(Photo shows a hemp farm before harvest.)
This visit to the hemp farm and spinning mill in Heilongjiang Province gave us a clearer understanding of the process of producing the new-age hemp raw materials we rely on. (For Part 1, see here.)
The latest textile industry model
The shift from the old cotton spinning system to a “new era hemp” began here in Qinggang, Heilongjiang, with Kingdom Co.’s farm development and the establishment of a new spinning mill. It has been only five years since this system became fully operational.
During our visit, we realized how extraordinary it is in the textile industry to see a production line integrated from agricultural cultivation to spinning yarn.
Cotton is grown mainly in the world’s poorest countries and regions, wool comes largely from Australia, rayon depends on global deforestation, and synthetic fibers are derived from oil-producing nations—then exported to regions with industrial spinning infrastructure. Global capital intervenes in all of these supply chains, often with exploitation of vulnerable communities.
By contrast, here local agriculture grows hand in hand with local industry, and together they connect to the world. In this sense, Heilongjiang hemp spinning feels like the newest model of the textile industry. It is not only local production for local consumption but also an autonomous, decentralized system that links globally from the bottom up. This kind of internationalism feels very much like the society of the future.
Agricultural Research and Development
At agricultural experiment stations, selective breeding continues, and they have now reached the third generation. The THC component (the substance used in marijuana) has been reduced to below 0.3%, effectively at the limit of detection. This can be considered one of the most advanced developments in Cannabis sativa breeding worldwide.
(Improved variety: Jinda No. 3, developed at the Agricultural Seed Development Research Institute)
The breeding focus has been on extracting fibers and industrial material from hemp for spinning. Their uncompromising stance on excluding THC illustrates one clear direction for the industrial hemp sector.
In addition, the excellence of quality control at each stage of the factory process is on a level unmatched by other spinning mills.
The technical aspects of this process will be summarized separately in a “Technical Edition,” to be published soon.
Daitoh
