The Potential of Plant Fibres as Crops for Industrial Use

Abstract

At some time in the future, fibres produced on agricultural land will contribute significantly to the world fibre supply. Such fibres might come from residues or from dedicated fibre crops harvested annually. Dedicated fibre crops will become a reality sooner if agriculture can produce fibres more competitively than forestry. New markets for plant fibre may also help the farmer. Long-fibre crops (flax, hemp, kenaf) have particular promise providing that production costs are competitive with those for Third World fibres, or that a technological edge in processing can be established.