2026
The 2026 AIHC Conference will be held 21 – 23 September at the Nyaal Banyul Convention and Event Centre in Geelong, Victoria
Click here for accommodation options
The conference programme is available in outline below. Speakers and presentations are still being finalised and will be included as they are confirmed.
The proceedings from this conference will be made available through AgriFutures.
Hear Joost Bakker present on his milestone project, building the dream house for Zac Efron.
Latest Programme information below
Programme
Monday Evening - 21st September
Registration, Meet and Greet
We warmly invite you to join us from 6.00pm with Geelong Mayor, Srechko “Stretch” Kontelj, for our Green Carpet Meet & Greet.
Tuesday - 22nd September
Day 1
8am Registration
8.45am start
Welcome – Richard Barge (MC)
Local Wadawurrung – Welcome
Session 1
- Pressures & product developments
- Market situation now & then
- Industry emergence & the aims of the Australian Industrial Hemp Program of Research (AIHPR)
10.45 – 11.30am Morning Tea
Session 2 Materials 1
- Building code requirements
- Aggregates, precast panels, ECOPact
- Building panels, insulation & masonry
- Hempcrete review
- Composite panel review
- Testing hemp composites (fire & mech.)
12.30 – 1.30pm Lunch
Session 3 Materials 2
- Hemp blocks
- Houses of Margaret River
- Zac Efron House
- Otetto Houses
- Houses of Victoria
- Practiced use update
2.30 – 3.00pm Afternoon Tea
Session 4 Materials 3
- Hemp fibre testing
- Fibre testing & composite use
- Practiced use (fibre from decortication)
- Practiced use (short staple)
- Techno-eco. eval. to reshore spinning
- Insulation & packaging
- Hemp fibre & consumer acceptance
Wednesday - 23rd September
Day 2
Session 5 Regulations
- Pesticide & herbicide applications
- Current regulations & practice
- Federal inquiry
- Recent review, findings & changes (Victoria)
- Recent review, findings & changes (Tasmania)
- Recent review, findings & changes (New South Wales)
10.45 – 11.30am Morning Tea
Session 6 Grain /Seed
- Pollenating diecious varieties
- Grain market & products
- Grain & biomass for the animal market
- Grain quality control
12.30 – 1.30pm Lunch
Session 7 Hemp Impacts
- PFAS Application
- Remediation
- Sequestration
- Hemp harvest transport/carbon costs
- Cotton (textile) LCA
3.00 – 3.30pm Afternoon Tea
Session 7 Industry Discussion
- Where have we been?
- Where are we?
- What next?
6.30pm Gala Dinner
Thursday - 24th September
Site visits – to be confirmed
Presenters
Details of presenters will be added as these become available
We also invite you to consider our Sponsorship and Exhibition opportunities.
Click here for further details.
Conference fee*: $700 + GST
Gala Dinner: $125 + GST
Site visit cost TBA
*20% Discount on Conference fee for State Association members.
Contact your Association for your Discount Code.
We thank our supporting sponsors
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Exhibition Table
