7 June 2001 Lincoln and WoolPro join forces to boost sheepfarming industry productivity

New Zealand sheepfarming today (7 June) took a new step forward towards increased productivity with the launch of an alliance between Wool Board subsidiary company WoolPro and Lincoln University.

WoolPro - full name, Wool Production Technology Ltd  -  has operated as a stand-alone company since 1998 and Lincoln University has been in the wool teaching and research field at least since the 1920s when the first wool specialist appointment was made to its staff.

WoolPro is committed to delivering the techniques and know-how for the sheepfarming industry to achieve annual efficiency gains of 3 to 5 percent.

"A key means of achieving this is the development of linkages with research and education providers who have the capability to help us drive such an aim," says the Chairman of WoolPro's board, Dr Terry Heiler, of Christchurch.

"The Heads of Agreement signed with Lincoln University today is the first step to a new environment to lift the capability rating of the pastoral industry," says Dr Heiler.

"By capitalising on the synergies in education, research and extension between Lincoln University and WoolPro we are setting out to 'rehabilitate' a capability which has languished over the past 20 years.

"Leading on from the Heads of Agreement signed today we hope to establish a relationship with Lincoln University which will result in a variety of outcomes.

"These include the delivery of both on and off-campus teaching programmes relevant to sheepfarmers; the development of outreach and extension activities; the development of a centre focussing on research and extension relevant to the sheep and wider livestock industries; the encouragement of new entrants to tertiary studies relevant to the needs of the industry; and the development of an undergraduate and postgraduate scholarship programme."

Lincoln University's Vice-Chancellor, Dr Frank Wood, described the proposed linkage as an indication of the new 'partnership' approach which was becoming evident in industry at all levels as the competitive model became diluted.

The Heads of Agreement was the start of a "new cooperative approach" with the sheep farming industry, he said.

"Whilst it is Lincoln University and WoolPro taking this step we are mindful that the University is also part of the wider Lincoln scientific campus which embraces several Crown Research Institutes and WRONZ. In this 'hub of linkages' there is therefore the potential for the synergies to be even greater.

"We are aware too that WoolPro is pursuing connections with other organisations.

"Lincoln University welcomes the opportunity to work with WoolPro and we hope the collaboration is the forerunner of wider pastoral industry alliances of a similar nature in the future."

The signing of the Heads of Agreement is the culmination of 12 months of preparatory work and negotiations.

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.