Editorial

And Now, Kenaf

The 5th North American Chemical Congress was held in Cancun, past November, sponsored by the American, Canadian and Mexican Chemical Societies. Among its symposia, one was devoted to kenaf, the "bastard jute".

Developed countries in temperate climates have few natural sources of fibers, which gives an special interest to this plant. The symposium was an exhibit of the great research effort devoted to the cultivation, production and use of kenaf fibers. Among other impressive results, light structural composites were displayed.

Why should a (non-medicinal) plant deserve so much attention in a chemical congress? Perhaps, because the central science should pay attention to anything material and new, which can affect the lives of many human beings.

Kenaf may well become a problem for the many Brazilians whose earnings come from natural fiber production, often under primitive technological standards. Beyond that, we have many cases of fiber-producing plants which never received attention as such, as for instance the banana trees and the tuncum. The later was used by pre-columbian populations and descendants, it has intriguing mechanical properties but is unknown to our science.

Fibers are currently required to dress more and more persons and to replace materials popular in recent times, such as asbestos. Car and furniture industries require more and more biodegradable fibers throughout the world, and this trend should continue.

It is not likely that kenaf research will be highly important to fiber production in Brasil. However, we can always learn, from this case and from our first world colleagues, that it is possible to make good science, following an interdisciplinary pattern and answering to social and economic needs.

Fernando Galembeck

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  23 July 2010
• Date of issue
  1997