Hemp’s Future Needs Patient Capital | Christchurch News

New Zealand’s hemp fibre industry is poised for breakthrough—but it needs patient capital to scale. Craig Carr, agribusiness leader and founder of Carrfields, reveals how his team has been building a full hemp value chain since 2018, from seed to textiles and biocomposites, aiming to capture more value locally. A major US investment fell through last year, but a pivotal turn came when Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua stepped in as a local iwi investor, signaling long-term commitment to regional jobs and sustainability. With a $12 million funding gap still to close, Carr stresses that transforming food and fibre sectors demands not just cash—but time, vision, and attracting the next generation of talent into these emerging materials industries. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/1270a24d867c37cc