Throughout the course of 1999, the following 10 areas of development appeared to be the most consequential in relation to the emerging agri-fiber industry. Agri-fibers include Abaca, bagasse, corn stover, flax, industrial hemp, kenaf, rice straw, Switchgrass and wheat straw; with potential markets as varied as composites, specialty pulps, plastics and non-wovens.

Some Georgia farmers are high on the idea of growing industrial hemp, a sibling of marijuana that supporters say provides oil and fibers, but no hallucinations. Last month, delegates at the annual meeting of the state’s largest farm group, the 322,500-member Georgia Farm Bureau, approved a resolution calling for the University of Georgia to study the cannabis sativa plant. Hemp and marijuana are both members of the cannabis family.