Page 9 - Hempflax Nature wins!!

Nature wins!

HempFlax Introduction

Deputy Director Mark Reinders

Mark Reinders came into early contact with hemp: his Drenthe-born father was one of the
first to cultivate hemp for HempFlax in 1994. Mark’s love and fascination for this strong crop
grew when he finally no longer needed to hoe the soil - a task that Mark used to strongly
dislike - and he discovered the many possibilities hemp had to offer.

For his agronomy and business administration
studies in 2002, Mark took an internship at
HempFlax. Six years later, he returned as Deputy
Director: “I could have chosen a different
direction after my studies, but my roots are
here and I want to develop this area and offer
agriculture a new opportunity.” Mark would like
nothing more than to make a fiber valley fibre
valley out of the HempFlax location: a centre
for the development and production of natural
fibres. He starting with hemp and flax, but
also nettles and whatever other natural fibres
suitable for sustainable production and use: “I
am open to all possibilities. Only a fraction of the
potential of hemp is currently being used, I see it
as my job to develop all the possibilities for hemp
with HempFlax.”

Mark Reinders between hemp plants at HempFlax