Euralis Coopéval

Coopéval, the Toulouse co-operative which joined the Euralis Group in 2007, has been developing the cultivation of hemp in SW France since 2005. In June 2008, Euralis Coopéval began the process of setting up a hemp business with the launch of Agrofibre. This primary hemp processing unit, located at Cazères (31), separates the hemp fibre from the shive, enabling Euralis to become involved in the new trade in biomaterials.

 

Activities

Production: in 2008, 650 ha of hemp were sown and over 100,000 tonnes of cereals were purchased. In 2009, the surface area growing hemp is set to increase to 2,800 ha* and the Agrofibre facility will process 15,000 tonnes of hemp.

• Qualities: industrial hemp is a genuinely environmentally friendly product. It is an excellent break crop since it improves soil structure, is heat resistant and its cultivation (no pesticides, very little nitrogen fertiliser and small amounts of water) is fairly easy.
• This clean and renewable resource is also very valuable economically as all parts of the plant can be used: oilseeds (hemp seeds), fibre (the outer layer of the stalk, very strong) and the core (shive) with good absorbent and insulating properties.
• Outlets: Agrofibre's production is exclusively for industry. The fibre is first processed by a specialist making insulating panels into hemp wool. The shive is used for making animal bedding. The oilseeds are marketed directly by Euralis.

Key figures

• Plant 2,300 m2 + 7 buildings, each providing 1,100 m2 storage
• 145 producer suppliers
• Processing 15,000 tonnes of hemp for the 2008 campaign. Objective: 35,000 tonnes within 3 years from 5,000 ha in cultivation.

* 2,000 ha in the Toulouse area and 800 ha near Pau.