Short Participant Snapshot
What Is This About?
New England Landcare Network member organisations are assessing whether industrial hemp could be commercially viable, environmentally defensible and useful for the region.
This project is not promoting or opposing industrial hemp. It is trying to understand the evidence, risks, costs, opportunities and gaps.
This is the short plain-English version of the research disclosure. For full detail, read the long-form research disclosure.
Why Are You Asking Me?
You may have useful experience, questions or views as a producer, grower, processor, buyer, adviser, Landcare member, partner, community member or consumer.
Your response can help the project understand what needs to be tested before anyone makes decisions about future research, funding, education or regional activity.
Do I Have To Take Part?
No. Taking part is voluntary.
You can:
- choose not to participate;
- skip any question;
- stop at any time;
- choose whether to provide contact details for follow-up.
What Information Are You Asking For?
Depending on the form or interview, we may ask about:
- your experience or views about industrial hemp;
- possible benefits, concerns or questions;
- costs, yields, markets, processing, buying or supply-chain issues;
- environmental priorities and what hemp should be compared with;
- whether Landcare should have any role;
- optional demographic information to help with communication planning;
- optional contact details if you agree to follow-up.
Please do not include confidential prices, contracts, customer names or private business details unless we have agreed how they will be handled.
How Will The Information Be Used?
The information will be used for research planning and evidence assessment.
It may help decide:
- whether more detailed research is justified;
- whether future grower trials, demonstrations, workshops or technical studies would be useful and appropriate;
- which hemp product pathways need more checking;
- what risks, concerns or evidence gaps matter most;
- what information farmers, Landcare members, consumers or partners need.
What Will Be Published?
Published summaries will combine and anonymise responses.
That means public reports may say things like:
- "Several growers raised freight cost as a concern."
- "Processors identified minimum volume requirements."
- "Community respondents wanted clear information about industrial hemp and cannabis differences."
Published summaries will not name you or publish your contact details.
What Will Not Be Published Without Permission?
The project will not publish the following without permission:
- your name;
- your phone number or email address;
- raw interview notes or completed forms;
- identifying comments;
- exact confidential prices, margins, volumes or contract terms;
- customer names, buyer requirements or private business arrangements;
- information you clearly provide in confidence.
What If I Have Sensitive Commercial Information?
Use general terms or ranges where possible.
For example, it is better to say "freight was a major cost" or "the price would need to be materially higher" than to write exact private prices or contract terms on a public-style form.
If sensitive detail is important, you can ask for a confidential follow-up discussion.
Will I See The Results?
Where useful, the project may share de-identified aggregate summaries back with participants. This can help people compare their own views or experience with the broader evidence without identifying anyone else.
Public updates may also appear on the project website after review.
Who Is Funding This?
At this stage, the project should be treated as a staged assessment and planning process, not a confirmed funded research program.
Future funding or partner support may be explored. If that happens, relevant funders or partners should be disclosed in project material.
Is This An Endorsement Of Hemp?
No.
The project is testing whether industrial hemp is commercially viable, environmentally defensible and strategically relevant. It will include risks, limits, uncertainty and reasons why hemp may not be suitable.
Questions Or Follow-up
If you have questions, want to correct something you have provided, or do not want to be contacted again, use the contact pathway provided with the relevant form, interview request or project communication.