Industrial Hemp Industry Booms in Kentucky

A company that processes hemp and other fibers recently opened a new plant in Kentucky that triples the size of its original plant in the state.

Sunstrand, which supplies natural fibers reinforcements and fillers for the plastic and polymer composite industries, moved to Kentucky from Montana in 2015, when Kentucky became the first to act after the 2014 Farm Bill legalized the commercial production of hemp.

Sunstrand opened an 8,000-square-foot facrility in 2015. It recently moved to a 25,000-square-foot facility.

“This new facility significantly expands Sunstrand’s capacity to meet growing demand for its products,” said Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner (KDA) Ryan Quarles during a ribbon-cutting ceremony. “Ramping up Kentucky’s industrial hemp processing capacity will increase our competitive advantages as we work together to position the commonwealth as the national leader in this promising industry.”

Kentucky hosts the largest industrial hemp research program in the nation. In January, the KDA approved 209 applications from growers to cultivate up to 12,800 acres of industrial hemp for research purposes in 2017, nearly triple the number of acres that were approved for the previous year. The department also approved more than 525,000 square feet of greenhouse space for indoor growers and 11 new applications from processors.

Trey Riddle, Sunstrand CEO, said the expansion in Louisville is just one of several that the company plans in the near future. He said the company is setting up a second production facility in Canada and has been looking at a location in Colorado as well. He hopes to open four in addition to the Louisville location and maintain that facility as Sunstrand’s research-and-development hub.

Sources: Farm Press, Sunstrand