Future-Proofing the Wool Industry: Launch of the Post-Farmgate EAD Strategy 2025–2030

At WoolProducers Australia, we understand that the strength of our industry lies not only in the quality of our wool but in the resilience of the systems that support it. That’s why we were proud to officially launch the Wool Industry Post-farmgate Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) Preparedness and Response RD&E Strategy 2025–2030 at the Wool Industries Australia Wool Week Forum in Melbourne on 11 September 2025.

This Strategy, developed in collaboration with Animal Health Australia (AHA) and shaped by extensive consultation across the wool supply chain, is a progressive step forward for the Australian wool industry. It provides a clear and coordinated roadmap to ensure that the whole of industry is ready to respond to the growing threat of emergency animal diseases—swiftly, effectively, and with minimal disruption to trade and market confidence.

The Strategy is not just a document—it’s a commitment to action. It recognises that the post-farmgate segment of the wool supply chain, from broker stores to scouring plants and export terminals, plays a critical role in biosecurity.

This is about preparing our systems and personnel to act decisively when needed. The Strategy is a forward-thinking investment that will help the industry avoid costly delays and maintain the trust of international markets in the face of a disease outbreak. Rather than waiting for a crisis to expose our vulnerabilities, this Strategy ensures we are building the capacity, coordination, and tools needed to respond with confidence.

WoolProducers General Manager, Adam Dawes, presented this Strategy at the recent Joint China Australia Wool Working Group Meeting at the Nanjing Wool Market, where it was very well received by our Chinese counterparts.

The Strategy is built around four interconnected pillars that together form a comprehensive approach to EAD preparedness:

1. Policy and Operational Plans

   
   

   Aligning industry response mechanisms with national and international biosecurity frameworks, including AUSVETPLAN and the Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement (EADRA), to ensure consistency and clarity in times of crisis.

   
   

   This pillar focuses on embedding biosecurity as a business-as-usual practice. It includes:

   • Alignment with AUSVETPLAN and international standards.

   • Development of zoning and compartmentalisation frameworks to support trade continuity.

   • Establishment of a transparent EADRA repayment mechanism to ensure financial preparedness.

   • Regular EAD exercises and horizon scanning to test and refine response plans.

2. Capacity Building and Culture

   
   

   Embedding biosecurity as a shared responsibility across the supply chain. This includes workforce training, simulation exercises, and fostering a culture where preparedness is part of everyday operations.

   
   

   This pillar aims to embed a strong biosecurity culture across the supply chain by:

   • Delivering targeted training for brokers, exporters, processors, and transporters.

   • Integrating biosecurity into standard operating procedures.

   • Increasing industry-wide awareness and adoption of EAD preparedness measures.

3. Coordination and Relationships

   
   

   Strengthening collaboration between wool brokers, exporters, processors, government agencies, and international partners. Effective response depends on strong relationships and clear communication channels.

   
   

   Effective response depends on strong partnerships. This pillar enhances:

   • Industry-government coordination through joint exercises and clearer role definitions.

   • Trade advocacy, promoting wool’s low-risk, non-perishable status to support rapid trade resumption.

   • International recognition of Australia’s wool biosecurity measures.

   • Information-sharing frameworks to improve decision-making and response capability.

4. Enhanced Traceability and Data Exchange

   
   

   Leveraging digital innovations—such as RFID-enabled eBale labels and the Australian Wool Traceability Hub (AWTH)—to track wool movements in real time and support rapid, data-driven decision-making during an outbreak.

   
   

   Traceability is the backbone of rapid response. This pillar includes:

   • Alignment with the National Agricultural Traceability Strategy.

   • Expansion of the Australian Wool Traceability Hub (AWTH) to cover >90% of the clip by 2026.

   • Improved data-sharing between brokers, exporters, processors, and government.

   • Engagement with trading partners to build trust in Australian traceability systems.

   • Exploration of emerging digital technologies to future-proof traceability.

The Strategy builds on the foundation laid by the 2019–2022 Wool Industries Australia strategy, but it goes further—recognising that since the last Strategy, the risk landscape has evolved. Climate change, shifting trade patterns, and the global spread of diseases like foot-and-mouth disease have heightened the urgency for a more agile and integrated approach.

Recent advancements already demonstrate the Australian wool industry’s commitment to preparedness. These include:

• The rollout of RFID-enabled eBale labels to improve traceability.

• The development of the Australian Wool Traceability Hub (AWTH).

• Updates to AUSVETPLAN manuals tailored to wool industry operations.

• A new IWTO protocol for wool storage and treatment to neutralise disease-causing agents.

The Strategy was developed through the WoolProducers Post-farmgate EAD Working Group, with input from a wide range of stakeholders including Animal Health Australia, Australian Wool Innovation, Australian Wool Testing Authority, Australian Wool Exchange, Australian Wool Handlers, the Australian Council of Wool Exporters and Processors, the National Council of Wool Selling Brokers of Australia, and both federal and state government departments.

The Strategy also aligns with broader national animal health systems, procedures and goals. It not only strengthens traceability and builds industry capability through training and exercises but also enhances coordination across the supply chain. Importantly, it supports a One Health approach—recognising the interconnectedness of animal, human, and environmental health in managing disease risks.

This Strategy is not a static document—it’s a living framework that will guide annual workplans and inform future RD&E investments. It ensures that the wool industry remains agile, informed, and ready to meet the challenges of an evolving biosecurity landscape.

At WoolProducers, we are proud to lead this work on behalf of the industry. We know that protecting our animals, our markets, and our livelihoods requires more than good intentions—it requires planning, collaboration, and decisive action.

With this Strategy in place, we are better prepared than ever to protect the future of Australian wool.

Jo Hall

Chief Executive Officer

WoolProducers Australia