Tim Crow says he first became interested in the hemp industry when he noticed the disparity between science and public views towards hemp in the United States.
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He then recruited the expertise of Australian hemp industry pioneer Phil Warner and other experts to learn about the plant before opening Tasmania's only hemp seed processing facility.
Mr Crow is one of this year's Ron Badman Churchill Fellowship recipients and has been involved in the hemp industry for more than five years as a grower, processor and adviser to the state's hemp association.
He said there was negative stigma around the plant and he wanted to use his fellowship trip to show the public and government officials the scientific benefits of hemp.
"Ideally, I would make a documentary film of the journey, conveying the lessons learnt and knowledge acquired and upon my return would speak at field days and conferences to share with the farming community and government officials around policy," he said.
Hemp is a strain of cannabis that has less than one per cent of THC, the chemical compound associated with a high, and is used for industry products such as food, clothes, materials and medicinal uses.
Under the fellowship he will travel for eight weeks to Nepal, India, Israel, Ukraine, Netherlands, Canada and the US to further his expertise in cultivation, manufacturing, science and policy.
He said the Australian industry was still trying to find its feet but the plant's ability to grow in any climate meant it could be grown from Tasmania to the Northern Territory.
"Nepal and India have been growing and harvesting hemp for thousands of year, they wild harvest it to make a number of things," he said.
"I want to learn what practices they use, as they've used them for thousands of year so there's obviously some reason for that and there's a lot to learn.
"The fellowship is an amazing opportunity to enable me to go in and do these things, there is no way I would to be able to do the trip that I'm planning without it."
The plant's sustainability and environmental benefits were two things he said he wanted to show the public and government officials.
He said it absorbed carbon dioxide, was "much more water efficient than something like cotton", improved soil structure and did not need chemicals.
The Churchill fellowship began 54 years ago and this year Mr Crow is one of ten Tasmanian recipients of the award and one of 115 people across Australia.
Churchill Trust chief executive officer Adam Davey said each of the 115 fellows this year would advance their projects and create new opportunities in their industries in Australia.
"Churchill Fellowships recognise people with passion and drive, providing an unrivaled opportunity and freedom for people to experience world's best practice on issues that matter to Australian communities," he said.
Mr Crow is one of more than 4400 recipients over the fellowship's history to be given the opportunity to travel, learn and hone their skills overseas before returning to Australia and bringing the knowledge back to their chosen field.
