopí magazine, member of the CzecHemp executive board.

ABSTRACT
Regulatory situation of CBD in Czech republic.

Maciej Kowalski

Maciej Kowalski
Kombinat Konopny SA

BIO
Farmer, entrepreneur and activist - 15+ years experience with cannabis/hemp, pioneer of innovative cultivation and processing methods. CEO and founder (2019) of Kombinat Konopny - vertically integrated hemp company in Poland, focused on hemp straw processing for textile-grade fibre and "seed to shelf" manufacturing of cannabinoid-rich oil infusions. Apart from commercial activity, the company is strongly involved in a down-to-earth R&D on growing, harvesting and processing technology for all parts of the cannabis plant. Pioneered the equity crowdfunding financing model, successfully running record-beating share offering (https://hemptoday.net/polish-hemp-company-raises-e1-million-in-38-minutes-via-crowdfunding/). On the legal/political front strongly advocating open cannabis market with some significant successes on the "novel food" front: https://kombinatkonopny.pl/court-judgment-hemp-is-not-a-novel-food-it-can-be-used-in-food/ Previously CEO and founder (2014) of the 1st private Polish hemp company, later on sold to the listed Canadian holding (2018), as well as marijuana policy activist (2003-2014), including running for the MP and MEP, promoting legalisation of marijuana and its economical and fiscal effects; editor in chief (2006-2014) of cannabis related newspaper Spliff.

ABSTRACT
Raw material independence of a country is the ability of a country to meet its raw material needs without significant dependence on imports with minimal negative impact on the environment and living conditions of society. In Poland, raw material independence remains a challenge. Kombinat Konopny is a Polish company that can create its products without unnecessary imports. Starting from sowing our own grain, through harvesting and retting, to processing of the obtained crop, which makes us independent, and above all - we operate in an organic convention. The Kombinat's crops have not encountered chemical fertilizers or harmful pesticides, so in no way do our activities negatively affect the environment.

Majringer

Patrik Majringer
Kombinat Konopny SA

BIO
Patrik Majringer started with hemp construction in 2007. Since then, he has developed into one of the leading experts on the use of hemp in the construction industry in the Czech Republic. He is the owner of the company NORICUM, which deals with Hempcrete. He cooperates with the Universities of Brno and Prague.

ABSTRACT
Hempcrete - use in practice

Maren Krings

Maren Krings
Maren Krings Photography / Center for Arts & Humanity

BIO
Maren Krings is a German photojournalist, climate impact storyteller and author, whose work seeks solutions to the socio-ecological crisis. Her latest publication, `H is for Hemp´, reflects on her seven-year journey into the worldwide rediscovery of industrial hemp in over 30 countries and four continents.

ABSTRACT
My presentation will consist of 4 slides illustrating how hemp is used worldwide to sequester carbon, with a special focus on building materials on the example of a green recovery of Ukraine.

Marta Vinhas

Marta Rafaela Monteiro Vinhas
Sensihemp - Regenerative Fashion Brand

BIO
Marta 20 years of textile industry expertise, has been involved in brand creation, sustainability legislation, has participated in the recovery of historic textile knowledge, and has fought for a clean and fair fashion sector.

ABSTRACT
Presentation of Sensihemp, a fashion project that aspires to create an innovative ecosystem based on regeneratively cultivated hemp fibre in collaboration with artisan communities in Portugal, respect the environment, are regenerative, and have ethical and social responsibility, by employing traditional techniques and processes that are on the verge of extinction.

Michael Bieder

Michael Bieder
Hanf Farm GmbH

BIO
I have worked for 6 Years with industrial Hemp, grown trial fields with my brother and developed several food products. My main focus has become the development of an efficient infrastructure for large scale processing of Hemp straw and seeds.

ABSTRACT
My presentation will focus on the opportunity of hemp as an industrial Material for high value, high volume markets, to enable Farmers to grow a new crop for extending their crop rotation as required by the CAP policy.

Michael Marchuk

Michael Marchuk
Ukrainian Hemp®

BIO
Being passionate about sustainable innovation, I engage myself into diverse projects related to renewables, agri-science and processing. In particular I am the Managing Partner at PAPACKS® - Leading producer of sustainable packaging products and Deputy Director at EMBA European Material Bank which funds diverse projects including Ukrainian Hemp®.

ABSTRACT
I will hold a discussion on how industrial hemp aids economies and in particular emerging economies as Ukraine. I will also discuss the prospects of high-margin products from hemp and their role in our future.

Nando Knodel

Nando Knodel
HempConnect GmbH

BIO
Nando is Co-Founder and Co-Director of HempConnect GmbH, a company specialized on biochar production and CO2 certification for Hemp. He is a member of ChangemakerXChange, a global community of social & climate activists and entrepreneurs, and is an advisor for two committees of the Federation of Industrial Hemp Organizations. Nando hold's an M.Sc. in Business Administration with a focus on Social Entrepreneurship from Hamburg University and Kyoto University.

ABSTRACT
The relevance of CO2 Certificates (or Carbon Credits) grows and can play a critical role for Hemp. The financial returns resulting from the sales of certificates can improve the business case of hemp operations. However, carbon credits have already suffered under image loss and high-integrity certification schemes are still in its infancy. The presentation gives a short overview of two viable methods for Hemp, quality parameters and the accreditation process.

Paolo-Ronchetti-2048x2048

Paolo Ronchetti
Tecnocanapa by Senini

BIO
Since 2006 I have been investing my life to bring hemp building from niche to the industrial scale. In 2011 I co-founded a startup company to promote hemp building in Italy. In 2018 I joined Senini, a leading Italian industrial player in the production of cement products where I cover the role of Sales & Marketing director for the Tecnocanapa product range.

ABSTRACT
Tecnocanapa by Senini proves that hemp building can be a viable industrial sector with certified and patented products. We developed a complete range of solutions for the envelope of new and existing buildings able to maximise energy efficiency, living comfort and healthiness. All products are EPD certified thus allowing us to officially quantify hemp building carbon sequestration capacity.

Pavel Kubu foto

MUDr. Pavel Kubů
P4P Technology a.s.

BIO
Dr. Kubů is an expert in medical informatics and addictology, specializing in digital healthcare. He has formerly held a position at the Intel Corporation and was the Founding CEO of the International Cannabis and Cannabinoids Institute (ICCI) in Prague. Dr. Kubů is a graduate of Charles University in Prague, earning his Doctor of Medicine degree in General Medicine with a focus on disease prevention. Since the beginning of the 2. millennium he is actively contributing to cannabis access education, lobby, research and development on national, EU and international level. Currently serves as Chief Medical Officer in P4P Technology a.s. and chairman elected in Patient association for cannabis treatment KOPAC and Czech national forum for eHealth.

ABSTRACT
Hemp protein Edestin for blood plasma organic substitute P4P technology a.s. is a Czech biomedical startup that aims to develop an organic blood plasma substitute - Plasma for People Bloody Organic. P4P holds the patent and technology for purification and dissolution of Edestin in saline solution for use as a blood plasma substitute. EDESTIN has very similar properties to albumin - the basic component of human blood plasma. Patented process enables to isolate EDESTIN protein in 99.7% purity from hemp seed.

Pavel Zedníček

Pavel Zedníček
INCIEN

BIO
Pavel Zedníček is CEO of Institute of circular economy (INCIEN) and is responsible for the Institute’s activities across all its functional pillars – Consulting, Research, Advocacy and Network Development. In addition to INCIEN’s industry decarbonisation study, of which he is the initiator and co-author, he has undertaken consulting projects for firms and public authorities in the Czech Republic related to the circular economy and also managed other multi-year research programmes. He studied at the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague and has an MSc in Sustainable Business & Innovation from Utrecht University, in addition to study exchange at ETH Zurich.

ABSTRACT
Circular economy & decarbonisation

Steve Allin

Steve Allin
International Hemp Building Association

BIO
Steve has been using hemp building materials since 1997 and went on the write the first book about the subject. He has subsequently developed training courses and was a founder member of the International hemp Building Association and is currently the director. He works internationally as a Hemp Building and Industry Consultant.

ABSTRACT
As director of the International Hemp Building Association since 2009 I have seen the birth and growth of hemp building materials and systems in many countries. This gives me a comprehensive understanding of how each climate and social environment affects the uptake of this concept and how essential the move to creating and correctly utilising natural resources.

Tom Mathys

Tom Mathys
HempWood

BIO
Tom Mathys, active in the bamboo and wood business for more than 25 years, is shareholder of US based Fibonacci LLC, the inventor and manufacturer of HempWood® - the revolutionary alternative for regular wood using hemp stalks. HempWood® produces the only carbon-negative wood flooring in the US.

ABSTRACT
Widely considered to be the premier wood substitute with the smallest ecological footprint of any lumber alternative, HempWood® is perfect for use as anything that wood can be used for, like construction materials, flooring, and furniture.

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Galina ELCHANINOVA
CHASTAN

BIO
Galina ELCHANINOVA (CHASTAN) is a founder of SMART-A Consult agency representing the leading European manufacturers of innovative industrial equipment and complete turnkey lines for the light industry. We offer comprehensive solutions: from process development and design of industrial plants to delivery and commissioning of industrial lines, as well as consulting, training and post-sales services. We specialize in hemp & flax processing technology, textile waste recycling, nonwovens & biocomposites, pulp & paper.

ABSTRACT
ANDRITZ Laroche will introduce its latest industrial solutions for creating value from hemp straw by decortication and refining processes to produce high-quality technical fibers and cleaned shives. The latest innovations for the cottonization of bast fibers for spinning and for nonwoven roll goods from hemp will be presented. This includes new applications of hemp fibers as well as hemp shive for the textile, furniture, automotive, hygiene, pulp and paper, and construction sectors. ANDRITZ Laroche is a leading company in textile recycling and airlay technologies, as well as in the processing of synthetic, natural, and bast fibers. The company was founded in 1917 with the development of the first tearing machine for the processing of industrial textile waste. Since 2021, Laroche has been part of the ANDRITZ Group and embedded in the ANDRITZ Nonwoven & Textile division.