Doing business with hemp!
- Do you have a business start-up project in a forward-looking, eco-responsible sector?
- Would you like to meet other professionals involved in the hemp industry?
- Are you interested in biobased natural fibres?
La Community of Communes Quercy Rouergue and Gorges de l'Aveyron is organising a " Tto entrepreneurship in the hemp sector". Visit exchange with professionalshear about inspiring projects and imagine the future Business opportunities in the hemp sector in the QRGA!
Hemp
Chanvre Occitan (82)
Speaker: Julien Bonnet, Head of hemp-making
The "agriculture and defibration" projectOccitan Hemp"is VirgoCoop's hemp mill. It converts harvested straw into textile fibre for European spinning mills.
In 2022, Chanvre Occitan enabled 200 hectares of hemp to be produced by farmers in the Lot, Tarn, Aveyron, Cantal, Lozère and Tarn-et-Garonne!
Hemp is the ultimate ecological and "zero waste" plant, because all its components are useful and used. Cultivated all over the world, there are several varieties of hemp. In the European Union, only varieties with a high level of THC* of less than 0.2% are authorised for cultivation and seeds must be certified.
France has become Europe's leading producer of hemp, with very substantial production capacity. Given the environmental challenges we face today, hemp is a highly attractive alternative, thanks to its ability to store atmospheric carbon. Its highly interesting agronomic and economic characteristics make it particularly attractive to consumers, brands and manufacturers, who are increasingly looking for bio-based, sustainable materials.
In 2023, the commune of Caylus (82160) is home to the hemp cooperative VirgoCoopstructure recognised of the social economy (SSE). With over 160 members, it is regularly asked about the benefits of hemp for textiles.
VirgoCoop is (re)activating the hemp industry in Occitanie, promoting the revival of a local, organic and fair-trade hemp industry in France.
*THC Tetrahydrocannabinol, one of the molecules in cannabis with psychotropic effects.)
By locating its defibration plant in the QRGA region, VirgoCoop is giving the region a productive primary processing facility.
Whether in the textile industry, the French building and eco-construction markets, bioplastics or mulching... There are so many opportunities to be found in this sector of the future!
To find out more, click here: https://www.virgocoop.fr/
Building
In France, the building sector is at the heart of the strategy to combat global warming, accounting for almost 45% of national energy consumption and more than 25 % of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
L'eco-building involves the use of bio-based materials (of animal or plant origin), which use less fossil energy while limiting GHG emissions. The Climate and Resilience Act and the new ecological regulations impose standards that aim to promote bio-sourced materials as a whole, including hemp.
Hemp is a very good insulation thanks to its thermal and hygrothermal performance and can also be used in the form ofhemp concrete"Lime and hemp mixes (made from hemp chips, a binder and a little water) can be used to make walls and partitions during construction or renovation. As for the hemp-lime mixture, it has the advantage of contributing to the architectural preservation while significantly improving acoustic comfort.
SARL Burg (82)
Speaker: Dominique Burg, Manager
The family general masonry business " Sarl Burg"specialises in all techniques for using hemp lime in walls, roofs and floors.
A strong presence in the QRGA region for 60 yearsSarl Burg is a regional reference on the subject of hemp concrete constructionas well as being a real driving force behind the local economy.
Its low-carbon, zero-waste approach is reflected in its strong commitment to passing on its know-howas well as in a perpetual search forincrease its ecological performance.
Sarl Burg is a member of the national association Building with hemp.
To find out more, click here: https://www.burg-construction.com/
Textiles
Although hemp was one of the first sources of textiles for mankind, its production was gradually reduced. Faced with the emergence of synthetic fibres, it was abandoned for good in the 1950s, and with it the know-how associated with the industry. What's more, the textile industry is facing the massive relocation of manufacturing industries to Asia (mainly China and India), leading to the unethical use of a workforce with appalling working conditions.
Today, the textile industry is the second most polluting industry in the world, with a major impact on the ecosystem. According to theADEMEThe sector emits 1.2 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases (GHG) every year, representing 2% of global GHG emissions.
Faced with the current ecological challenges, the revival of the hemp textile industry seems to be the obvious solution. What's more, reviving the hemp weaving and spinning industry in France is a real chance to create jobs and reconnect with this precious know-how of excellence that has now disappeared.
Tissages d'Autan workshop (81)
Speaker: Mathieu Ebbesen-GoudinDevelopment Director
The Tissages d'Autan workshop masters specific know-how on the weaving 100% hemp cloth, or blended with wool, linen or organic cotton. Following in the tradition of the first Levis Strauss jeans, the workshop specialises in the manufacture of a denim fabric made entirely from hemp fibre.
This family-run workshop dates back to 1937, and is the heir to the skills of weavers Xavier Pistre and Éric Carlier, key players in the Castres-Mazamet textile region.
The Tissages d'Autant workshop is an integral part of the VirgoCoop ecosystem.
To find out more, click here: https://tissagesdautan.com/
Entrepreneurship
⁜ Are you tempted by the idea of setting up your own business but haven't really made up your mind yet? Are you lacking "the right idea" to seriously think about taking the plunge?
⁜ Do you already have an idea, but haven't yet turned it into a concrete project?
⁜ Are you an entrepreneur but want to challenge yourself with other creative ideas to reinvent yourself?
In an ideation process, anyone can come up with ideas and become creative, but it's thanks to the power of the collective that theinnovation.
What's more, for a project to become a reality, the idea must reveal a genuine business opportunity!
" Business opportunities" : Meeting between a idea and the socio-economic reality willing to receive the company.
Through two group workshops created for you and led by Blue Ocean (31) and theAdefpat (81), talk to other people about ways of exploiting the business opportunities presented by the development of a hemp industry in the QRGA.
Océan Bleu supports all types of company or organisation in their strategic thinking about creation or development. We use participative methods to facilitate exchange and co-construction.
Adefpat is a training and development association that has been helping entrepreneurs and business owners to succeed in rural areas since 1983. With offices in 6 departments in the Occitanie region, it works with 40 local authorities and 12 member economic organisations.
During the day, you will also have the opportunity to meet the various local players in business start-up support, all in one place to help you develop your project:
- CCQRGA Economic Development Department
- Chamber of Trades and Crafts 82
- Chamber of Commerce and Industry 82
- Occitanie Economic Development Agency (Ad'Occ)
- Rural Employment and Training Area (EREF)
- ADIE (Association pour le Droit à l'Initiative Économique - Association for the Right to Economic Initiative)
Professionals will be on hand to listen to you, give you an outside perspective and help you think things through.
Dare to do business in the QRGA!
Registrations
Registration is free, but mandatory. Places are limited, please register before 12 April 2023
Contact
Cécile MARSTEAU
Reception Policy and Economic Development Department
Community of Communes Quercy Rouergue and Gorges de l'Aveyron
07 76 11 42 30 / developpementeco@cc-qrga.fr
Course of the day
Coffee reception
- Opening speechby Joël Lagneau - Federation InterChanvre
- Conference "The VirgoCoop project and its Chanvrière centre "with Julien Bonnet - Occitan Hemp
- Workshop 1: Identify your ideas
- Conference "Building hemp"and discussions with Dominique Burg - Sarl Burg
- Buffet offered
- Conference "The Hemp textile"and discussions with Mathieu Ebbesen-Gourden, Development Manager - Tissage d'Autan
- Workshop 2: Imagine your projects
- Professional speed dating
- Closing aperitif
Speakers
Specialists renowned for their expertise in hemp and its applications (textiles, construction) will be talking to the public about the development of the industry and their inspiring projects.
Specialists renowned for their expertise in hemp and its applications (textiles, construction) will be talking to the public about the development of the industry and their inspiring projects.
Hemp
Julien Bonnet
Manager of Chanvre Occitan hemp plant (82)
Building
Dominique Burg
Manager SARL Burg (82)
Textiles
Mathieu Ebbesen-Gouden
Atelier Tissage d'Autan (81)
Hemp
Joël Lagneau
InterChanvre
Hemp
Julien Bonnet
Manager of Chanvre Occitan hemp plant (82)
Building
Dominique Burg
Manager SARL Burg (82)
Textiles
Mathieu Ebbesen-Goudin
Atelier Tissage d'Autan (81)
Hemp
Joël Lagneau
InterChanvre
Event organised by the Community of Municipalities of Quercy Rouergue and Gorges de l'Aveyronas part of the BpiFrance "Entreprendre au cœur des territoires" and the OCCRE (Occitanie Création Reprise Entreprises) led by theAdefpat.
Partnerships
During the day, you will also have the opportunity to meet local support professionals to business creation, all in one place to help you start up and develop your projects!
English (UK) 
Français 
Nederlands (België) 
Español