Union of Flax and Hemp to Be Established in Russia

Member companies of the “Ruslenkonoplya” and “Russian Hemp” associations have decided to merge into a new organization called the “Union of Flax and Hemp.”

The Union of Producers and Processors of Bast Crops “Ruslenkonoplya” and the National Association of Producers and Processors of Hemp “Russian Hemp” have united to form a single industry-specific non-profit organization—the “Union of Flax and Hemp.”

The new organization is based in Moscow’s “House of Hemp” on Nikitsky Boulevard, where it aims to bring together all participants in Russia’s bast crop market. The organization’s goal is to represent and protect the interests of the industry before suppliers, clients, and the government.

For many centuries, Russia was a leader among many countries in the cultivation of flax and hemp, and was a major exporter of these agricultural crops. Today, however, Russia has shifted from being a supplier to an importer, and has replaced most natural fabrics with synthetics.

Flax and hemp are remarkable plants. They are used in textile and nonwoven materials, composite and construction materials, the pulp and paper industry, cosmetics and food industries, for the production of gunpowder and personal protective equipment, as well as for making twisted products such as ropes, cords, and twines.

The new Union will focus on developing a modern concept for the production and processing of bast crops in Russia, with the aim of restoring the country’s leadership in flax and hemp.