Leader Profile: Institute of Natural Fibers & Medicinal Plants

LEADER PROFILE

Poland’s Institute Natural Fibers

& Medicinal Plants: Genetic research with a long history

Poland’s modern-day hemp story traces its roots to 1930 at an experimental agriculture station set up in modern-day Vilnius, Lithuania, in lands then under Polish reign. That’s where General Łucjan Żeligowski formed a research group and began experiments to develop hemp and flax strains that eventually would be widely used across Europe.

It was on the heels of the World War II, in 1945, that Żeligowski’s initiative and many of its fiber experts relocated to the central western Polish city of Poznań to join with an institute under the direction of Dr. Janusz Jagmin, a professor in the university there.

Known today as the Institute of Natural Fibers & Medicinal Plants (IWNiRZ), the state agency manages a program aimed at lifting the fortunes of Poland’s modern-era farmers while responding to the needs of the global natural fiber markets through research and commercialization of intellectual property developed at the Institute.

Importantly, IWNiRZ, through its Polish Hemp Institute of Natural Fibers & Medicinal Plants (IWNiRZ) Henola strain. | Photo Courtesy IWNiRZ

Program (PHP), is the official custodian of EU-registered Polish hemp varieties which are growing in sales in many parts of the world. The international seed business managed by the Institute includes both grain varieties and those mainly grown for their stalks to produce hurd and technical fibers. Elite industrial hemp varieties in the IWNiRZ portfolio include Białobrzeskie, Tygra, Henola and Rajan.

PHP aims to position Poland as a leader in genetics, actual seed production, and innovation in fiber applications.

Trials have repeatedly shown Polish seeds offer superior performance. Białobrzeskie, the first Polish variety of fibrous monoecious hemp, has historically been grown for textile fibers; its stem cores are also used for a variety of hurd applications such as hempcrete construction and animal bedding; and the variety’s flowers have also proven suitable for CBD and other extracts.

As farmers turn more to grain and fiber production, Białobrzeskie also offers dual cropping potential because in addition to large amounts of fiber and hurd, the legacy variety produces a considerable amount of seed.

Henola, which is grown for food seed, is also a proven top performer, having consistently produced more seeds than other hemp seed varieties in common use.

The Polish Hemp Program carries out extensive research and development of machines for harvesting, and processing technology intended to exploit the entire hemp plant. IWNiRZ also has high quality cannabinoid and textile laboratories offering a wide scope of services and tests, and sells grain, fiber and hurd.

IWNiRZ and PHP participate in a wide range of national and international projects, work as a consultant to other countries, and cooperate with numerous scientific organizations around the world.

The program then transfers that globally-sourced knowledge back to Polish agri-businesses as it supports local initiatives that are developing domestic value-chain infrastructure in Poland.

The Institute’s long term strategic goal is to be present with its seed varieties and technology through partnerships in countries all over the globe while pushing Poland into the top ranks of hemp growing and processing in Europe.