Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) invests in technologies and research designed to improve on-farm efficiencies and reduce the costs of production associated with wool growing.

Among a scope of critical on-farm issues facing growers today, AWI is addressing animal health and welfare, including the prevention and management of parasites. A key focus area for the company is securing efficient and cost-effective flystrike prevention strategies.

AWI aims to support woolgrowers with tangible, science-based resources. As a result, a range of research insights and practical tools are available to growers with the objective of alleviating a variety of on-farm challenges, including climate change and drought, as well weeds, pests and feral predators. Further, AWI provides the industry with a variety of educational pathways, such as shearer and wool-handling training, and guidance in optimising the quality of breeding.

Of note, Making More From Sheep, a best management practice manual for sheep producers, is a collaboration with Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), structured around 11 key modules which address all of the important profit drivers in a sheep and wool enterprise.

Labour shortages are estimated to cost the pastoral industry as much as $637 million a year, and the cost of staff turnover, including lost productivity, is estimated at up to $364 million a year in the report ‘Attracting and retaining staff in Australia’s beef, sheep and wool industries’, jointly funded by AWI and MLA.