Australian woolgrowers to comment for long-term planning

Woolgrowers are being asked to complete an online survey on where they think the wool industry should be in 2030 as part of Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) long-term planning.

COVID-19 travel bans and different restrictions in different States on holding public meetings has meant AWI’s Woolgrower Consultation Group (WCG) has had to resort to asking woolgrowers across the country to take 15-20 minutes to complete the online survey.

But the WCG hopes to be able to hold some “face-to-face” regional workshops later in the year as part of the preparation of a 10-year strategic plan for AWI that will help guide its three-year rolling operational plans.

Development of a strategic long-term vision for the wool industry was one of the recommendations out of the 2018 EY review of AWI’s performance.

The WCG, comprising representatives of State and regional production-based woolgrower groups, as well as members of the Woolgrower Industry Consultation Panel – made up of national woolgrower representative organisations, the Department of Agriculture, AWI and an independent chairperson – was formed last year to develop the 10-year plan dubbed Wool 2030.

“AWI wants to hear from growers from across Australia on their priorities and ideas to ensure wool remains a profitable land use choice,” says AWI chief executive officer Stuart McCullough.

The survey results will also help shape Wool 2030.