Industrial hemp leaders worldwide to gather in Poland for 23rd EIHA conference

The European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) will bring the global hemp industry to Poland in June for its 23rd annual conference, marking the first time the event has been held in the country.

The meeting, set for June 11–12 in Poznań, is being hosted and co-organized by Poland’s Institute of Natural Fibers and Medicinal Plants (IWNiRZ), a long-established research center that has played a major role in hemp and flax development in Europe.

“It is a special moment for us to welcome the international hemp community to Poland,” said EIHA President Jacek Kramarz. “EIHA has grown alongside the modern hemp industry, and hosting the conference at the Institute connects that work with one of the continent’s historic centers of fiber research.”

The annual EIHA conference brings together hemp producers, processors, investors, researchers and policymakers from around the world as the industry continues to expand into new markets for fiber, building materials, food, cannabinoids and other hemp-based products.

Historic partnership

The IWNiRZ is a governmental research body under Poland’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. It has been one of Europe’s central public research institutions for natural fibers for more than 90 years. The institute conducts work in plant breeding, agronomy, materials research and processing technologies related to fiber crops. 

EIHA has represented companies across the hemp value chain since 2005. The association works with EU institutions and national governments on policies affecting hemp cultivation and markets, coordinating regulatory engagement, research initiatives and industry development across the Union.

Policy context

The June conference comes as EIHA signals a broader shift toward promoting industry growth while continuing to engage in regulatory debates affecting hemp in the European Union.

In an interview earlier this year, Kramarz, who is vice president of Poland-based Green Lanes SA, a publicly listed European group developing new materials from hemp, said the EIHA intends to move beyond primarily defending hemp’s regulatory position and focus more strongly on expanding markets and commercial opportunities for the sector.

Refreshed format

Organizers say the 2026 conference will introduce a refreshed format designed to promote deeper discussions within specific segments of the hemp industry, combining plenary sessions and smaller breakout tracks. 

Topics to be explored include manufacturing and value-chain development, research and innovation, hemp foods and animal feed, textile applications, and construction materials. Presentations and panel discussions will cover market development, technology, and evolving regulatory frameworks affecting hemp in Europe and internationally.

Conference participants will also have a chance to tour IWNiRZ research laboratories during the event. A field trip to a nearby scutching facility is also planned, offering attendees a look at fiber processing operations connected to the region’s textile sector.