Saibosi partners with Wools of New Zealand to showcase farm-to-floor wool rugs in China
Chinese textile company Saibosi has partnered with Wools of New Zealand to put the 'farm to floor' story of New Zealand wool rugs on screen for its customers.
The proof of the pudding will be in the eating following the Wool Summit, says Feds meat and wool industry group chairman Miles Anderson.
“It is a start. The problems haven’t been solved yet, but the intention and the goodwill gave me some confidence for the next stage,” he told Rural News.
Three working groups are being formed.
“I am not holding my breath, but I am certainly more optimistic about the process than I was going into the summit,” Anderson says.
“There is a sense of urgency about those who attended; they realised that if we don’t do something meaningful in good time it might be the last chance for the industry, more particularly on the strong wool side of things.”
Telling the wool story internationally needs to be done, he adds.
“We assume people know that wool comes from a sheep and it is shorn off and they grow a fleece every year. But the reality is a lot of people seem to think the animal has to die for the wool to come off it. There have certainly been campaigns in developed countries by PETA and others who like to give the impression the animal dies for the wool to come off it.”
Anderson says work is also needed on where the wool goes and what it is turned into.
“We don’t know because a lot of it leaves in wool form and we don’t know what it gets turned into and where it is sold. We are not even 100% sure of that. Whether that information is available and hasn’t been collated or whatever, the work needs to be done to define that.”
Anderson reckons there was a willingness and openness by all at the Wool Summit and representation from a large cross-section of the value chain from growers to manufacturers.
“There was certainly a positive attitude taken by everybody. “
OPINION: Ministry for Primary Industries' situation outlook for primary industries report (SOPI) makes impressive reading.
Sheep and beef farmers Matt and Kristin Churchward say using artificial intelligence (AI) to spread fertiliser on their sprawling 630ha farm is a game changer for their business.
Commercial fruit and vegetable growers are being encouraged to cast their votes in the Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) board directors' election.
A unique discovery by a Palmerston North science company, Biolumic, looks set to revolutionise the value and potential of ryegrass and the secret is the application of ultraviolet (UV) light.
A New Zealand company is redefining the global collagen game by turning New Zealand sheepskin into a world-class health product.
With further extreme weather on the way, ANZ Bank is encouraging farmers and business owners impacted by the recent extreme weather and flooding to seek support if they need it.
OPINION: Dust ups between rural media and PR types aren't unheard of but also aren't common, given part of the…
OPINION: The Hound hears from his canine pals in Southland that an individual's derogatory remarks on social media have left…