LongLine Fibre™

Unlocking Low-Carbon Fibre Supply Chains for the UK

A dense row of tall, green LongLine Fibre plants with slender stalks and narrow leaves stands next to a path covered in cut leaves, under a sunny blue sky.
Homegrown strength for Britain’s sustainable future.

Homegrown strength for Britain’s sustainable future.

Natural fibres are essential to the UK’s green transition, with applications from low-carbon construction and composites to technical textiles. Yet, while Britain’s climate is perfect for growing hemp—a world-class source of strong, sustainable fibre—there has never been a UK-bred variety tailored specifically for the demands of our fields and supply chains.

The LongLine Fibre™ project is our flagship initiative to close this gap. We are developing a homegrown, long-line hemp variety engineered for reliable yields, high-performance fibre, and robust field resilience. Our mission is to make the UK’s green materials revolution truly local, from farm to factory.

Fibre is the future, but current genetics are stuck in the past.

  • Imported Genetics: Nearly all available varieties are poorly adapted to UK-specific weather, soils, and agronomic systems.
  • Inconsistent Yield & Quality: British conditions produce unpredictable fibre length and strength, deterring processors from investing in domestic supply.
  • Lack of Traceability: Modern industries demand provenance and performance guarantees that current supply chains cannot provide.
  • Vulnerability to Storms: Traditional hemp is highly susceptible to wind damage (lodging), a risk that increases as our weather grows more extreme.

Our Vision: A British Fibre Backbone

We are developing LongLine Fibre™ to be a next-generation hemp variety that is:

  • Long, Strong, and Uniform: Genetically optimised for maximum bast fibre length, consistent strength, and efficient processing.
  • Adapted for the British Climate: Bred for consistent performance across UK growing seasons and robust against lodging.
  • Engineered for Tomorrow’s Supply Chains: Designed for digital seed-to-product traceability to meet the strict standards of high-value UK industries.
  • StormGuard Resilience: We are building in traits for stronger roots and more flexible stems for maximum harvest security in a changing climate.

The Journey: From Discovery to Field Adoption

Our commitment is to transparency and a data-driven development process. This is where the LongLine Fibre™ project stands today:

  • Lab Validation Achieved: Our team at the University of Hertfordshire has already proven our CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology works in hemp, providing a powerful tool to target fibre quality, length, and storm resilience.
  • Baseline Trials Underway: Our inaugural field season at Rothamsted Research is in progress. Using conventional hemp as a benchmark, we are gathering vital data and setting the performance benchmarks for UK fibre traits, which will guide our breeding objectives.
  • Engineering Quality and Resilience Next: The next, exciting phase will deploy our precision gene-editing technology. Our focus will be on targeting the key genes for longer bast fibre, reduced lignin for easier processing, and integrating our advanced StormGuard traits. These advanced lines will then move into rigorous field trials.

The Impact: Greening Britain’s Supply Chains

  1. Powering British Green Growth: A predictable, sustainable domestic fibre source will reduce dependence on imported materials, support green jobs, and lower embodied carbon.
  2. Strengthening Rural Economies: Farmers will gain new, premium crop opportunities, while processors and manufacturers benefit from supply chain security.
  3. Climate Resilience by Design: Advanced genetics aim to safeguard yield and quality, even in harsher weather, securing farm incomes and industry supply.
  4. True Circularity and Traceability: Every tonne of LongLine Fibre™ can be traced from seed to final product, delivering verified sustainability credentials.

Join the Collaboration

The LongLine Fibre™ Project stands on partnership. We work with growers, researchers, and industrial partners to ensure our innovations deliver real-world value.

Are you a farmer looking for profitable new rotations? A processor or manufacturer who wants a secure and transparent British fibre supply chain?

We invite you to join the LongLine Fibre™ journey. Your involvement in pilot trials, trait feedback, or knowledge-sharing events will help root resilient, low-carbon supply chains on British soil.

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