When scientists and politicians talk about climate change they almost always refer to “clean energy” — Denise Allen suggests we now start talking about “clean crops”.
The Labor Government’s policy of pricing carbon is the cheapest way to get big polluters to reduce their pollution output. With the advent of the introduction of the $10 billion Renewable energy fund, I am hoping Labor has allowed for funding to be used to reinvigorate one of the most ancient, yet one of the most advanced, clean crop industries on the planet.
One of the most basic and fundamental factors behind climate change, and therefore carbon emissions, is the chopping down of trees worldwide. Trees absorb carbon. Therefore, our reliance on the forestry industry is adding to the demise of our planet. In order to reduce our dependence on timber – therefore leaving trees in the ground – we must embrace and accelerate the introduction of a natural fibre industry throughout Australia.
This is not about closing down the forestry industry – it is about complementing plantation timber. Both can work hand in hand — side by side, saving and creating jobs.
Announcements over the past few years about the sustainability of logging of Australian forests indicate that many forestry workers will eventually need to find alternative employment and new technologies will be needed to cope with the reduced supply of forest products.
To maintain jobs in rural and regional Australia in the short term, and to increase employment in the longer term without jeopardising native forests for future generations, a fresh approach is needed.
The development of natural fibre industries provides an option for utilising the existing workforce without the need for significant retraining. Employment and economic growth could boom with new industries based on a diversity of natural fibres.
State and Federal Government grants could be given to struggling existing mills (some of which have already closed, while others are under serious threat) to establish natural fibre processing plants. Existing mill workers could easily be retrained to use the new processing equipment. Workers could alternate between the timber plant and the natural fibre plant just as many do between dry timber processing and green sites.
There is a vast array of natural fibres that can complement those produced by the forest product industry including flax, kenaf, sisal, ramie, coir, jute and bamboo. All could provide the stimulus needed to sustain rural/regional employment and economic growth.
However, the most important natural fibre product is industrial hemp.
http://www.independentaustralia.net/201 ... rial-hemp/
