Minister Pippa Hackett has appointed a service provider to undertake a review into potential markets for wool products.
The Agile Executive, comprising experts from Munster Technological University and Donegal Yarns, will conduct the work following a “competitive” public procurement process.
It will review domestic and international markets for such products and produce a report of its findings.
Wool products review
In a statement on Friday, November 19th, 2021, Minister Hackett said:
“As a sheep farmer myself, I am only too aware of the challenges and issues facing the wool sector and of the need to resolve them.”
“We must change the way we look at wool. It is undervalued and seen almost as a waste product.”
“We want to challenge that and improve the outcome for farmers by putting the focus on where wool and its by-products can be of real value.”
She said that wool is sustainable and renewable. Therefore, “it makes great sense for us to see where its potential lies in our circular economy”.
She believes the report will help develop a “much-needed” roadmap for the Irish wool industry.
Furthermore, the minister said it assist her in shaping future policy on wool as envisaged in the Programme for Government.
Following the announcement, The Agile Executive Consortium lead, Patrick Byrne said:
“We are delighted Minister Hackett and the DAFM appointed us to this very important project.”
“This is an opportunity to work with key industry stakeholders and primary producers to identify new opportunities to create value-add products from Irish wool that are environmentally and economically sustainable and further contribute to the Irish Circular Bioeconomy.”
The minister expects the group to complete the review in the first quarter of 2022.
