News the Government is putting $17.25 million into a wool research consortium is being hailed as the start of a new era in wool science.
The Foundation for Research, Science and Technology would contribute $8.6 million over five years, a figure that would be matched by the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand Inc (WRInc), and others in the industry, Research, Science and Technology Minister Wayne Mapp and Agriculture Minister David Carter said last week.
Mr Carter said increased research and development for the wool sector was one of the key recommendations of the Wool Taskforce, which presented its report last year.
The consortium's research strategy would focus on securing wool's position as a sustainable natural fibre, applying new technology to address historical obstacles to wool's use and finding new uses. WRInc has also enlisted New York-based innovation company Fahrenheit 212 to come up with new product ideas.
AgResearch business manager Margot Buick said previous opportunities to develop wool-research ideas had failed because of a lack of funding.
"This is the single biggest investment in wool research in many years. It will be a real shot in the arm for the scientific research that can help support the wool industry," she said.
"The new Government and industry funding into the consortium means important opportunities for wool use can now be developed and commercialised."
AgResearch has 20 wool-research scientists at its Lincoln campus who will specifically address historical obstacles to wool's use and performance, produce woollen fabrics which perform as well, if not better, than synthetics, wool carpet that is stain, fade and insect resistant and find new added-value uses that exploit the fibre's intrinsic characteristics.
Federated Farmers has also welcomed the announcement, its meat and fibre chairman Bruce Wills saying there was still potential to return wool to the economic heyday of the 1980s.