Hemp Farming
Recognised From the Beginning
Made In Hemp has been at the forefront of the Australian hemp industry since before hemp foods were even legal here. In August 2017, our vision was formally recognised when the Australian Government awarded Made In Hemp Allied Processing an $80,000 grant through the Farm Co-operatives and Collaboration Pilot Program (Farming Together).
The funding supported our efforts to establish a hemp-processing co-operative — helping farmers access seedstock, agronomic knowledge, and a proposed vertically integrated facility to process hemp grain into world-class foods.
This project was co-led by Darius Dunn (Made In Hemp, NSW) and Lyn Stephenson (Victoria) — a true pioneer of the Australian hemp industry and long-serving president of the Industrial Hemp Association of Victoria. Together, they were instrumental in driving early recognition of hemp’s potential, despite challenges around infrastructure, legislation, and supply.
At the time, Darius highlighted the enormous potential of hemp:
“The industry needs sophisticated processing facilities and assured supply. With those two factors, industrial hemp could be the source of beneficial products such as plant-based protein and health-boosting omega supplements.”
This recognition validated our long-held belief: that hemp could and should become a cornerstone of Australian agriculture, with applications across food, building, textiles, and health.
Industry Pioneer: Lyn Stephenson
Lyn Stephenson is a true pioneer of the Australian hemp industry. Based at Bunjil Farm in Lauriston, Victoria, she has been promoting the uses and benefits of hemp for over two decades — from food and fibre through to textiles, building materials, and health applications.
Her first hemp harvest in Autumn 2013 marked the beginning of Bunjil Farm’s role as a model of sustainable agriculture. For many years, Lyn served as President of the Industrial Hemp Association of Victoria, providing vital advocacy and farmer support during the industry’s formative years. That organisation has since evolved into the Victorian Hemp Association, under new leadership, but Lyn’s contribution laid much of the groundwork on which today’s leaders continue to build.
In 2017, Lyn co-led the Made In Hemp Allied Processing project alongside our founder, Darius Dunn. Together they secured Australian Government funding through the Farming Together program to create a co-operative processing model — a significant step in strengthening Australia’s hemp infrastructure.
“With over two decades of promoting the uses and benefits of hemp, Lyn’s passion and expertise drive our collective commitment to sustainability and excellence.”
Made In Hemp is proud to acknowledge Lyn as both a collaborator and an industry trailblazer whose vision continues to inspire the hemp movement across Australia.
From Advocacy to Licensed Growing
Fast forward to 2024, and the journey has come full circle. Made In Hemp Pty Ltd is now a licensed grower of hemp in Australia — moving beyond advocacy, importing, and processing support into hands-on cultivation.
With licensed crops now in the ground, we can oversee every stage of the supply chain — from the seed in the soil to the finished product on the shelf.
Our farms are not just fields of hemp — they are test sites for:
- New hemp varieties tailored to Australian conditions.
- Sustainable farming practices, building soil health and biodiversity.
- Future extract development, laying the groundwork for compliant, high-quality hemp extracts.
Farm to Plate (and Farm to Skin)
Made In Hemp has always believed in creating products that are authentic, ethical and effective. With our license to grow, we can now truly deliver farm to plate skincare — formulations made with hemp that we have planted, nurtured, harvested, and processed ourselves.
This gives us:
- Transparency – full control of the supply chain.
- Integrity – hemp grown to Australian standards, without misleading marketing.
- Innovation – the ability to develop hemp extracts for skincare, bodycare and beyond.
Looking Ahead
While our journey started with Allied Processing and early industry advocacy, it continues now with licensed farming. Our long-term vision remains the same: to support Australian farmers, strengthen local hemp supply chains, and deliver products of international quality.
We see hemp not just as a crop, but as a future-proof resource — from food to fibre, from extracts to skincare. And we’re proud to be part of shaping that future.