Beyond the Bale - Issue 25 - Innovations showcased to growers at AWI forum
AWI's ‘Innovation in Action' forum, held immediately before the company's Annual General Meeting in Armidale on 14 November, gave more than 200 producers an insight into how woolgrower levies are being invested to build demand for Australian Merino wool and improve on-farm productivity.
There were a number of information sessions and displays throughout the day on a range of topics including ‘New Fabric Innovations', ‘New Markets for Australian Merino wool' and wool harvesting options.
A highlight was a ‘Merino in Fashion' panel discussion with high-profile guests such as leading Australian fashion designer Jayson Brunsdon, who has dressed glamorous catwalk supermodels and other fashion icons including Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.
Mr Brunsdon joined other AWI partners including Polo Ralph Lauren's P'go Lau, Driza-Bone chief executive Rod Williams, Nick Poole from Purely Merino and Eddy Yeung from Ferney Spinning to discuss key strategies about how they are working with AWI to boost demand for Australian Merino wool in the global marketplace.
Image: (From left) Driza-Bone’s chief executive Rod Williams, fashion designer and AWI partner Jayson Brunsdon and Polo Ralph Lauren’s P’go Lau at the Forum
Woolgrowers also had the unique opportunity to meet the expert panelists and ask questions directly about new markets for Australian Merino wool and touch and feel the latest product innovations destined for retail shelves.
The latest research in blowfly control in sheep - including plastic breech and tail clips - was also on show for woolgrowers. Jules Dorrian, AWI's project manager for blowfly control, discussed and demonstrated the new breech and tail clips and latest injectors to sheep producers, who later had the opportunity to ‘touch and trial' these promising initiatives for themselves.
Producers also saw demonstrations of the new Upright Posture Shearing Platform designed to make shearing more efficient and safer, and Sheep Genetics Australia (SGA).
"Some of these new garments are just great; you'd never guess they were made of wool. It is exciting to see some of the new developments for wool fibre in the fashion markets. I must admit I was quite impressed with what I saw regarding this."
– Pam Harvey, Armidale
"The mulesing issue is a difficult one that is not easily addressed. I was happy to see that AWI is working towards alternatives that could benefit the industry and they were on show here today."
– Phillip Dutton, Salisbury Plains
See also: 'Innovation in Action' forum images or return to Beyond the Bale issue 25 index page.